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Houston Nutt
Turns out The Associated Press voters are high on the Rebels, ranking them No. 8.
It's the first time Ole Miss has appeared in the preseason since 2000, when they started the season 18th. And it's the highest preseason ranking for the Rebels since they started fifth in 1970.
Coach Houston Nutt repeated a familiar mantra when he heard of the ranking. He says the Rebels need to ignore the high expectations and "keep our blinders on."
Ole Miss is the third of five ranked Southeastern Conference teams. Florida is No. 1, Alabama is fifth, LSU is 11th and Georgia is No. 13.
The Rebels open the season Sept. 6 at Memphis.
For more on this story, see the Sunday Journal.