FILE PHOTO: CADY HERRING Hugh Freeze walks off the field after Saturday’s win over Memphis.
Rebel fans were met with surprising news Monday when they learned sophomore safety Anthony Alford had decided to leave the team in order to pursue his baseball career.
Alford had transferred to Ole Miss from Southern Miss following the 2012 season and was seeing time as the backup safety and punt returner this season. Despite playing college football, Alford had already signed a $750,000 contract with the Toronto Blue Jays after they drafted him in the third round of the 2012 MLB June Amateur draft. However, it was agreed Alford could continue to play football while spending time in the minor leagues during the summer.
Freeze addressed this news Tuesday and said that he and defensive coordinator Dave Wommack have been talking to Alford about this decision and how it would affect his him.
“I love Anthony Alford. He’s such a great kid, and he was torn the whole time,” Freeze said. “We had a great talk last night and this morning on what is best for him and his wife and his future.”
Freeze said the team would miss him and that the Blue Jays had made him new offers.
“I hate it for our team and for him because I love having good kids be a part of us, but he really felt like it was best,” Freeze said. “They’ve made him some good offers that are probably contingent on him getting there for winter ball.”
Freeze stressed it was important to let Alford make his own decision.
“I’ve learned a long time ago until you’ve walked in someone’s shoes be real careful to tell a man what is good for him, what is best for him,” Freeze said. “As much as we hate to lose him, we wish him the best, and he’ll do well.”
Freeze said his now-vacant backup safety spot will be filled by true freshman C.J. Moore and sophomore David Kamara, and his punt returning spot will be taken by redshirt freshman Eugene Brazely.
Freeze also talked his team’s preparation upcoming game with Alabama.
“When you’re playing a defense and an offense this talented, you have to fight against doing too much,” Freeze said. “But the kids were locked in, and I look forward to watching today’s film.”
Co-offensive coordinator and offensive line coach Matt Luke talked about what he saw from Alabama.
“Top to bottom, they’re a great team,” Luke said. “They’re possibly the best team in the country. We have to play really well to win.”
Luke broke down some keys to the offense being successful on Saturday.
“We obviously have to protect the football. When a break comes our way we have to score, we have to be efficient in the red zone and try to limit any negative plays, stay out of third and long and just do the little things it takes to win close games,” Luke said.
Luke also spoke about how the attention Saturday’s game would affect his offensive line.
“With big games comes experience with learning how to deal with the attention and the media that’s around, Twitter, all the stuff they’re getting sent,” Luke said. “It’s going to come down to effort and blocking and playing football. It’s not going be won on social media. It’s going be won on the field.”
