OXFORD, Miss. -- These should be grand times for Mississippis football program.And in many ways during Mondays first preseason practice, thats exactly how it felt. After all, the Rebels are coming off a 10-win season, including a Sugar Bowl victory over Oklahoma State, and are now a program thats viewed among the upper tier of the loaded Southeastern Conference.Senior quarterback Chad Kelly, a longshot Heisman Trophy candidate, was zinging passes. Talented defensive linemen like Breeland Speaks and Marquis Haynes looked imposing during drills. At almost every position, the Rebels had the look and feel of an elite program.I really like the look of our team, Ole Miss coach Hugh Freeze said. I love our coaching staff. The chemistry and consistency that weve been able to maintain here speaks to our core values and our administration.But all is not well in Oxford. An ongoing four-year NCAA investigation continues to hover over the football program, leaving an unmistakable feeling of uneasiness. Is a postseason ban coming? A suspension for Freeze? Or is it just the loss of some scholarships and a few years of probation that the university already self-imposed?Nobody knows. And until theres some clarity, the questions will continue.Freeze is adamant that while the outside world might be concerned about the NCAA investigation, it hasnt stole our joy at all.Kelly said its not even part of their world. Youre better off not reading anything on Twitter or newspapers or TV because it seems like they always want to talk about it. For us, weve just got to focus on football.Freeze and Ole Miss have good reason to make sure the focus remains on the field. The Rebels have a hard September schedule, starting with a neutral site opener against Florida State on Sept. 5. They also have back-to-back home games against Alabama and Georgia.Its not hard to motivate our kids, Freeze said. They understand whats in front of them.Kellys presence is maybe the top reason for why the Rebels are confident they can be a factor in the SECs Western Division. He threw for more than 4,000 yards in 2015 while also running for 500 yards in his first full season as a starter.There also are experienced receivers like Damoreea Stringfellow and Quincy Adeboyejo, along with tight end Evan Engram. On defense, the Rebels return five starters and several backups that had significant playing time last season. Veteran defensive tackle Issac Gross returns after missing most of last season with a neck injury and will bring what Freeze called a breath of fresh air.Ole Miss officials, meanwhile, are trying to ease off-the-field concerns.Athletic director Ross Bjork spent a sizable portion of his spring and summer addressing various fan groups. In some instances, the gatherings drew record crowds, with fans still on a high after the Sugar Bowl win and back-to-back victories over mighty Alabama.Bjork said he could sense the optimism, but also felt the concern about the NCAAs shadow.Ole Miss has already received a Notice of Allegations from the NCAA, which includes 13 violations for the football program. The school released its response in May, but the case is in limbo while the school investigates more allegations involving former left tackle Laremy Tunsil.The key thats very important is saying, look, were not going anywhere. Were building a program to last, Bjork said in July. Were not a one-hit wonder. Were not just the last four years, were really building for the next 40 years.So I think thats how you have to approach it -- long-term success can happen. (The NCAA investigation) is a challenge. Its a bump in the road, but were going to get through it and were going to continue to build the program the right way.-----Follow David Brandt on Twitter: www.twitter.com/davidbrandtAP-----AP college football website: www.collegefootball.ap.org Cheap China Jerseys Authentic . -- Edmontons Val Sweeting is two wins away from a trip to Winnipeg to play in Canadas Road of the Rings in December. Cheap Football Jerseys China . Hamelin, who triumphed in the 500 on Saturday, edged out Victor An of Russia by 0.021 seconds to maintain his lead in the World Cup standings. Russias Vladimir Grigorev was third. In the relay, Canada took control six laps from the finish line to beat Russia and the Netherlands. http://www.jerseyswholesale.us/ . "It doesnt get any better than that," Giambi said. "Im speechless." The Indians are roaring toward October. Giambi belted a two-run, pinch-hit homer with two outs in the ninth inning to give Cleveland a shocking 5-4 win over the Chicago White Sox on Tuesday night, keeping the Indians up with the lead pack in the AL wild-card race. NFL Jerseys Outlet .C. -- When North Carolina freshman Ryan Switzer reported to training camp in August he was a little miffed to learn he was third on the depth chart at punt returner. Wholesale Nike NFL Jerseys . It might not have mattered. While the Dodgers are preparing for the playoffs, the Padres showed their future has promise behind two rookies. RICHMOND, Va. -- On Day 10 of training camp, Robert Griffin III was lobbying to do more. His coachs response: Cool your heels. "We do have a plan for him. He may not always like that plan, but thats my job sometimes -- not to be liked," coach Mike Shanahan said. "My job is to do the best thing for him, and thats what Ill do." Griffin went 13 for 16 with one interception -- on a ball tipped by the receiver -- on Monday during 7-on-7 drills at Washington Redskins training camp. He hasnt been allowed to take part in 11-on-11s and wont get the chance until at least next week, after Thursdays first preseason game against the Tennessee Titans. Griffin wont play in that game -- hes unlikely to play at all in the preseason -- but hes itching to ratchet up his practice routine as he works his way back from reconstructive knee surgery. "Im ready to move on," Griffin said. "I mean, you can only do so much in 7-on-7. The completion percentage is there. I feel like the rhythm is there with the guys. ... Coach will tell you something else, but obviously Im ready to move on." Griffin hasnt hit every throw, but hes getting more zip on the ball as the days progress and is getting more of a regular push-off with his right leg. He looked especially sharp on a 20-yard completion through a tight window to Dezmon Briscoe. The pace of his rehab has been remarkable considering that his surgery was less than eight months ago. He said he was actually ahead of this pace -- as far as his practice regimen was concerned -- when he had a similar injury while in college at Baylor, and that the extra attention his injury has received this time around is the cause for the caution. "There is a lot of scrutiny, so Coach also has to account for that," Griffin said. "In college, you are trying to make it to this level, and in the pros, you are trying to make sure you stay here for a long time. You can say whatever you want about what he is doing. I can feel aany kind of way about it, but at the end of the day, we all have to be on the same page and that is what I am trying to do, just do everything the coaches ask me to do, show them that my rhythm and timing is there, show them that I can play.dddddddddddd "And at the end of the day they have to come through for me and play me Week 1 if I do everything they ask me to do." On that point, coach and quarterback agree: Sept. 9 vs. Philadelphia is the target. "Well do this day-by-day and give him a little bit more freedom with each week that goes by," Shanahan said. "And hopefully if there is no setback hell be ready for the first game." Its not uncommon for a player returning from major knee ligament surgery to need the occasional day off during training camp, yet Griffin hasnt missed a practice. Teammates Brandon Meriweather and Chris Thompson have had several rest days, even though both had their ACLs repaired before Griffin. Shanahan doesnt mind if hes trying Griffins patience. "You always want them a little bit antsy," Shanahan said. "But your job is to get them ready. I dont want to put him in there too quick, for the obvious reasons, but I like what Ive seen." Notes: RG3-mania in Richmond includes several restaurants that have named sandwiches after him. One local eatery serves an RG3 with sirloin steak strips in homemade marinade, fajita-style onions and peppers, a homemade taco seasoning, cheddar cheese, lettuce and tomato -- all on a foot-long roll. "Ive got to go try those sandwiches out, maybe," Griffin said. "Hopefully I dont die of a heart attack, but its really special. The team played so well last year, and the Redskins fans are just so hungry for success." ... Thompson, Meriweather, CB DeAngelo Hall (ankle), WR Donte Stallworth (hamstring) and FB Darrel Young (knee) all returned to practice. ... TE Jordan Reed bruised the top of his foot during practice and was scheduled for an MRI. 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