By Myra Bean

Ole Miss athletics director Pete Boone attended the Monday afternoon press conference to answer questions about future of head coach Houston Nutt and about Ole Miss football following the disappointed 30-7 SEC loss to Vanderbilt Saturday.

Boone said he was focused on a day at a time and trying to get better a day at a time. He is not too focused on the future.

He asked for the loyal Ole Miss supporters to be at the game in red Saturday against Georgia. It was rumored that many fans had decided to boycott the game.

“Ole Miss is a family and need to be together,” he said. “We need to be able to fight together. If we can’t do that then we have a higher hill to climb.”

Boone said he and Nutt had met to discuss what the football program needed to be successful this year.

“This is our life now of instant gratification,” he said. “You can’t base a football program on one season or one game. You have to look at the totality.”
Nutt said it all starts with him.

“I don’t want the fans to give up on this program. We will get the effort. We will get the right attitude. I am asking you to hang in there.”

Ole Miss has 33 freshmen playing this year. As for them feeling like a family, Nutt said they are all wide eyed and he needed the seniors to step forward and lead the new players. He spoke of needing 11 players on every play and not getting it.

“There is no excuse for the way we played offensively,” Nutt said.

Nutt said he will leave the play calling to offensive coordinator David Lee “right now,” but he will be more involved in many aspects of the program.

“I believe in these coaches,” he said.