Rebels' QB Spurlock gets second chance

HOOVER, Ala. - Micheal Spurlock will sit at one end of a conference table in a posh hotel today surrounded by sports writers.In that regard he will be just like 23 other college football players who will represent 12 Southeastern Conference schools at the league's media days through Friday.There is one striking difference between Spurlock and his peers, however.He's the guy who can't take starting for granted. - College Football -
Micheal Spurlock left spring drills hearing his coach talk about a wide-open quarterback competition in August. Ed Orgeron went so far as to include incoming freshman Billy Tapp in the mix, even though he has experienced players Robert Lane and Ethan Flatt to go along with Spurlock.He's since shortened that assessment to a two-man race between Lane and Spurlock.With Lane - favored by many Ole Miss fans - injured for the second half of spring, Spurlock got the bulk of the attention. He moved the team at times but didn't do enough to lock up the starting job. - College Football -
His mere presence at this event says that Orgeron expects him to positively impact Ole Miss football. If it isn't as the quarterback, it will be at some other position.His first chance will be at quarterback, however, if for no other reason than this widely known coaching profession fact:They have egos.Coaches by nature are control freaks, confident in themselves and their systems.A new guy coming in can look at Spurlock's athleticism and become almost giddy. - College Football -
Ed Orgeron will look at Spurlock's speed and talent and say to himself, "I can get it out of him. I can make him a productive player."Maybe he can. Maybe an offense that moves the quarterback out of the pocket more will be Spurlock's cup of tea.If the cup turns over, and the offense spills across the Liberty Bowl turf Sept. 5, the hook needs to come quickly. This time there's someone to turn to.Lane, a sophomore, has shown himself to be a talented, productive player. He was pivotal in the win against South Carolina and led the Rebels past Mississippi State in the season finale. - College Football -
He brings a tougher mindset than Spurlock and a different type of mobility, running through defenders or dragging them, rather than running away from them.Lane will get a chance to win the job in August.The odd man out in last year's mid-season three-quarterback rotation is Flatt, a nine-game starter and 60 percent passer but a mobility liability."Etched in sand" is the catch phrase Ole Miss coaches like to use when pressed to comment on depth charts.For Spurlock, wobbling in ankle-deep sand is far better footing than he had at the end of last season.He has a second chance to justify the faith of his head coach, albeit a different one. - College Football -

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