1 Arkansas and Auburn are two programs on the rise in the West, and Alabama and LSU have been at the top. In your mind, where does Ole Miss fit in?
NUTT: Well, I’ve been here 13 times, and most of the time I’ve been picked towards the bottom. I don’t really worry about that. I never have. It doesn’t matter where you put us. I understand you guys picked us last. Thank you. That’s all right. It’s good. It really doesn’t matter.
2 Momentum-wise, how important is having four of your first five games in Oxford as far as gaining some momentum before you play Alabama, Arkansas and Auburn?
NUTT: The schedule is really in our favor early on, but I want to make sure our players don’t look it like maybe their relatives are looking at it, like, “OK. One, two, three, four, five, six. You should win the first six.” Hold on now. Let’s get these practices going. Let’s get better. Let’s get the snap from the center. We’ve got a lot of work to do.
3 On a 1-to-10 scale, how important is football to the identity of your school?
NUTT: It’s hard to put a number on it, but I know that it’s very important. If you were to walk in the Grove before a game, you would say it’s a 10, because it’s one of the best atmospheres in America. I’ve been trying to coach them for two years to make sure they leave the Grove and get in the stadium early. They did a much better job last year.
4 The 2011 Chick-Fil-A Classic kickoff game hasn’t been booked yet. Would you make a case for moving the home game with Boise State to Atlanta, if you could, for the attention?
NUTT: I’d like to play in that game. I’d like to go there. Our fans are all pumped up about the Boise State game, but I had to remind them that we have a season now – not next year, now. I probably would like to leave everything like it is, but please give us a rain check. We want to come play there.
5 A lot has been made about the search for the next mascot at Ole Miss. What are your thoughts?
NUTT: I haven’t been too worried about that. We’re the Ole Miss Rebels. That’s what I go by. Our students are going to handle that, and I’m going to let them handle that. What I do know is that we’re the Ole Miss Rebels and that they’re going to pick a good one.