Among many items Pete Boone addressed yesterday was the recently launched $150 million capital campaign.

Boone is adamant that the current state of the football program will not have an adverse effect on the school's ability to meet its long-term fund-raising goals.

“I would say I don't think there are any broken bones, but there are some bruises. The beginning of this year is certainly not the way most successful campaigns would take off, but the fact is, the campaign is bigger than a game, and it's bigger than a season. It's about Ole Miss' future. That's what I think our fans are focused on. Where are we going to be five years from now and 10 years from now? Yeah, we will have some times like this, and this won't be the only one probably in the next three years before we get it kicked off, but you have to look at what's in the best interest long-term for Ole Miss, and that's what this campaign is about. And we've had some very good initial success.”

He didn't offer any specifics on the bruises, and it may be too early to evaluate the long-term.

Long-term, as the name suggests, is a long way away. The campaign may not be affected by an embarrassing 30-7 to Vanderbilt, but there's a better than average chance it will be affected if problems aren't corrected.

Certainly something to keep an eye on.

The long-range plans for Vaught-Hemingway Stadium are exciting and, if enacted, will totally revitalize the stadium and enhance an already strong game-day atmosphere.

But those plans are on the back end of the capital campaign. There's immediate need for a basketball arena, and that's the first step with any money the campaign generates.