November 25, 2005
Stallings' streak to end in finale
By Michael Wallace
mwallace@clarionledger.com
OXFORD — Tre Stallings remembers it as if it happened just a few games ago.
Then just a redshirt freshman offensive lineman, Stallings took the field in Ole Miss' 2002 opener against Louisiana-Monroe.
It was the start of an ironman streak that will end four years and 48 consecutive starts later when Stallings plays in his final game as a Rebel at right tackle Saturday when Ole Miss (3-7, 1-6 SEC) visits Mississippi State (2-8, 0-7).
"It means a lot to me to have played in that many games," said Stallings, who has lined up at both right and left tackle. "It doesn't seem that long ago I was playing as a freshman, just struggling. But I take a lot of pride in what I do."
Stallings' streak is the third-longest in the SEC. He will tie the Ole Miss consecutive starts record set by former guard Marcus Johnson, who was Stallings' teammate from 2001-04.
Stallings' streak nearly ended midway through last season when he suffered an ankle sprain in an Oct. 9, 2003, game at South Carolina. Stallings barely practiced the next week, but drew the start Oct. 16 against Tennessee.
"I really didn't think I was going to come back and play," Stallings said. "But I've got a lot of heart. It was just a mindset of me wanting to get out there and play to the best of my abilities."
COACH 'O' REVERSES FIELD: Coach Ed Orgeron opened the week saying that backup QB Micheal Spurlock would not play at tailback in Saturday's Egg Bowl. But a productive week from Spurlock, who has had at least 5 runs of 20-plus yards in scrimmages, has forced Orgeron to reconsider. Jamal Pittman or Larry Kendrick will start, but Spurlock is in the mix.
"If the other guys aren't ready, he'll definitely take a couple of snaps there," Orgeron said.
INJURY UPDATE: WR Mario Hill (hamstring) and RB Mico McSwain (ankle) are out. FB/TE Robert Lane (shoulder) is questionable.
