November 28, 2005
Orgeron fires Offensive Coordinator
Looks like the Ed Orgeron era didn't start off as planned. After a disappointing 3-8 season, Mississippi football head coach Ed Orgeron dismissed offensive coordinator Noel Mazzone.
The Biloxi Sun-Herald has more
Mazzone, 48, returned to Ole Miss for the 2004 season from North Carolina State. He served as Tommy Tuberville's offensive coordinator during Tuberville's four-year stint with the Rebels from 1995-98."Noel Mazzone will not be a member of the coaching staff next season, but will be employed by the university," said Orgeron, who referred questions to Ole Miss athletics director Pete Boone.
The Rebels' offense is ranked No. 111 out of 117 teams in Division I-A. Ole Miss averaged just 13.4 points per game and concluded a 3-8 season with a 35-14 loss to Mississippi State on Saturday in Starkville.
Ole Miss is obligated to pay Mazzone the final two years of his contract, which is estimated at $250,000 per year.
"I want to take my time (in naming a successor)," Orgeron said. "We want to find a guy who is the best fit for Ole Miss."
Perhaps losing the annual Egg Bowl to in state rival Mississippi State was the final straw, but one can't help but wonder if Mazzone was the mysterious unnamed assistant contacting Tulane players about the possibility of transferring.
*Note - corrected Ole Miss Record - Josh
Comments:
Shadow Man said:
posted on November 28, 2005 11:10 PM — 68.220.68.185 — link — abuse?
I wonder if the Mississippi AD is second guessing his decision to fire David Cutliffe after his only losing season last year. Sure the defense has improved, but that's about the only thing that has gotten any better.
Galloping_Ghost said:
posted on November 29, 2005 2:54 AM — 70.35.168.237 — link — abuse?
The AD and President at Ole Miss have aspirations beyond competing and rightfully so. Cut (Cutcliffe) did not want to make staff changes that his bosses insisted. I doubt they regret firing him, A.D.'s and university president's are pretty much the largest ego maniacs in the whole mess we call inter collegiate athletics outside of the coaches themselves. If they regret anything it may be that they did not go through Orgerons choice of OC with more of a fine toothed comb. Mazzonne has been fired and or skipped around from year to year he is like the Elmasian (Phill) of offensive coaches, (that guy just can't keep a job). I am sure Mazzonne will catch on somewhere.
LCBGator said:
posted on November 29, 2005 7:49 AM — 138.64.8.52 — link — abuse?
Is it just me or does it seem like any time an SEC team loses to Mississipi State (in the past two years), someone on the losing team's coaching staff gets fired. Last year it cost Ron Zook his job and this year Noel Mazzone. How did MSU become the proverbial last straw that is a measure of how bad your team is that you have to make changes in the staff if you lose to them?
posted on November 29, 2005 10:45 AM — 168.166.54.11 — link — abuse?Robert Knodell said:
Geoff Calkins of the Commericial Appeal basically lambasts Orgeron in today's paper, saying essentially that Mazzone was fired weeks ago and recounting blow-by-blow what a disaster this season has been for Orgeron and Ole Miss.
Andrew said:
posted on November 29, 2005 11:45 PM — 24.92.81.37 — link — abuse?
While I agree that this season has been a disaster, I don't know the Orgeron is much to blame (yet). The talent level at Ole Miss is comparatively low right now and it will take several seasons to build a program.
As far as Orgeron contacting Tulane coaches, I really don't see the problem. It was a basic and preliminary inquiry to a program that had a questionable future. It seems that no players were contacted after he spoke with the coach.
Tommie Trojan said:
posted on November 30, 2005 8:35 AM — 208.57.130.196 — link — abuse?
