All in the family: Manning's the Rebels' man

By John Adams, News-Sentinel sports editor
08/01/01 11:57 PM Central

Knoxville, TN (AP) - Ole Miss sophomore quarterback Eli Manning has never started a college football game, but you could make a case for him as the All-SEC quarterback. Your case would rest on genetics.

Eli's father, Archie Manning, passed for 1,510 yards and ran for 208 as a sophomore in his first year as a starting quarterback at Ole Miss. Eli's brother, Peyton Manning, completed 64.2 percent of his passes for 2,954 yards as a sophomore at Tennessee.

Eli Manning spent last season backing up Romaro Miller but looked like a veteran in spring practice.

"The thing about Eli, he doesn't waste any time," coach David Cutcliffe said. "He has made every practice count."

Cutcliffe knows what it takes to make an All-SEC quarterback. He helped develop three - Peyton, Heath Shuler and Tee Martin - at the University of Tennessee.

Cutcliffe's reputation as a quarterback guru continues to serve him well as a recruiter. Ole Miss signed two highly touted quarterbacks this year, Michael Spurlock of Indianola, Miss., and Seth Smith of Jackson, Miss.

STACKED BACKFIELD: Senior tailback Joe Gunn is expected to be the Rebels' primary running back this season but don't forget about fullback Charles Stackhouse, a 6-2, 240-pound powerful blocker who averaged 4.9 yards on 37 carries last season.

Stackhouse is fast for his size, and Cutcliffe hopes to use him as he did former UT fullback Shawn Bryson, who was a running and receiving threat.

GO FIGURE: Although the Rebels (and Vanderbilt) gave up an SEC-worst 1,961 yards last season, they enjoyed considerable success against the pass. Ole Miss ranked ninth nationally in pass-efficiency defense and 20th nationally in pass defense.

Perhaps opponents reasoned: Why risk a pass when it's so easy to run?

UT CONNECTION: Redshirt freshman wide receiver Billy Flowers is the son of former UT star receiver and hurdler, Richmond Flowers, who led the Vols in receiving in 1967.

Like his father, Billy is an accomplished hurdler, having won the Mississippi state championship in the 55-meter and 300-meter hurdles.

WELL TRAVELED: Road trips shouldn't faze Ole Miss linebacker L.P. Spence, who feels comfortable with a suitcase in hand.

He originally signed with Ole Miss but never enrolled. Instead, he attended Valley Forge Military Academy in Pennsylvania. From there, he went to Arkansas State. He transferred from there to Northeast (Miss.) Community College.

As of this writing, he was expected to play at Ole Miss in the fall.

GOLDEN ERA: The Rebels have won seven or more games for four consecutive seasons for the first time since 1968-1971.

QUOTEBOOK: New Ole Miss defensive coordinator Don Lindsey on David Cutcliffe, whom he had never met until he interviewed with him for a job: "Obviously, he has proved himself as a coach. But he's a first-class person, a gentleman. I just think he's solid."