His team is 1-2 and coming off two disappointing losses in which it clearly did not play well.

His team faces 10th-ranked Tennessee (2-1, 1-1 SEC) today, still without two of his better players -- junior linebacker Patrick Willis (sprained knee, broken finger) and senior receiver Mario Hill (hamstring).

Add to that the Vols are returning home after a gritty, 30-27 overtime win at LSU in which they overcame a 21-0 deficit, and it's easy to see why Ole Miss coach Ed Orgeron has a myriad of concerns as the Rebels prepare to play their first game at Neyland Stadium since 1997.

He's worried about the youth and inexperience at middle linebacker as the Rebels must again play without their defensive leader, Willis. There's the missed tackles that have played a key role in losses to Vanderbilt and Wyoming.

There's the offensive line play that has failed to produce consistent holes for the running backs, while allowing too much pressure to get to the quarterback. That hasn't helped a passing game that's still not in sync.

You would think the Rebels would be dreading this game, one which has them a 21-point underdog. Instead, Ole Miss claims it's ready to get it on.

''I think they're fine,'' Orgeron said of his team. ''I think they're going to come out excited to play Tennessee.''

The Rebels find themselves at 1-2 for the second straight season. Last year, they went on to finish 4-7, their first losing season since 1996.

The seniors spent the week encouraging the underclassmen, with hopes of heading off another disappointing season.

''Some of these freshmen haven't been through this before, but I've been through it,'' senior cornerback Travis Johnson said. ''I had a losing season last year, and I know how it is to lose. But I don't like to lose, and it's hard right now. I'm trying to put it behind me and just go out there and focus.

''We're just down two games, and we still can have a great season like we did then. We just have to put these losses behind us and focus.''

Rather than follow the path of last year's team, the Rebels hope to duplicate what they did in 2003. After going 2-2 in September that year, and coming off a 49-45 loss at home to Texas Tech, not many gave Ole Miss a chance as it headed to The Swamp to face Florida.

But a late touchdown drive resulted in a 20-17 win that served as the impetus for a co-SEC Western Division title and a 10-win season.

''It's a one-game season,'' senior quarterback Micheal Spurlock said. ''We're thinking about nobody but Tennessee. We have to put everything that's happened behind us and think about Tennessee.''

If they're to come anywhere close to the success of 2003, the Rebels have a lot to shore up, starting with the offensive line. Orgeron is hoping that inserting junior Andrew Wicker at left guard will help solve some of those problems.

Ole Miss's line will be facing one of the top defensive lines in the SEC. Tennessee has the league's top run defense, allowing just 73 yards per game.

''It's going to be a challenge for us,'' Orgeron said. ''We have to be able to scheme 'em and be able to block them.''

Defensively, the Rebels will also be challenged trying to contain Tennessee running back Gerald Riggs Jr., who is averaging 95 yards a game and scored the game winner at LSU.