The Ole Miss Rebels started their trek towards this years conference football games when fall camp opened on Sunday, August 8 at 5:25 pm. For starters the team will be warming up on their basic routines before they don their full gear on Thursday, August 12. The camp activities are open to outsiders who can watch from a distance. There are new developments in the team.

First and foremost is the absence of their Offense Coordinator, Kent Austin who had earlier left for his job as head coach at Cornell University. Earlier this year, Coach Houston Nutt had signed in Dave Rader as the team’s co-offensive coordinator and quarterback’s coach.

The 52-year-old Rader was occupied as a businessman when Nutt approached him. He has accumulated 9 years in the position of assistant coach. He has also 12 years of experience as head coach. This year will be his fourth time in the Southeastern Conference. His last job in football was from 2003- 2006 as a member of coach Mike Shula’s staff who was them coaching Alabama. Rader is a mechanical engineering graduate of Tulsa U whom he played for as starting quarterback. He was made an inductee into the Independence Bowl Hall of Fame in 1999. Currently, Rader shares his position with fellow offensive coordinator Mike Markuson.

It came as a surprise to everyone when, just before fall camp opened, it was announced that “Tig” Barksdale, the 2007 Mr. Football, had been terminated from the team. Earlier, Barksdale had been arrested for DUI and driving without a license. Then, last spring he committed a “violation of team rules” and was suspended. This time around, no reason was given for his dismissal other than that he was pressed to see to some personal issues.

There were around 400 guests attending the opening and most of these had come purposely to get a glimpse at Jeremiah Masoli. He was a star player of the University of Oregon until 2009. He had had six football awards while with Oregon. Included are the 2008 Holiday Bowl Most Valuable Player, the College Football Performance Awards of 2009 for Elite Nation and QB Performer and the College Football Awards of 2009 for Midseason Favorite.

All but one of his awards were received in 2009. In the early part of 2009, he was convicted of second-degree burglary for which he was suspended from playing for 2010. A few months later, he was again convicted of misdemeanors related to drugs and traffic violations. He was then dismissed from the team.

His status with Ole Miss Rebels is ‘zero-tolerance.’ According to Coach Nutt, if he behaves well and shows the same performance in football that he showed with Oregon, the team can definitely use him for its offense. Right now it is a choice between him and Nathan Stanley as to who is to head the defense.

Masoli has only one season left to play so coach Nutt must be thinking about getting some of his techniques of play and teaching them to the team members who have more time to play with the team. Me might be able to teach Ole Miss Quarterbacks something before he graduates.

Some junior players who did well in the spring games may be given key positions in this year’s games. These are Damien Jackson, Wayne Dorsey and Randall Mackey.

Freddie Brister is a big fan of Sports check out his: Ole Miss Watch and his: UCLA Wallet today. azfqds234g.