FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. — The No. 8 Ole Miss football team entered its nationally televised showdown against unranked Arkansas very much in the race for the Southeastern Conference Western Division title and in the thick of the College Football Playoff picture.
Granted, Ole Miss needed Auburn to beat Alabama in the Iron Bowl at Tuscaloosa, Alabama, but the opportunity was there. All it had to do was beat a suddenly confident and inspired Arkansas team that had just snapped a 17-game SEC losing streak the week before against LSU, beat Mississippi State in the Egg Bowl, and then hope Auburn could upset Alabama.
That’s where the old adage “easier said than done” comes into play.
Ole Miss went to Arkansas with every reason to be energized and focused, but it didn’t get past the first step Saturday and went down to defeat with a thunderous thud, 30-0. Instead of delivering another epic effort Ole Miss fans have become accustomed to seeing from their team since Hugh Freeze and staff arrived on campus in December 2011, the Rebels appeared satisfied and uninspired, especially early and on offense. Arkansas took the fight to Ole Miss from the coin toss to the final horn, and the Rebels did little to match the Razorbacks’ level of intensity and resolve.
When asked about his team’s lack of focus at the beginning of the game, Freeze said, “I was concerned all week, for whatever reason, that we weren’t locked in totally. I think that showed at the beginning of the game. That’s my fault. I’ve got to make sure our kids are, but it just felt like a weird week for whatever reason.”
The Ole Miss team that played Saturday wasn’t the same squad that gave a Herculean effort against Auburn in its last SEC outing, only to see a possible victory erased on a play in which standout wide receiver Laquon Treadwell suffered a broken leg on a fumble right before he scored what would have been the go-ahead touchdown.
Many of the “experts” in the media questioned whether Ole Miss would be able to recover emotionally from the loss to Auburn and march on without Treadwell. How would the Rebels bounce back from the gut-wrenching defeat? Who would become the “go-to guy” in Treadwell’s absence? Would the return of standout offensive tackle Laremy Tunsil after what amounted to a three-week layoff re-ignite the running game and take some of the pressure off senior quarterback Bo Wallace?
After throttling Football Championship Subdivision opponent Presbyterian 48-0, Ole Miss had two weeks to prepare for an Arkansas team that was gaining momentum. But a lackluster showing that included six turnovers emphatically answered all the pundits questions in a negative light.
With all championship and playoff thoughts gone, Ole Miss is faced with another question this week: What will its state of mind be against MSU at 2:30 p.m. (WCBI) in the Egg Bowl?
The Bulldogs (10-1) figure to come into the game still alive for a spot in the inaugural College Football Playoff. MSU also will have a chance to win the SEC Western Division title if Auburn can upset Alabama. Will the Rebels be able to regroup and play with a zeal and intensity that will make the Egg Bowl live up to the anticipation that has been building all season, or will they be content with what they have accomplished to date?
Asked about the task of getting his team re-focused and the chance to play spoiler against MSU, Freeze said, “Our mettle, our resolve, and everything about us will be tested this week in preparation for this game.”
To Ole Miss fans, this game needs no reason to be focused and play like there is no tomorrow. It is MSU. It is the Egg Bowl. This game is for bragging rights. It is for pride.
When Dan Mullen became the coach at MSU six seasons ago, he energized the Bulldogs fans by making an annual victory against Ole Miss paramount. He refuses to refer to Ole Miss by anything other than “The School Up North,” borrowing from Woody Hayes at Ohio State, who used the reference when talking about Michigan. Mullen had a clock installed at MSU’s training facility that counts down the amount of time until the Bulldogs and Rebels play again. The Bulldogs wear special uniforms for the game, both at home and away.
Much to the chagrin of Ole Miss fans, the tactics have worked. MSU has won four of the past five meetings. If Ole Miss hopes to change the recent trend, it must match the level of importance MSU places on the game. When asked about the Egg Bowl, Freeze said, “Our kids will know how much this game means to our people, and we have got to get ready to play it and hopefully we can get everybody healthy to do it.”
You can help your community
Quality, in-depth journalism is essential to a healthy community. The Dispatch brings you the most complete reporting and insightful commentary in the Golden Triangle, but we need your help to continue our efforts. In the past week, our reporters have posted 32 articles to cdispatch.com. Please consider subscribing to our website for only $2.30 per week to help support local journalism and our community.