Ole Miss Rebels

The Eight worsts Egg Bowls of my life

Published Jun. 30, 2017 6:28 p.m. ET

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Nov 28, 2015; Starkville, MS, USA; Mississippi Rebels running back Akeem Judd (21) runs the ball during the third quarter of the game against the Mississippi State Bulldogs at Davis Wade Stadium. Mississippi won 38-27. Mandatory Credit: Matt Bush-USA TODAY Sports

A few years ago, I wrote a piece about the six worst Egg Bowls of my life. Unfortunately I’ve had to update that list to reflect what has transpired the past two years.

I attended my first Egg Bowl game as a child back in 1969.  The game was played in Starkville and as I recall, Ole Miss won rather handily. While the game itself was one sided against my beloved Bulldogs, it was the verbal abuse I took as a nine year old kid from an intoxicated Rebel fan that solidified my dislike of Ole Miss.

The game wasn’t called the Egg Bowl back then.  It was known as the “Battle for the Golden Egg”. The name “Egg Bowl” was coined some years later by the Clarion-Ledger sports department to address the fact that neither team had played in a bowl game in some time. The C-L created the “Egg Bowl” as a way to create some hype for the Mississippi State vs. Ole Miss game.  The name stuck.

Keep in mind that these lists were created from my range of my experiences.  These are games that occurred during my lifetime that I either attended in person or watched on TV. (Games marked with * are one I personally attended.)  These are not necessarily the greatest (worst) games of all time, but they are the ones that stick out in my mind, for better or worse.

Here are the eight worst Egg Bowls of my lifetime:

Embarrassing times to be a Bulldog…

8. 2008 – Ole Miss 45, MSU 0 (Oxford).  Does this one even need a comment?  This was one serious beat down, and the only good thing that came from it is that it mercifully brought an end to the Croom era.

7. 1971 – Ole Miss 48, MSU 0 (Starkville)*.  Some of you reading this probably weren’t alive for this one, but this is probably the only game that I’ve ever seen droves of people leaving the game in the second quarter!   After a scoreless first quarter, the Rebels scored 42 points in the second period.  That’s right, 42 points in one quarter.  You can’t do that without some turnover help from your opponent, and the Bulldogs were in an extremely helpful mood that day.

Sep 17, 2016; Oxford, MS, USA; Mississippi Rebels fans cheer before the game against the Alabama Crimson Tide at Vaught-Hemingway Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Matt Bush-USA TODAY Sports

6. 2012 – Ole Miss 41, MSU 24 (Oxford)

Yep, the 2012 game makes the list for me.  Why? Because of the way this game flipped the script on the two programs.  If State had won this one, the mood surrounding the two fan bases would be much different today.  This was a game changer for the Rebels and a missed opportunity for the Bulldogs to notch a fourth straight win in the series for the first time since 1942.

Nov 18, 2016; Cincinnati, OH, USA; Cincinnati Bearcats head coach Tommy Tuberville looks on from the sidelines against the Memphis Tigers in the first half at Nippert Stadium. Memphis won 34-7. Mandatory Credit: Aaron Doster-USA TODAY Sports

5. 1997 – Ole Miss 15, MSU 14 (Starkville)

Tommy Tuberville’s reputation as a riverboat gambler was sealed by this one. The Rebels trailed 14-7 late in this one and had been outplayed for most of the game.  But they put together a long drive late that culminated in a touchdown and two point conversion to win the game.  In addition to losing a heartbreaker in dramatic fashion to their bitter rival, this game also cost the 7-4 Bulldogs a bowl bid.  That bid to the Motor City Bowl went to the Rebels, who were also 7-4.

