SEC Football: Biggest offseason question for every team

Dec 3, 2016; Atlanta, GA, USA; Alabama Crimson Tide players celebrate winning the trophy after the SEC Championship college football game against the Florida Gators at Georgia Dome. Alabama defeated Florida 54-16. Mandatory Credit: John David Mercer-USA TODAY Sports /

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Sep 24, 2016; Oxford, MS, USA; Mississippi Rebels head coach Hugh Freeze walks off the field after the game against the Georgia Bulldogs at Vaught-Hemingway Stadium. Mississippi won 45-14. Mandatory Credit: Matt Bush-USA TODAY Sports /

Ole Miss Rebels, 5-7 (2-6)

How motivated will the Rebels be?

There are many questions facing Ole Miss heading into the 2017 season. For starters, what impact will the Rebels’ new offensive and defensive coordinators make? Especially new OC Phil Longo, who fans hope will help quarterback Shea Patterson develop into a star.

Despite personnel losses within the unit, Patterson and the Rebels should be a ton of fun to watch on offense in 2017. In case you missed it, Patterson completed 21 of 30 passes in the spring game for 341 yards and two touchdowns. The defense has most of its core back, though the Rebels struggled to keep opponents in check last season.

But, the on-field questions pale in comparison to those Ole Miss is facing off the field. The NCAA investigation at Ole Miss is well publicized, so we won’t spend too much time on it. However, the investigation could impact the motivation the Rebels have in 2017, especially since the players won’t be able to put “bowl game” or “SEC championship” on their list of preseason goals.

A 5-7 record last season was bad enough with everything already on the table, and it already looks like recruiting will take a hit. We’re not even 100 percent sure yet whether head coach Hugh Freeze will survive the NCAA mess with his job once the NCAA hands down its penalties.

Also, fan interest is already a concern. An estimated 8,000 fans were on hand for the Grove Bowl spring game this year, and though the Rebels don’t often compete with Alabama, Auburn or Georgia in terms of spring game attendance, they also probably didn’t expect to be outdrawn by South Carolina and Missouri. In fact, to date, the Rebels rank at the bottom of the pile in spring game attendance in 2017.

Spring game attendance matters about as much to a team’s performance as the types of mustard available at the stadium on game days. But, it can also help measure the excitement surrounding a program.

Right now, fans don’t seem all that excited that their team has no chance to play in a bowl game or win a conference title. That can impact fundraising and a range of other factors, plus it can impact attendance during the regular season — which does matter. A wild crowd can impact the game on the field, and empty seats can impact a coach’s support from his administration.

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