Not good. Division I-A programs are allotted 85 scholarships. It would be like you playing 5 card stud with 3 cards in your hand. You wouldn't have a chance, even if you were wearing a cool pair of $300 Oakley's.

"That's a tough deal," Tuberville said as he surveyed his troops.

Tuberville knows. He helped dig Ole Miss out of probation. What am I getting at? It's time to lay off Coach O and give the big, intense fella time. If Ole Miss (2-7 overall, 1-5 SEC) was in such great shape when Orgeron took the gig, he probably wouldn't have gotten it. But fans don't wanna hear that. They just wanna win — now.

Many in the Southeast are quick to claim the Ole Miss brass blew it by hiring Orgeron. That he's in over his head. That he doesn't have a clue. But how can that conclusion be drawn after less than two years on the job? It's like telling your second-grader he can't go to college because he got a "C" on his spelling test.

Ole Miss A.D. Pete Boone knows all of this. He also knows it's gonna take time for Coach O. When Orgeron interviewed for the job, Boone told me he preferred to hire a guy with head coaching experience. Orgeron was surprised when Boone told him this during the interview, thinking he was fully prepared for the job after helping USC and Miami win national titles as an assistant coach. But Boone knew potholes awaited any guy who would be a head coach for the first time. Still, he thought Orgeron was his guy. To expect instant success is absurd.

Sure enough, Orgeron's short ride has featured bumps. He shook up his staff after last year and has dealt with personnel issues this season. He's smart enough to know when changes have to be made. And, Orgeron claims to be in control of this program.

It looked like it today in a strong effort by Ole Miss. And, remember: The Rebs pushed Georgia and Alabama to the hilt, programs that have vastly superior talent than Ole Miss. But Orgeron is trying to close that talent gap. (Check out recent recruiting rankings.) He just needs time.

"We still are a year or two away," he admitted. "I don't read the papers. I don't read the Internet. I'll always consider myself a champion."

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Auburn would like to be considered a champion, too. It still may happen. The Tigers have three games left. I'm gonna go ahead and say they'll win 'em all — Arkansas State and Georgia at home, and at Alabama. That could make Auburn the best one-loss team in the nation. But, it may not be enough for the Tigers to win the SEC West and play in the league title game.

If that happens, it'll be a shame. It's bad enough Auburn may need a "2001 Nebraska miracle" to play for the national championship. This is a program that has the resume of a national champion but can't seem to get over the hump. Check this out: No SEC team has a better league record (41-13) than Auburn since 2000.

It would be nice to see Tuberville and the Tigers some day get a big prize for that excellent body of work. It also would be nice if Orgeron got time to get things worked out.