'Cordial' Quarterbacks Dart and Sanders Awaiting Starter Announcement For Rebels' Opener
OXFORD, Miss. -- There comes a time when a team needs to know who its quarterback is. Both names in the running for the starting job with the Ole Miss Rebels were made available to the media on Tuesday, and while the official decision is still lingering, there is some frustration that the final call hasn't been made within the room.
When asked if it was frustrating or put a chip on his shoulder not having been named the starting quarterback as of Tuesday, Jaxson Dart, still competing with Spencer Sanders, didn't pull his punches.
"Yeah, I think so," Dart said. "Absolutely."
Despite this, Dart claims his preparation for game week hasn't changed. He still is prepping to elevate his game and lead this offense the same way he did when he arrived on campus.
"I think Year 3 for me, my mindset is trying to be the best quarterback in the country," Dart said. "Just want to push myself every day, and I've got great competition around me that's helping me do that.
"I just prepare the same way since I've been here. Nothing's ever going to change about that."
Jaxson Dart (left) and Spencer Sanders (right) are battling for the starting quarterback role at Ole Miss this season.
One of the headlining quotes from the day cannot be found on the Ole Miss YouTube page, however. That came from Spencer Sanders who is also in the running for the starting job at quarterback. Michael Katz of the Northeast Mississippi Daily Journal provided this quote on Sanders' and Dart's relationship on social media Tuesday afternoon.
"I would say it's pretty good," Sanders said. "I wouldn't say it's bad. I wouldn't say we go out and get ice cream together when we're at home, but we're cordial.
"Obviously, he's been here. He knows the offense. You know you at least have another person who was the best here before you got here. So, you learn things."
When asked how he felt he had "mastered" the offense, Sanders stated that he has progressed in that area and is controlling the controllable.
"Knowing the plays? Yeah, I'd say mastered," Sanders said. "Operating, I have a couple of difficulties here and there with new things. I kind of feel like that's life. We have new obstacles thrown at us every day, whether it's our daily job or not.
"We still do the base of what we need to do, but we always add things to make it better. Like your job, you try to ask me a question to get some hot story on the media. I'm just here to take it day-by-day and control what I can control."
Is frustration mounting? You can view Dart's and Sanders' media availabilities on the Ole Miss YouTube channel.
