This time last year, when the Ole Miss Rebels were sitting discontentedly with a 3-9 record (0-8 SEC), no one could have imagined a bowl game in the near future. Yet here we are, No. 22 in the AP poll with a record of 8-4 and a list of victims that includes Florida, Mississippi State, LSU, Auburn and Arkansas.
Fresh off the LSU victory, the Rebels destroyed the Bulldogs in the 2008 Egg Bowl with a final score of 45-0. Ole Miss had school records of 11 sacks and minus 51 yards rushing allowed. The Bulldogs only crossed into Rebel territory twice and scored just 37 total yards. Mississippi State head coach Sylvester Croom resigned the next day.
Statistics, however, can never portray the mood inside the stadium when Ole Miss stormed to victory. Pom-poms flew furiously as the crowd screamed "Hotty Toddy" and chanted head coach Houston Nutt's name. One player held the Golden Egg aloft as Jamarca Sanford waved a flag emblazoned with the Ole Miss "M." Rebel yells echoed through Vaught-Hemingway Stadium as the crowd reluctantly left the celebration.
Now, Rebel fans wait eagerly to learn which bowl their Cinderella team will play in. Wherever they go, Ole Miss will certainly bring a winning attitude and a hunger for victory.
This season, there has only been one answer to the age-old question, "Are you ready?": Hell yeah!
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