Ole Miss head coach Hugh Freeze celebrates during a trophy presentation after the Chick-fil-A Kick Off game in Atlanta Thursday. (DM Photo/Cady Herring)
On Monday, head football coach Hugh Freeze took the podium to discuss his team’s 35-13 victory over Boise State, as well as the look ahead to their next game against Vanderbilt.
“We’re thrilled to be 1-0 and to come out with a victory against the team that has had the No. 1 winning percentage in America the last 10 years,” Freeze said. “Having not played extremely well, on one side of the ball especially, and come away with the win, I was really pleased.”
One of the biggest discussions of the press conference was senior quarterback Bo Wallace’s performance.
“I feel like I played good except for three throws. In big-time games like we’re about to get into, especially SEC games, you throw three (interceptions) in the first half and you’re probably down by three scores,” Wallace said. “I’ve just got to get better at that. In the second half, I was just taking what they gave me. We started scoring points once that started happening.”
Wallace added that he was trying to force some passes that he shouldn’t have thrown in the first half and tried to make plays that weren’t necessarily available. Second-half Bo Wallace is something the Rebels would love to see the rest of the season.
“I think he was pressing the other night, and I’m hopeful that’s over with, and you’ll see more like the second half when we didn’t have any of that,” Freeze said. “Obviously, I was disappointed. I was disappointed for him. He wants to do better than anybody, and I’m not going to beat him up over it. The guy has done a lot of great things for us and played a really good second half the other night. We just have to keep coaching him and making sure on Thursday, like we always do, that he understands each package.”
One of the unexpected stars from Thursday’s game was punter Will Gleeson. Gleeson, who’s originally from Australia, was playing in his first American football game. Gleeson was able to get three of his four kicks downed inside the twenty and booted a 70 yard punt for his longest of the day.
“I was nervous, but there was great intensity and a lot of fans came out,” Gleeson said.
Freeze talked about several true freshmen that performed well in Thursday’s game, such as linebacker Demarquis Gates, defensive backs A.J. and C.J. Moore and others.
“(Demarquis) Gates and the Moore twins were phenomenal on special teams. I thought Kendarius Webster was really solid at his corner position,” Freeze said. “Markell Pack didn’t show any signs of fear returning punts and a few snaps on offense. I didn’t get Rod Taylor in nearly as much as we needed to. We will this week. C.J. Hampton was solid.”
Freeze went on to address his next opponent, the Vanderbilt Commodores, who are coming off a 37-7 upset loss to the Temple Owls.
“I’m sure they are making corrections, and I expect it to be an SEC fight like all are,” Freeze said. “Our kids have to be prepared to go to Nashville and hopefully get a second road win of the year. The defensive front for them is very talented, very physical, as are their linebackers.”
“We’re not going to overlook them. We’ll get them ready. It’s an SEC football game on the road,” Freeze continued. “I’ve been impressed with Coach Mason as I’ve seen him around those meetings. I know he’ll have his guys ready to go.”
