…………
No, don't go check the rankings!
Ok, ready? Good. You put Florida #1. Obviously. At number 2 you put Alabama. Good choice. And who did you put at number 3? Georgia?!? Did you not see their offense against Oklahoma State? Or their come from behind win against South Carolina?? I mean, I'd place 9th ranked LSU at #3 before I chose the 23rd ranked Bulldogs! Joe Cox and Co. has a long way to go before they start living up to their lofty expectations.
You forgot about the Mississippi Rebels! Not surprisingly I guess. Before their 9-4 campaign last season, the Rebels were written off by many in the SEC following a disastrous 2007 campaign in which they finished 3-9. It wasn't much prettier in 2006 (4-8), 2005 (3-8) or 2004 (4-7). They're last winning season before 2008 came in 2003 when the team went 10-3 on the back of Eli Manning. It's safe to say, despite an impressive campaign last season and a high ranking this season, many fans have all but dismissed any notion of the Rebels as worthy competition for the powerhouses of the SEC.
While it's easy to put them at 3 simply because they're the third highest ranked SEC team at #5 (Florida is #1 and Alabama is #4), in their lone game this season the Rebels showed why the sports' most informed individuals think so highly of them.
I have so far written 263 words of an article covering Ole Miss without mentioning the name Jevan Snead. Shame on me! He's looked upon with adoring eyes by Ole Miss fans and was the trendy Heisman pick before Miami's Jacory Harris stole the hearts of football fans.
Critics might knock Snead's penchant for throwing picks, however. In 2008 he threw 26 touchdowns, but had 13 interceptions. In the Rebels' first game this season, against the Memphis Tigers, Snead tossed two touchdowns, but was picked off twice as well. Interceptions cannot be the bane of the Rebels if they hope to compete in the SEC.
In the Memphis game, both of his picks came in the 2nd quarter as he got off to a poor start. Some might relate it to first game jitters, but Heisman worthy quarterbacks get over those fast. Snead answered any naysayers by completing 4 of 5 passes for 73 yards and two touchdowns in the 4th quarter.
Fans are hoping that Snead and the Rebels can pick up where they left off last season. In 2008, Ole Miss won five straight to end the regular season and lost only four times including tough losses at 20th ranked Wake Forest and at 2nd ranked Alabama. The effort earned them a spot in the Cotton Bowl where they defeated 7th ranked Texas Tech. Did I mention that Ole Miss defeated the eventual champion Florida Gators in the Swamp last year? It was the Gators' only loss of the season.
I could've let Tennessee's visit to the Swamp and the Lane Kiffin/Urban Meyer/Tim Tebow slap fight take up more space on the Internet, but it's the Ole Miss Rebels that have me excited. If Ole Miss wants to take the SEC West they'll have to down Alabama and LSU to get there. You can bet that the Rebels have their sights set firmly on the SEC Championship. What a scenario that would be: the SEC East Champion Florida Gators seek revenge in the SEC Championship Game against the team that handed them their only loss a year prior.
Mississippi takes on Southeastern Louisiana at home tomorrow before heading to South Carolina and Vanderbilt…two of the teams that defeated Ole Miss in '08. - Danny Hobrock
Danny Hobrock is a sports journalist who primarily covers college football and professional baseball. He is a contributor for several sports related blogs and is the former editor of a political and current events website.----------
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