What a joke! I can't even understand how fickle some fans are. Ed Orgeron was our defensive line coach at USC - and we wish we still had him. Prior to that he built all of the great DL's at Miami. We have had a drop off in intensity on that line. That is part of the "problem" at USC. I have followed Mississippi somewhat - as I am interested in what Coach Orgeron is doing. We lost Coach Chow on offense also. Notice that the offense isn't having much trouble at all - but that, the defense is struggling? The guy that USC misses the most is not the great offensive guru Chow! It's Orgeron! Pete Carroll was a DC when he came to USC. Now, he has become pretty interested in what the offense is doing. Thank God! He's pretty darn good at it now. I am sure that Coach Orgeron knows, and has learned, a little bit about offense also (being at Miami and USC).
Point is: the offense at Mississippi was terrible. First off, you don't have the kind of players needed to even begin to make it successful. Next, Coach Orgeron is sending the message to the rest of the coaches that improvement is what is expected. There are no excuses! The defense improved dramatically, and I expect, it will become a very powerful unit real soon. It will take recruiting to get the offense to come around - and that might take about three more years. Nevertheless, improvement is what is to be expected each and every year. This is not about finding a scape goat. This coach knows what the standards are - and you people in Mississippi are darn lucky to have him!
Next: So what if they try and grab a couple of guys off of Tulane's squad? Some kinda problem there? They are possibly dismantling the program, right? Everything was done above board I am sure. What is the problem with talking to a few coaches to try and set up some kids for their next college? Where is the scandel? I can't see it. You got a coach trying to do everything that he can to give you good football in Mississippi and some of you want to complain! Crazy man. That team has been pathetic, except for a brief period with Eli, ever since I have been alive (and that is a long time). Some of you people act as if you got the same problem that their having over at Florida State or something. Your not FSU - your Mississippi. Be thankful that you have an excellent coach that is eventually going to give you some great football teams - one way or another. Pete Carroll was 6-6 here in his first year. WE had some talent and exploded the very next year and the rest is history. You don't have the talent that we had when Pete started, but you have great talent at the high school level in Mississippi, and all of the kids love coach Orgeron. You will begin to keep all of those kids at home. You can help by not bad mouthing your program as Ed tries and gets those kids into a Rebel uniform. Good luck.Tommie Trojan
Shadow Man said:
posted on November 30, 2005 2:44 PM — 68.220.68.185 — link — abuse?
Point taken Tommie. I had the pleasant opportunity to observe USC's spring training this past year and I know the philosphy he brings to the Ole Miss table. I love the energy, tempo, excitement, and high expectations.
I love energic young(er) coaches, and Ed I'm sure is an excellent coach, but going from defensive line coach to head coach is quite a transition. Plus he's brought controversy with him with the "picket fence" comment from the Memphis game and now the Tulane ordeal.
Still it's not fair to judge so quickly. Give him his time, because people thought Pete Carroll was about to be out the door, and look what happened. In any case, my point was more about Cutliffe's unfairness, because come on the guy didn't deserve to get fired considering how his Ole Miss teams were consistent winners (with the exception of his final year).
ColReb said:
posted on December 1, 2005 10:59 AM — 69.54.201.37 — link — abuse?
Orgeron is not Pete Carroll. He is not Norm Chow. He is a meat-headed cajun who is sending what was left of a proud (though not always good) program down the drain. There are reasons he had never been a head coach, reasons that AD Boone seemed to ignore. The one thing Ole Miss had managed to hold to is class. That is going away just about as fast as last years recruits.
Tommy Smith said:
posted on December 1, 2005 8:25 PM — 140.198.35.223 — link — abuse?
Orgeron was not qualified to become a head coach at an SEC scool. A lower d-1 or D-AA, possiblt to let him earn his wings - he is over his head - he is also arrogant, a loud mouth, and full of himself!! Good luck Ed, you will need it!!
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Robert Knodell said:
posted on November 28, 2005 9:44 PM — 12.215.224.196 — link — abuse?Actually, Orgeron himself was the coach who made the call to Tulane, he has since confirmed.
Also, word leaked out about Mazzone's firing after the debacle against LSU week before last, according to the Commercial Appeal.