MISSISSIPPI

Say goodbye to ... David Cutcliffe  
Coaching record: 44-29 in 6 seasons
Reason for leaving: Fired

Cutcliffe was the only coach in Ole Miss history to win at least seven games his first five seasons, and he was good enough not to cause quarterback Eli Manning to enroll elsewhere.

But a year after Manning’s departure to the NFL, the Rebels went 4-7. They lost four games by a total of 19 points. It was far from horrible, but not what Ole Miss fans and alumni had become accustomed to. In many respects Cutcliffe became a victim of his own success. This was one of those moves Ole Miss may one day regret.

Hello ... Ed Orgeron
Coaching record: First season as a head coach.
2005 prediction: 3-8

Mississippi clearly believes Orgeron can bring some of that USC magic back East. But it is taking a risk, as Orgeron, 43, has never been a head coach or even a coordinator. Then again, it didn’t have a lot of choice as higher-profile guys like Bobby Petrino, Dennis Erickson and Tyrone Willingham all said no thanks.

Orgeron’s reputation is built on his ability to recruit more than anything else. But he has already raised expectations, saying he wants to "build a top-of-the-line program so we can win national championships.’’ Yes, that was plural.

But it certainly won’t happen this year, as 29 lettermen have departed, highest in the league, and the Rebels are picked to finish near the bottom of the SEC West.

Long-term outlook: Well, recruiting to the pristine campus of USC and Los Angeles is one thing. Recruiting that same caliber athlete to Oxford, Miss. is quite another. Expectations are certainly higher after what Cutcliffe helped build, but whether they’re realistic or not is a whole other issue. But if Orgeron’s stint is measured by whether or not he can put together a national championship contender in the near future, it may be a short one.

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