Yes, I’m that guy.
The guy who took it upon himself to try to scale to the top of the goal post. The assumption of this 25-foot free climb as nothing more than a drunken college guy beyond excited could not be farther from the truth.
Over a decade ago, we all witnessed Eli lead the resurgent ‘02 squad to a dramatic win versus then sixth-ranked Florida Gators. The students were in sheer pandemonium; they stormed the field, the uprights toppled. The images from that day sent me to the highest point possible Saturday.
When the final decision of the victors came down to the crucial interception by Senquez Golson, I leaned to my friend and said, “the field goal post is coming down.” As Bo Wallace took the final knee, I began to storm the field with 60,000 of my closest friends.
In the midst of all the mayhem and commotion, the thought of reason and judgment was thrown out the window, and I knew I had to lead the coalition. Ditching the crowd in the middle of the field, I ran to the goalpost and shimmied my way to the left upright. With arms spread wide, I took a minute to take in the awe of the surreal moment. I knew the Rebels had just proved themselves and that the Rebs had risen. Being able to have front row seats atop the field goal to witness the celebration of was pure adrenaline and exhilaration.
As the crowd made their steady way to the south end zone, I knew it was meant to be. After several minutes of struggling to take down the goal post, I went a step further. With my shirt torn and boots off I began my ascent up the upright.
At that moment, with people underneath in disbelief and partly scared, I was a Rebel.
A Rebel against the wise and timid. Was it foolish? Maybe. Was it dangerous? Probably. Was it worth it?
Absolutely.
After the goal post began its journey to the Square, I was able to find my father in the crowd. While still hugging and laughing, he said, “I would’ve done the same thing.” My grandchildren will ask, “Is that really you in that picture,” and I’ll respond, “yes it actually is, that’s the day the Freeze Era proved itself and we beat top-ranked Alabama and legendary coach Nick Saban.”
From the words of the Moore twins, sometimes you just got to “show up to show out,” and I say I accomplished that Saturday. I may have made fifteen minutes of fame from being a part of the national spotlight from SportsCenter to The New York Times, but none of that matters.
It’s the memory of the student body coming together and celebrated a win with peak performance. We now have a collective bond as peers. Coach Freeze led the team to a historic win and it was we, the students, who showed the nation how special of a place Ole Miss is every single day.
In the ionic words of the late Chucky Mullins:
It’s Time,
Jack Pickering
Junior marketing major
