Ole Miss chancellor Dan Jones spoke to the Lee County Alumni Club at the BancorpSouth Conference Center in Tupelo earlier today.

He didn't shed much light on the athletics director search but did say that Archie Manning has spent a great deal of time researching candidates, talking with athletics directors from around the country over the last month to get an idea of who might be available and would be a good fit for Ole Miss.

Jones said some candidates have publicly expressed interest – as Sean Tuohy did in a story published in The Commerical Appeal last weekend – and others have shown interest but prefer not to go public at this time.

“We will begin with a strong group of candidates,” Jones said.

From that beginning a list will narrow down, and interviews will take place.

“There is not a timeline. Pete (Boone) wants to retire by the end of June, and I think we easily make that date.”

Jones also said, “This may not be the most important decision I make as chancellor, but it will be the most important public decision.”