My time at Ole Miss was in the 50’s. I was never a great football player while playing at Ole Miss, but I had great coaches. Coaches Vaught, Kinard, Poole, Hovious, Cain, Davidson and several others probably comprised the greatest coaching staff ever at Ole Miss. They were all fair, tough and earned the respect of every player on the team.

After recalling my great experience with such 5-Star Coaches this has been a difficult week (July 23) to endure. I still love the ground Ole Miss is built upon and cannot remember my spirits were as low in the 60 years since I left as this past week.

Integrity and character were never in question during the Vaught era by coaches or players. We have a tremendous amount of rebuilding to do to recreate the spirit of sports excellence, leadership in coaching and standards of integrity that the name Ole Miss has always stood for. We must find solid ground to stand on for the future. Each and every one of us who love what Ole Miss has meant to our lives must now consider it an honor to sell the true virtues of our great school to everyone that can make a positive difference.

John Carson

Ponte Vedra Beach, Florida

An open letter to Freeze from a fellow sinner

Dear Coach (for so I still think of you) Freeze,

You remember, I’m sure, that I disagree with your philosophy as a football coach; I still believe that even when you can score a lot of points, if you can’t run, and play defense, you can’t win championships.  However, right now, that isn’t something you need to worry about, is it?

Right now, it seems you’ve gotten yourself into a little bit of trouble (and I emphasize the “yourself” part).  And that’s why I’m writing you again.  That trouble is going to put coaching football in the back seat of your car for the time being, at least.

But Coach, however, flawed as a man you are, and regardless of all the mistakes you have surely made, you and your family don’t deserve the cesspool of abuse now being heaped upon you.  Since we both know the Bible, I can use some shorthand here:

Advice to your detractors: John 8:7 and Matthew 7:1-2.

Advice to you: Deuteronomy 32:35.

Advice to you and your family: Matthew 11:28 and, especially, although not from the Bible, this attributed to Solomon: “This too will pass away.”

Best of luck, Coach, from one sinner to another.

Owen Goudelocke

Lafayette, Louisiana