Ole Miss players publicly back Hugh Freeze’s program after new NCAA allegations

Ole Miss self-imposed a postseason ban for its 2017 season, after the NCAA piled eight more compliance allegations on top of the 13 it levied against the football program last year. The full list of 21 allegations (ranked here by zest) includes several Level I violations, the most serious type. Included in those: that two boosters paid at least $13,000 to a recruit who didn’t even decide to play for Ole Miss.

The situation has become a real mess. Naturally, some former and current Ole Miss players responded via Twitter of the news. Here’s a sampling of that.

Offensive lineman Javon Patterson:

Defensive end Marquis Haynes:

Receiver A.J. Brown:

Tight end Jacob Mathis:

Offensive lineman Jordan Sims:

Offensive lineman Tyler Putman:

Offensive lineman Chandler Tuitt:

Former Ole Miss lineman Robert Conyers:

Former Rebels basketball player Marshall Henderson, known as the SEC’s villain for opposing teams a few years ago:

Former Ole Miss receiver Ja’mes Logan had a different take:

Former Ole Miss quarterback Bo Wallace saw this tweet:

And Wallace responded this way:

Former Rebels cornerback Senquez Golson also replied to the same tweet.

Here’s strength coach Paul Jackson:

Head coach Hugh Freeze responded to the above, “Amen!”

On another hand, here’s a four-star 2017 recruit who picked Mississippi State over Ole Miss and is feeling pretty good about it:

Freeze violated “responsibility legislation,” per the NCAA. Essentially, he’s being seen as responsible for things his staff members are alleged to have done, which Ole Miss is contesting. Here’s what Freeze had to say on Wednesday following the release of the nine new allegations.

From the moment I arrived in December 2011, I have emphasized to all of my staff that our program is founded on certain core values – faith, attitude, mental toughness, integrity and love. Integrity – doing things the right way. I am extremely disappointed to learn that any member of my staff violated any SEC or NCAA rules, and as the head coach, I regret those actions. Any behavior by my staff that is inconsistent with that commitment to do things the right way simply does not reflect the emphasis I personally place on NCAA compliance.

As the record will show, I am constantly communicating to our compliance office, the SEC office, and industry leaders to make sure we are using best practices when it comes to doing things the right way. Contrary to the allegations, I have demonstrated throughout this entire process that I have a strong record of promoting compliance and monitoring my staff, and I look forward to presenting that evidence to the Committee on Infractions.

For the most part, the Ole Miss players who’ve made public comments have lined up behind their school. Ole Miss has 90 days to respond to the NCAA’s updated Notice of Allegations with its new charges, and this story’s still a long way from over.