Luke tries to pull together shattered Ole Miss program
The task of pulling together Mississippi’s shattered football program is now in the hands of interim coach Matt Luke.
The 40-year-old was promoted from co-offensive coordinator on Thursday in the stunning aftermath of coach Hugh Freeze’s resignation for a “pattern of personal misconduct” that started with the school’s investigation into a call to an escort service.
It’s just the latest issue facing the embattled Rebels.
While Luke has been an assistant during Freeze’s entire fiveplus year tenure, his name has not been linked to the ongoing NCAA investigation of the program. Luke also has deep family ties to the university and north Mississippi, playing offensive line for the Rebels from 1995-98.
Now he has a 12-game audition for the full-time job.
It’s not an ideal situation , but it’s not completely bleak either.
“Matt is a great coach,” Ole Miss athletic director Ross Bjork said when announcing the school was turning the program over to Luke. “He’s a leader. He’s a rock. He’s an Ole Miss Rebel. And I’m confident — and especially even more confident after watching him address the team — that he will lead this team and program through this difficult time.”
Bjork also noted that Wesley McGriff, the team’s defensive coordinator, has been promoted to associate head coach. Luke was not immediately available for interviews in the aftermath of Freeze’s resignation.
Luke is now in charge of a program that still has a talented roster — especially on offense — but is in the midst of long-running NCAA investigation that’s already caused the school to impose a one-year bowl ban for the upcoming season.
The offense features several promising young players, including sophomores like quarterback Shea Patterson, left tackle Greg Little and receivers A.J. Brown and D.K. Metcalf.
Luke needs to hold on to them to have success. But it is unclear if any players on the current roster will transfer in the wake of Freeze bombshell.
Bjork said “it’s hard to say” if there will be any roster changes. He said players are currently in summer workouts and several are in summer school. They’ll also have a few days off before preseason camp on Aug. 2.
“We will give them space. We will listen,” Bjork said. “And whatever they decide to do, we will support them.”
Ole Miss was under a lot of stress even before Freeze’s resignation. The Rebels are in the middle of an NCAA rules infractions case that includes 21 charges of academic, booster, and recruiting misconduct. Fifteen of those allegations are currently classified as Level I, which the NCAA deems most serious.
The school has already selfimposed several sanctions, including the postseason ban, scholarship restrictions and recruiting restrictions. More penalties could be coming after an NCAA decision in the case, which is expected later this year.
Tennessee’s Shoop: Suit won’t be a distraction
KNOXVILLE, TENN. » Tennessee defensive coordinator Bob Shoop doesn’t expect a lawsuit filed against him by his former employer to be a distraction as the Volunteers’ defense attempts to bounce back from a disappointing season.
Penn State sued Shoop for breach of contract over the circumstances of his January 2016 departure. Shoop has filed a counterclaim indicating he was forced out rather than leaving Penn State on his own.
“It’s not a distraction Shoop said. at all,”