Head Coach Hugh Freeze Says He’s Happy in Oxford, The Team Enjoyed the Bye Week

Ole Miss Rebels’ Head Coach Hugh Freeze made a lot of statements in this week’s press conference. He talked about the bye week, preparation for Arkansas matchup, Senquez Golson, Laremy Tunsil, on still being alive in the SEC West, and most importantly, the rumors of the Florida job. Here is the latest quotes from his press conference:

Opening statement…

"“We enjoyed our off week. It was much needed from our kids and staff. Everyone got to rejuvenate a little bit and get healthier as a team. We got to spend some time with our families, which is rare during the course of the season, particularly the grind we’ve been through. Without the exception of the guys that have injuries that will prevent them from participating the rest of the year, we’ll be full go on everyone else with the two very, very physical games we have left. Arkansas, watching them on tape I’m extremely impressed with the job that they do and knowing who they are and understanding how to play the way that their coaches ask them to play. I’ve said all year long that I felt like all seven teams in the SEC West were quality top-25 teams. Because of the schedule we play that won’t be reflected in all of the polls, but I assure you this team is one of the better teams in the country. They don’t give up many points. People don’t rush the football on them. They shorten the game with their physical run game and their play passes off of it are extremely difficult to defend. They have talent at every position. They believe now not only that they can play close, but that they can win. We have a tall task ahead of us going there and finding a way to compete to hopefully win a football game.”"

On results of weekend giving team more motivation…

"“We had a little different Sunday because of the open week. We did actually get an extra hour and 10 minute practice in. We’ve preached to them all along that you play until the end and see what happens. There’s so much football left to be played. Regardless of what happens out there, the results certainly kept us alive with some very important, lofty things that we could accomplish. Regardless of what happens with all of that, I want us to stay focused on the journey we’re on, which to be sitting here ranked in the top 10 or so in the country, for being in year three, I couldn’t be much more pleased. Obviously, we lost two very close difficult games. They were quality opponents. Being competitive and relevant in the SEC West in year three is something that should motivate us, regardless of what happens with other teams. Our message will continue to be let’s focus on us and take care of us and see where it shakes out at the end.”"

On the primary focus of the bye week…

"“Getting people healthy was the priority. We had three good practices. We had some good things happen. We held the annual competition, better known as the Toilet Bowl. Ken Crain named it that. We also got to spend some time with the Special Olympics team from Ole Miss on Thursday, which was also an experience. They got to be around at practice. Hanging out with those guys was another great all-in moment for our team to understand how to give back and to appreciate the blessings we have. It was a good week. We got people healthy. We got the threes a lot of reps, and we worked on some techniques. We got back to doing some individual drills, which are much needed and probably get cheated a bit throughout the course of a seven-game stretch where you’re just getting ready for games.”"

On Arkansas…

"“Anytime you play, you look at teams and think you matchup better with this one or not as well with this one. We’re definitely better suited for it than we were year one and year two. Our defense is built on speed. Sometimes you would say with our experience with LSU that we did struggle some with that. Just looking at what has occurred, this may not be our best matchup. You have to play it. You have to find a plan and get your kids in the right spot. Hopefully we learn something from seeing that. It’s very difficult for us to simulate that in practice because of who we are. Hopefully having played in a game like that will be beneficial to us in preparing for this one.”"

On coaching vacancy at Florida…

"“I have a policy, and I don’t discuss my job status good or bad. I don’t think anything good comes from that. My family and I are extremely happy in Oxford. I love working for Chancellor Dan Jones and Ross Bjork. We’re extremely happy. I have great admiration for Will Muschamp. Your heart goes out to him. The way he’s handled the adversity is a great lesson for a lot of us that we can learn. My total focus is getting our kids ready for Arkansas.”"

On preparation after breaking an SEC losing streak…

"“I would say that there was definitely a weight lifted. We were able to relax a bit more. You didn’t have to hear about that streak that you don’t want to be associated with. I would definitely say there was a little more pep in our step in preparing for the next week. I’m sure they’re experiencing the same thing. There was probably a boost in confidence and saying, “we’ve proven we can win one, now let’s go win two.” That had to help your confidence. As you know in life in general, whether it’s sports or whatever, confidence is a great key. If you have good confidence you’re probably going to be better.”"

On Senquez Golson…

"“He’s had a phenomenal year. We’re ranked high in defensive categories and he’s been one of the keys. We’ve been able to feel like he could play on an island at times. He’s made great plays for us, in particular the turnovers he’s created. Obviously there are people up front that help us with that in the pass rush and things. He’s made a lot of key plays for us through the course of our senior year. It’s well documented with his turnaround and buy-in percentage and doing the little things right. It’s really pleasing when you see a kid o that and have success on the field. He’s getting a lot of notoriety nationally with different types of awards that he might be up for. We’re excited for him He got his invitation to the Senior Bowl, which is big. Cody Prewitt got one, as well. That’s a big accomplishment. They can go represent our program there. Those are the first in my tenure that got an invitation so that’s big.”"

