Ole Miss - Cutcliff Fired | TigerFan.com

raylsu · Dec 1, 2004

http://sports.espn.go.com/ncf/news/story?id=1936031

Reported cause: Coach's refusal to ax coordinators
Mississippi coach David Cutcliffe was fired Wednesday after the team's worst season in 10 years, according to sources close to the program.

There is a news conference scheduled for 3 p.m. in Oxford, Miss., and the school will announce the firing of Cutcliffe and his entire staff, according to reports.

Cutcliffe was fired after refusing to get rid of some of his coaches, sources told ESPN. Two of them reportedly were offensive coordinator John Latina and defensive coordinator Chuck Driesbach.

Driesbach has been the target of significant criticism, ESPN.com's Pat Forde reported Monday. The Rebels slid to 4-7 after going 10-3 last year.

Speculation about Cutcliffe's future has been heated all week, with the coach meeting with athletic director Pete Boone and chancellor Robert Khayat on Tuesday after a talk with Boone on Monday.

Cutcliffe was the only coach in school history to win at least seven games in his first five years. However, his first losing season cost him his job.

Last season, was Cutcliffe's best at Ole Miss. He led the Rebels and quarterback Eli Manning to a 10-3 season and a share of the Southeastern Conference West division title.

But without Manning, the first pick in the NFL draft, Ole Miss struggled. The Rebels were 3-5 in the SEC this season, losing four games by a total of 19 points.

Cutcliffe has three years remaining on a contract that pays about $1.2 million annually, including perks and bonuses. He was 44-29 in six seasons at Ole Miss and 25-23 in the SEC.

Rumors were rampant in Oxford on Monday that Cutcliffe, who is 44-29 in six seasons with the school, would resign or be fired.

When asked after Ole Miss' annual season-ending Egg Bowl game against Mississippi State whether he'd be coach of the Rebels in 2005, Cutcliffe offered no assurances.

"It's not up to me," Cutcliffe told the (Jackson) Clarion-Ledger. "That's not my decision."

One coach expected to interview for the Ole Miss job is Southern California defensive line coach Ed Orgeron, according to ESPN the Magazine's Bruce Feldman.

Information from The Associated Press was used in this report.
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TigerInTally · Dec 1, 2004

Man, this is shaping up to be a tough offseason.

The coaches seem to be falling left and right. So far we have
Zook
Willingham
Holtz (but I wasn't fired!)
Dinardo
Teevans - Stanford
Cutcliff
Crowton
John Thompson - ECU
Ron Turner
Washingon's coach

and I think a bunch of smaller programs as well.

KTeamLSU · Dec 1, 2004

Rich Nuehiesal or however you spell it wasss on the hot seat, but with the Big XII North Championship, he is probably safe for another season.

TSdude · Dec 1, 2004

Those hoity toity idiots at Ole Miss just screwed themselves. Cutcliffe was the best coach they've had since Johnny Vaught and they fire him. 44-29 record and this was the Rebs first losing season. Oh by the way he did beat Nebraska and Oklahoma in bowl games. What a bunch of buffoons...LMAO! Who do they think they'll get that's going to be better that Cutcliffe? I tell you this, it isn't Ed Orgeron. Good guy, but not a head coach and especially in the SEC. Gerry DiNardo is available!

KTeamLSU · Dec 1, 2004

TSdude said:

Those hoity toity idiots at Ole Miss just screwed themselves. Cutcliffe was the best coach they've had since Johnny Vaught and they fire him. 44-29 record and this was the Rebs first losing season. Oh by the way he did beat Nebraska and Oklahoma in bowl games. What a bunch of buffoons...LMAO! Who do they think they'll get that's going to be better that Cutcliffe? I tell you this, it isn't Ed Orgeron. Good guy, but not a head coach and especially in the SEC. Gerry DiNardo is available!
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Watch for Archie Manning to start coaching Ole Miss. Mark my words.

TSdude · Dec 1, 2004

Neuheisel????

KTeamLSU said:

Rich Nuehiesal or however you spell it wasss on the hot seat, but with the Big XII North Championship, he is probably safe for another season.
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Neuheisel was fired from Washington for betting in a college hoops pool. Oh, he was cleared of wrongdoing. But he did take home like $5K in winnings, what an entry fee that must be.
Gary Barnett at Colorado was just named the Big 12 Coach of the Year for leading the Buff to the Championship Game.

TejasTiger · Dec 1, 2004

Sucks for Cutcliff, rocks for LSU. Not that the Rebs were gonna be a threat next year anyway, but breaking in a brand-new coach kinda seals that deal.

KTeamLSU · Dec 1, 2004

TSdude said:

Neuheisel was fired from Washington for betting in a college hoops pool. Oh, he was cleared of wrongdoing. But he did take home like $5K in winnings, what an entry fee that must be.
Gary Barnett at Colorado was just named the Big 12 Coach of the Year for leading the Buff to the Championship Game.
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Thanks for correcting me, although I did think that the Colorado coach was on the hot seat this season.

BB · Dec 1, 2004

Ole Miss should contact Ron Zook - I'm not even kidding. Mississippi is a recruiting war and Zook needs a job.

I think Zook would be a HUGE upgrade and a wonderful get for them. Just keep him away from fraternity row...

KTeamLSU · Dec 1, 2004

Libertad76 said:

Cutliffe's continuity or Archie's name appeal is the only thing that could possibly save Ole Piss in their ongoing recruting competition with Croom. If they try plugging a run-of-the-mill coach in there, could they be in for trouble?

Related Question: Does anyone think that Sylvester Croom's racial identity will help him in recruiting?

Implication: Will black guys choose a black coach over a school with as much "Old South" tradition as Ole Piss? Will this spell the end of Ole Piss?
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Yes. And after all of the commericals on ESPN about the racist Alabama program and them picking Shula over him. He will be able to recruit the hell outa Bama to.