Rebel Dave
11-08-2007, 08:40 AM
May God help us all.
Chancellor Robert Khayat said Wednesday morning that both Athletic Director Pete Boone and football head coach Ed Orgeron are at Ole Miss to stay.
Khayat's comments came in the wake of increasing calls from some Rebel fans and users on Ole Miss sports message boards who say the way to improve the dismal performance of the football team - which is 3-7 overall and 0-6 in the SEC with games left against LSU and Mississippi State - is to fire not only Orgeron, but also Boone. Rumors have also swirled recently about failing contract negotiations between Boone and the university.
"There is no basis for the rumors on Boone being on his way out," Khayat told the university's media advisory board, a group of student journalists, journalism professors and staff members from the Student Media Center. "The success of our athletics teams has absolutely been in a positive direction."
Khayat pointed to the growth of the athletics budget from $8 million in 1995 to $40 million in 2007 as evidence of Boone's good work.
"I think there are a lot of reasons for patting Pete Boone on the back," Khayat said. "The only negative thing I see is this football season. Ole Miss is blossoming."
The chancellor has also been widely quoted lately in state newspapers saying that he has full faith in embattled head coach Orgeron. Khayat stayed with his message Wednesday morning, praising Orgeron's skill for recruiting and for the work he has done attracting top-notch talent to the team so far.
"(Coach O) has a national reputation for being one of the hardest working coaches out there," he said. "He lives on competition."
Khayat also gave Orgeron high marks for his insistence that players perform well both on and off the field.
"Our agreement with him is that we will have an integrity-based athletic program," he said. "Coach O is committed to that. We're committed to Coach Orgeron. I believe that continuity is important."
Chancellor Robert Khayat said Wednesday morning that both Athletic Director Pete Boone and football head coach Ed Orgeron are at Ole Miss to stay.
Khayat's comments came in the wake of increasing calls from some Rebel fans and users on Ole Miss sports message boards who say the way to improve the dismal performance of the football team - which is 3-7 overall and 0-6 in the SEC with games left against LSU and Mississippi State - is to fire not only Orgeron, but also Boone. Rumors have also swirled recently about failing contract negotiations between Boone and the university.
"There is no basis for the rumors on Boone being on his way out," Khayat told the university's media advisory board, a group of student journalists, journalism professors and staff members from the Student Media Center. "The success of our athletics teams has absolutely been in a positive direction."
Khayat pointed to the growth of the athletics budget from $8 million in 1995 to $40 million in 2007 as evidence of Boone's good work.
"I think there are a lot of reasons for patting Pete Boone on the back," Khayat said. "The only negative thing I see is this football season. Ole Miss is blossoming."
The chancellor has also been widely quoted lately in state newspapers saying that he has full faith in embattled head coach Orgeron. Khayat stayed with his message Wednesday morning, praising Orgeron's skill for recruiting and for the work he has done attracting top-notch talent to the team so far.
"(Coach O) has a national reputation for being one of the hardest working coaches out there," he said. "He lives on competition."
Khayat also gave Orgeron high marks for his insistence that players perform well both on and off the field.
"Our agreement with him is that we will have an integrity-based athletic program," he said. "Coach O is committed to that. We're committed to Coach Orgeron. I believe that continuity is important."