On possibility of rain Saturday…

"“Ken Crain keeps me updated on the weather. If that’s the deal, we’ll definitely have wet ball practice on Wednesday and Thursday with our skill folks before we head up there.”"

On Arkansas’ defensive front…

"“They have two of the better in the conference in 86 and 91, in Trey Flowers and Darius Philon. Those guys are really special. Like I said, you look at their stats and they just held LSU, one of the best rushing teams in the conference, to 36 yards. That’s impressive. It starts up front with them for sure. ”"

On the tight ends for Ole Miss and Arkansas…

"“I think Evan (Engram) will be a critical, critical cog in the wheel for us, particularly with Laquon (Treadwell) going down. We have to find ways to get him the football. He’ll win one-on-ones, so he’s been extremely valuable to us. Their tight ends, (Hunter) Henry is extremely talented, and it’s not just him. They have four or five they will play that can stretch the field and obviously block their run game, so it makes for a difficult thing when they put three or four in there and get in those tight formations that you know there are a lot of gaps you have to cover but at the same time they can go down the field and win one-on-ones. It’s a difficult matchup.”"

On Tony Conner’s importance…

"“I wish we had more built like him. He’s a guy I feel like can play the run and guard in space some, so he’s invaluable to us, particularly in games like this. He’ll have a key role in being able to play both.”"

On facing Presbyterian before the open date…

"“We approach each game the same. I do think we were able to rest a lot of kids that day for sure, and they’ve had basically two weeks and then others with half a game and then a full week, so it was definitely beneficial in allowing our young kids to get in and at the same time rest some for an extended period of time.”"

On being rested after the bye week…

"“Have to feel good. I’ve seen coming off open weeks you have a little rust, but I don’t know that will be the case this late in the year, and our kids understand what’s at stake, so I expect our kids to be ready to go, and I do believe they are rested. With the latest technology that measures the energy outputs on some of your kids that have to play a significant amount of snaps, and it seems that the monitors are telling us they are in good condition right now.”"

On the defense this season…

"“They’ve been outstanding. With the exception of the Auburn game, their performance of keeping people out of the end zone has been as good as any in the country. Really pleased with the job our defensive staff has done.”"

On Dave Wommack…

"“He’s been a perfect hire for me, not only his philosophy but his demeanor. He’s a good balance for me. I’m a bit high strung sometimes, and he is very calm all along. I have great trust that I don’t have to spend a lot of time worrying what’s going on in that room, and I know the plan will be solid.”"

On the offense without Laquon Treadwell…

"“We won’t make any changes. We’ll be who we are. I think Bo (Wallace) has had a solid year. He’s cut down on his turnovers, and if you take out a couple halves, it’s been outstanding. There’s always, through the course of a year, you can look at any player with a mistake here and mistake there, the decisions that are poor. It’s the same thing with coaches and officials and everybody that’s involved in the game. Overall, if you look at things he’s done, he’s had a really solid year.”"

On Arkansas’ run game…

"“It’s as good as any we’ve faced. It’s a big challenge, very difficult to stop for the entire game. It shortens the game so you don’t get many possessions offensively when you play them. They are willing to grind it out and shorten the game, and the offensive line is physical, and the running backs, they have a great committee of running backs.”"

On still being alive in the SEC West…

"“For that to be the case in year three here, I don’t know that I could be more pleased, for us to be in the discussions and being in the running for that speaks volumes to the job our kids have done and our staff and our administration. It’s a corporate effort. It’s everyone. I’m really, really pleased with that in year three.”"

On responding after the loss to Auburn…

"“It was a couple days of gut-wrenching feelings around here. One task of being a coach at this level is you’re going to lose some of those against good teams, and you’re disappointed and you felt like you played well enough to win it so that hurts even more and then you lose one of your better players to an injury and that’s hurts. So the combination of all that certainly hurt, but if you don’t have the ability to move on past a big win or a difficult loss you won’t be very good for the duration. We’ve bounced back quite nicely.”"

On keeping the team focused on Arkansas…

"“We’re just talking about Arkansas. They won’t have any indication from anyone around here. (The Mississippi State) game’s significance loses some of its flavor if we don’t take care of business this week. It obviously being the Egg Bowl will be very, very significant, but we certainly won’t look past Arkansas.”"

On Laremy Tunsil…

"“In year two he’s much better at finishing run blocks. He looked good in practice yesterday. I haven’t gotten a training report today. On Monday they don’t come in until a bit later in the afternoon. We’ll get one tonight, but I didn’t see anything that gave me any reservation about him being ready to go on Saturday.”"