Mississippi’s Deterrian Shackelford (38), Channing Ward (11) and Marquis Haynes (27) tackle Mississippi State running back Brandon Holloway during the first half of an NCAA college football game against Mississippi State in Oxford, Miss., Saturday, Nov. 29, 2014. (Photo | Cady Herring)
In the 111-year history of the Egg Bowl, there has been no more meaningful game than the one Saturday. The stakes were as high as ever for the meeting. Mississippi State had their playoff hopes on the line as they sat 4th in the playoff rankings coming into the game.
Fair or unfair, the legacy of senior Rebel quarterback Bo Wallace was also on the line as he played his final game in Vaught-Hemingway Stadium. Despite the large amount of success Wallace has led the program to, it was widely discussed that he needed one more crucial victory to solidify his legacy. Wallace delivered a gutsy performance on an injured ankle, leading the 19th-ranked Rebels over the 4th-ranked Mississippi State Bulldogs by a score of 31-17.
It was a shining moment for a team and a fan base that had endured a great deal of adversity over the final weeks of the 2014 season. The victory also goes a long way for the future of Ole Miss football.
With the win Saturday, Ole Miss finished the 2014 season with a record of 9-3 and 5-3 in Southeastern Conference play. The Rebels beat three top 15 teams and were ranked as high as 3rd nationally. With a bowl game still to come, Ole Miss has a chance to complete just its third 10-win season since 1962.
The 7-0 start compared to the way the season ended for the Rebels was a little bit of a letdown. Injuries and tough losses down the stretch were definitely disappointing but in no way was the 2014 season a disappointment. This team brought the Ole Miss program in the national spotlight and proved Ole Miss can recruit, compete and beat any program in the country.
The Rebels tasted success this year. The next and more difficult step is sustaining that success. Looking at the big picture, it is easy to see the bright future ahead for this program. Just three years ago, Hugh Freeze inherited a program coming off of a 2-10 year that was winless in conference play. Now just three short years later, this program knocked off two top five teams and is now seen as national contenders. This year was another crucial step in the right direction. The Rebels now know what it takes to compete at the highest level and to win big time football games. The future for this program is bright and sure to be exciting.
Maybe the most significant way Saturday’s win impacted Ole Miss is in the recruiting department. In a year when both SEC schools in the state of Mississippi stole the national spotlight for the majority of the season, beating your in-state rival is huge for recruiting. Ole Miss helped assert themselves as the better team in the state in 2014, which is sure to help win the recruiting battle in Mississippi.
The season as a whole helped Ole Miss further validate themselves on the national recruiting scene as well. Prospects now see Ole Miss as a place where they can come and compete with the best teams in the country and have the opportunity to win championships. This season has put Ole Miss in the elite conversation when discussing the top programs in the country.
Saturday’s win will go a long way in positively impacting the future of Ole Miss football. Beating your in-state rival always aids in a positive approach to the offseason. This win, as well as the 2014 campaign as a whole, is an essential stepping stone for becoming the consistent contenders Ole Miss Football aspires to be.
