Posted by: Chris Vannini on February 5, 2013

Archie Manning admits the expectations were not high for Ole Miss last season.

As co-chair of the search committee, Manning was excited for what Hugh Freeze could bring, but thought it would be hard to get out of the basement of the SEC in year one.

Instead, the Rebels went 7-6 with a bowl win, and have continued the momentum by getting ready to sign a top recruiting class. Manning, the former Ole Miss quarterback, talked with The Tim Brando Show about the excitement around the program.

"We're really proud of Hugh," Manning said. "That was a really fun experience for me to be the co-chair of that search committee. Hugh really jumped out at us as someone who was very passionate about the Ole Miss job, a lifetime dream. That someone that could come to Ole Miss, turn us around and get the job done there and get us out of the bottom of the SEC, but also someone who would stay with us for a long time.

"With where we were, I don't think anybody thought anyone could go up there and win more than two, three or four football games last year, and he won seven. Then topped that off with the type of recruiting class that they're having right now, it's really fun.

"You add Ross Bjork, our athletic, to the mix, and for the first time in 20 years, we've got everybody at Ole Miss pulling on the same rope. It's a fun time up there.

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Chris Vannini is the lead writer for CoachingSearch.com and has covered Michigan State sports for The State News, The Oakland Press and MLive.com. He writes a weekly column for the Detroit Free Press on behalf of SB Nation. Vannini lives in Big Ten country, so his foot speed is far from SEC caliber, but his pulse on coaches is hard to match. Be sure to follow @CoachingBuzz on twitter and send your feedback to chris@coachingsearch.com