September 2, 2005
Coach O: Rebels' QB race 'a tie'
By Michael Wallace
mwallace@clarionledger.com
OXFORD — The Ole Miss starting quarterback job remains a toss-up with three days left until Monday's season opener.
Senior Micheal Spurlock and sophomore Robert Lane are in a dead heat, coach Ed Orgeron said after Thursday's practice. The Rebels are preparing to face Memphis on Labor Day at the Liberty Bowl in a game that will televised by ESPN.
"I think they're both playing well; it looks like a tie " said Orgeron, who had hoped to name a starter last Monday but said the competition has been too close to call. "We're going to have to make a decision, but it's really close in our minds. The (decision) will come down to the intangibles and looking at the whole picture."
Spurlock and Lane have taken turns leading the first-team offense this week. It appeared that Spurlock had the better day on Monday, but Lane bounced back Wednesday and did enough to impress Orgeron.
The Rebels are scheduled to hold a full-contact practice in pads today and then lighten up the workload for a walk-through on Saturday. Orgeron had said he won't name a starter until the afternoon of the game.