Nov 24, 2012; Oxford, MS, USA; Mississippi Rebels fans celebrate by holding up the Egg Bowl trophy after their victory against the Mississippi State Bulldogs at Vaught-Hemingway Stadium. Mississippi Rebels defeated the Mississippi State Bulldogs 41-24. Mandatory Credit: Spruce Derden-USA TODAY Sports

4. 2014 – Ole Miss 31, Mississippi State 17 (Oxford)

Still ranked #4 in the CFB rankings after suffering their first loss of the season to Alabama, MSU entered this game against #19 Ole Miss with a chance to notch the program’s first 11 win season and stay in contention for a spot in the college football playoff. Needless to say, that didn’t happen.

Nov 5, 2016; Oxford, MS, USA; Mississippi Rebels before the game against Georgia Southern Eagles at Vaught-Hemingway Stadium. Mississippi Rebels defeated Georgia Southern Eagles 37-27. Mandatory Credit: Justin Ford-USA TODAY Sports

3. 1981 – Ole Miss 21, MSU 17 (Jackson)*

In true MSU fashion, the Bulldogs dominated the Rebels in every area of this game except the score.  All-SEC kicker Dana Moore knuckle-balled one of the ugliest field goals in the history of football through the uprights to give the Bulldogs a 17-14 lead in the closing minute. Playing in his final game as a Rebel, quarterback John Fourcade led the Rebels in a desperation last minute drive.  The key play in the drive was an apparent interception of Fourcade in the end zone by State cornerback Kenneth Johnson, which appeared to seal the win for the Bulldogs.  But a controversial pass interference call gave the Rebels first and goal on the one yard line and Fourcade ran it in on the next play to give the Rebels the upset win. This game sticks in my craw for two reasons.  First, State dominated almost the entire game and it never should have come down to the final drive.  Second, the alleged pass interference call happened right in front of me.  I was sitting in the student section on about the fifth row, directly in front of the end zone where the play took place. The defender turned towards the ball and out-jumped the receiver for the catch.  There is no way that was pass interference,   and I’ve never forgotten the name of the official who made the call – Dick Pace.  Take a look and judge for yourself.

Oct 15, 2016; Fayetteville, AR, USA; Ole Miss Rebels running back Akeem Judd (21) and quarterback Chad Kelly (10) prior to the game against the Arkansas Razorbacks at Donald W. Reynolds Razorback Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Nelson Chenault-USA TODAY Sports

2.  1983 – Ole Miss 24, MSU 23 (Jackson)*

This is the so-called “immaculate deflection” game.  I’ve never seen anything quite like this before, but just as MSU’s  but just as MSU’s game winning field goal was approaching the goal posts, a huge gust of wind suspended the ball momentarily in mid air and it fell short of the goal post.  (It’s a crude video, but here’s what it looked like)  That in itself was bad enough, but again, in true MSU fashion, it should have never come to that.  MSU led 17-7 at half and it should have been 17-0, but a long punt return TD right before half gave the Rebels new life. The Bulldogs expanded the lead to 23-7 going into the fourth quarter, but suddenly began turning the ball over, facilitating the Rebel comeback. A detail often forgotten because of the windblown field goal is the lucky bounce the Rebels got on the first  fourth quarter touchdown.  On an attempted dive play at the goal line, the Rebel running back fumbled but the ball was scooped up by quarterback Kelly Powell, who ran around the right end for the touchdown.  I have should have realized right then that it wasn’t going to be our day.

Nov 28, 2015; Starkville, MS, USA; Mississippi Rebels defensive back Trae Elston (7) celebrates with the Egg Bowl trophy after the game against the Mississippi State Bulldogs at Davis Wade Stadium. Mississippi won 38-27. Mandatory Credit: Matt Bush-USA TODAY Sports

1.  2015 – Ole Miss 38, MSU 27 (Starkville)*

Talk about your bad Egg Bowls.  It was Dak’s senior night and the winner of the game would get a bid to the Sugar Bowl. State took the opening kickoff and moved for a couple of first downs.  Then Dak fumbled, Ole Miss recovered, and it was basically over.  For me, from that point on, it was nothing but strong drinks and posting tweets that I would later regret.

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