Evan Ingram runs to start a play at football practice at the University of Mississippi, Tuesday, Oct. 28, 2014. Photo by Cady Herring
After a heartbreaking loss to the rival LSU Tigers, the Ole Miss football team is tasked with shaking off the emotional loss and trying to play better next week.
Sophomore tight end Evan Engram refused to let the loss continue to bother him and is looking forward to the rest of the season.
“We’re fine. Monday we got in the weight room, attacked the weights, and we went back over the film. We still have a lot of positive energy. Our season isn’t over,” Engram said. “Everything that we want, everything that we’ve put in work for all offseason and we’ve done up to this point is still there for us to take and I think this loss is going to make us finish stronger.”
Even after the demoralizing loss, Engram felt confident in the team’s upcoming game against Auburn and is prepared for the task at hand.
“We’re going to come out and attack practice, and we’re going to focus on what we have to do,” Engram said. “We have some guys banged up but we’re going to push through. It’s a big game this Saturday, and I know we’re going to come out and answer. “
With all of the injuries suffered against LSU, there are many question marks surrounding both sides of the ball for Ole Miss. Engram talked more about the team battling injuries and what will become of it.
“You have to have that push-through mentality, especially in this conference. Coach Freeze talks about it all the time, there’s a difference between being hurt and being injured,” Engram said. “There’s going to be a lot of guys hurt. I’m hurt right now, but it’s just a mentally tough thing. I think that’s what Coach (Paul) Jackson and our training staff teach.
With Ole Miss ranked fourth in the first College Football Playoff poll, there is extra attention on the game against third-ranked Auburn. With players recovering from injury, Engram has faith in the team’s medical staff to get the players healthy.
“Our medical staff is really good, we go and get good treatment, and that’s where we have to be disciplined too, and take care of our bodies,” Engram said.
Engram addressed some of the problems the offense had that contributed to the upset loss.
“We were just out of rhythm, and we couldn’t move the ball as much, and when we did it was sometimes a flag,” he said. “Those penalties hurt and we just couldn’t catch a break. Things weren’t going our way.”
Engram gave credit to the LSU defense, saying that LSU had the perfect game plan and played excellent too add on.
“Their defensive line was really good, looking at the film they were getting a lot of push on us and we couldn’t really control the line of scrimmage,” Engram said.
Overall, Engram is confident in the team’s ability to overcome the loss.
“I think this loss is a good thing for us because it teaches us adversity, and we’re going to attack it, we’re going to embrace it, and we’re going to turn things around,” Engram said.
