Ole Miss at the Kids' Table? It's All Over Now, Baby Blue
By Kyle Koster
For the second straight year, Ole Miss has slayed the biggest Goliath down South. The Rebels did it while wearing the same powder blue helmets worn in 1988, the only other time a trip to Tuscaloosa ended in victory. The sartorial choice was meaningful but unnecessary. Hugh Freeze’s team didn’t need the gimmick.
The simple, yet new truth, is this: the better team won.
Last season Bo Wallace’s late heroics turned Oxford into Mardi Gras and made Katy Perry do this.
It was a stunning upset. The Rebels, although in possession of vaunted recruits, were second-class SEC citizens. That status has changed. And rightfully so, thanks to a businesslike sequel.
Much of the focus in the aftermath of Saturday’s 43-37 win has been on Alabama. A dynasty that took a decade to build is being torn down one column at a time. This is to be expected. No other program is more scrutinized. Success breeds contempt and bulls-eyes. Nick Saban is Nick Saban — for better or worse.
But what happened over the weekend isn’t so much about the Crimson Tide as it is about Ole Miss and the way it bulldozed past the velvet ropes and into the special VIP section of college football.
A meteoric jump in the polls is quantifiable. Judging psyche is a more difficult task. That said, there doesn’t appear to be any discomfort among the ranks as the program reaches new heights and encounters new expectations. Building a 30-10 lead at Bryant Denny is impressive. Not blinking an eye while doing it is doubly so.
There’s a reason ESPN’s FPI gave Ole Miss a 56 percent chance to prevail. A stacked receiving corp, all-everything talent on the defensive line and a competent quarterback is a recipe for success — regardless of the name on the front of the jersey. Or the name on the jerseys on the other sideline. Sure, the Rebels capitalized on a five-turnover performance from a shaky Alabama offensive unit. Sure, they were the recipients of a few friendly bounces. The doubters’ line begins to the left. It’s not a place you want to be.
Ole Miss’ schedule shapes up nicely. Two crossover games with Florida and Vanderbilt aren’t cause for concern. Auburn looks weak. LSU and Texas A&M will be played in front of a fevered home crowd. If the Rebels can avoid the type of bad luck that derailed last year’s run, a playoff berth seems plausible.
The biggest roadblock could be erected internally. An offensive attack averaging 64 points per contest only looked stoppable Saturday when it was derailed by overthinking. Trick plays to Robert Nkemdiche and a jumbo package with Jeremy Liggins at quarterback are fun, but were largely ineffective.
It seems silly to nitpick the best win of the year. Perhaps it’s a compliment to Ole Miss’ new status. They’ve earned a seat with the adults at the big table. Getting there was a big challenge. Now another one begins. They seemed poised to remain there, happily enjoying the fruits of success.
Those helmets weren’t fooling anyone. This isn’t the ol’ Ole Miss. It’s something brand new — and far scarier.