Mississippi News
Can Rebels, Bulldogs match 2014 success?
Can Rebels, Bulldogs match 2014 success? Clearly, the goal is to finish better
Eight years ago this week, Mississippi State and Ole Miss had climbed to a tie for No. 3 in the Associated Press college football poll. Both had begun the season unranked.
It was wild.ย
We hadn’t seen anything yet. It was about to go from wild to crazy.
This football-crazed state was nuts.
The college football nation was astonished. Indeed, even the talking heads at ESPN began to correctly distinguish between Ole Miss and Mississippi State, two teams they had often mixed up in the past.
Eight years later, we’re not to 2014 level โ at least not yet โ but college football in Mississippi has rarely been better than it is at this juncture.
Could this be 2014 all over again? Ole Miss, 5-0, has moved to No. 9 in the AP poll. State, 4-1, moved up to No. 23 after last Saturday’s 42-24 trouncing of the Texas Aggies. There’s more to celebrate in Mississippi. Jackson State, 4-0, has moved to No. 8 in the FCS rankings. The Tigers appear to be the head and shoulders above the rest of the SWAC. Southern Miss is a much more modest 2-2, but has now won four of its last six games over two seasons and finally has something to hang its hat on after a huge road victory over otherwise undefeated Tulane.
In Division II, surprising Delta State moved to 5-0 with a 70-31 run-away victory over 13th ranked Valdosta State last Saturday. Meanwhile, Mississippi College stunned No. 15 West Georgia 39-38.
So back to the question: Could 2022 be 2014 all over again?
State’s lone defeat, 31-16 at LSU, makes a repeat of 2014 with both the state’s SEC teams ranked in the top 3 highly unlikely. But Ole Miss clearly has a navigable road to move much higher in the polls.
Now that would reach 2014 levels of Mississippi football craziness. It could happen.
State’s immediate schedule is exceedingly more difficult. The Bulldogs first play Arkansas at home, then at once-beaten Kentucky, then No. 1 Alabama, then Auburn, and then No. 2 Georgia. Oh, the joys of competing in the SECโฆ
So much is still to be determined, but the stakes could be much higher than usual when State plays Ole Miss at Oxford on Thanksgiving night.
Back to 2014: You will remember that Dan Mullen’s Bulldogs, led by Dak Prescott, held their No. 1 ranking for five consecutive weeks until Alabama popped the Dogs’ bubble 25-20 at Tuscaloosa. State then crushed Vanderbilt before losing both the Egg Bowl and the Orange Bowl (to Georgia Tech) to finish at No. 11 in the AP poll.ย
Ole Miss? The Rebels did win the Golden Egg, but dropped all the way to No. 17 after being trounced by TCU 42-3 in the Peach Bowl.
Important to remember when comparing 2022 to what happened eight years ago: Starting strong is merely good; finishing strong is epic.
In 2014, the start was epic, the finish not so good.ย
That’s where 2022 could be far, far better. We’ll see. That’s enough rat poison for one day.
This article first appeared on Mississippi Today and is republished here under a Creative Commons license.
Mississippi News
News anchor dropped after social media post telling Trump-haters supporting Harris: ‘Stay home, donโt vote’
SUMMARY: David “Dave” Elliott, a local news anchor for WLOX in Biloxi for nearly 40 years, was fired after expressing political views on social media. He revealed on Facebook that his termination was due to his political opinions, specifically mentioning a video where he advised people not to vote out of hatred for Donald Trump. Elliott characterized his social media posts as satire, distinguishing them from his professional work. He noted that the discussion with his station’s general manager about his dismissal was brief, and the topic of social media was raised. WLOX’s management declined to comment on the matter.
The post News anchor dropped after social media post telling Trump-haters supporting Harris: ‘Stay home, don’t vote’ appeared first on www.foxnews.com
Mississippi News
National Women’s March held in Tupelo brings locals together
SUMMARY: The Women’s March in Tupelo, Mississippi, joined national marches advocating for women’s rights, coinciding with events in Washington D.C. and other cities. Organized by Indivisible Northeast Mississippi, the march featured influential speakers who emphasized the importance of personal autonomy and women’s involvement in societal issues. Participants expressed gratitude for the event‘s significance in a small town, with speakers urging women to fight for their rights and control their own bodies. The message for young women included themes of independence and empowerment, encouraging them to pursue their goals bravely. The Tupelo march was part of a larger movement encompassing similar events in Jackson and Hattiesburg.
The post National Women’s March held in Tupelo brings locals together appeared first on www.wcbi.com
Mississippi News
‘Get Out to Vote’ rally encourages citizens to cast their ballots
SUMMARY: Elected officials in Columbus, Mississippi, are promoting voter participation ahead of election day through a โGet Out to Voteโ rally hosted by State Representative Kabir Karriem and District Supervisor Leroy Brooks. The event provided free food and drinks while emphasizing the significance of exercising voting rights. Karriem stressed the importance of voting, stating every citizen should participate. Brooks, reflecting on the historical struggles for voting rights, underscored that voting should be a natural part of civic engagement. The rally took place in front of the Lowndes County Courthouse, encouraging community members to take action.
The post ‘Get Out to Vote’ rally encourages citizens to cast their ballots appeared first on www.wcbi.com
-
Kaiser Health News6 days ago
Vance Wrongly Blames Rural Hospital Closures on Immigrants in the Country Illegally
-
SuperTalk FM7 days ago
Tupelo teen Leigh Occhi declared dead after going missing 32 years ago
-
News from the South - Georgia News Feed6 days ago
Co-defendant takes plea deal in YSL RICO trial | FOX 5 News
-
Mississippi News Video6 days ago
Free Clinic of Meridian Celebrates 10 Years
-
News from the South - Arkansas News Feed6 days ago
Buc-eeโs set to open second Arkansas location
-
News from the South - North Carolina News Feed6 days ago
FBI arrests NC man known as 'AK Guru' who is accused of selling hundreds of machine guns
-
News from the South - Alabama News Feed3 days ago
“There is a man here trying to use your ID” Suspect caught in Elberta using stolen ID at victims wor
-
Mississippi News Video6 days ago
Macon enacts Halloween curfew