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Camurati: Dream Come True for a Rebel Alum
The Rebels take the field at half time. / Photos by Amelia Camurati
As a member of a family divided by college football loyalties, the past two weeks have been rough.
My mother is a diehard Crimson Tide graduate, and my dad is a Memphis man. My Rebels defeated one (but not in the impressive fashion many expected), and now they look to topple the other within a one-week span.
Though I didn’t think it was possible, both games have additional importance to me beyond the usual football excitement. Everyone knows the Alabama game is a huge deal with ESPN’s College GameDay coming to Oxford for the first time since the show began airing in 1987, but for me, it was the Memphis game that made my dreams come true.
When I was in college, I always wanted to cover sports, but that’s not what girls do. As opinion editor, I was able to write a number of sports columns for my section, but I never made it to a sporting event beyond the stands. I never saw Ed Orgeron or Houston Nutt up close. I never met Jevan Snead — but I did find Dexter McCluster in my photojournalism class.
But on Sept. 27, I celebrated coach Hugh Freeze’s birthday in style with my first real press pass and first on-field experience as a reporter and as a person. I’ve seen the Vaught morning, noon and night more times than I can count, but I’ve never seen how alive it is from the ground perspective.
In the past, Ole Miss has hosted many Top 25 teams, and we enjoyed the game because it’s Rebel football, but the blowouts were almost inevitable. This season, however, couldn’t be more different. The Ole Miss Rebels are one of the best teams in the country, wavering in and out of the Top 10, and a less than impressive Alabama team rolls into town this weekend. My mother and I will probably text fight with “Roll Tide Roll!” versus “Hotty Toddy!” throughout the weekend, as we do every year, but this year, I have hope.
We may lose this game, but it won’t be a lopsided blowout like I’ve seen time and time again against the Tide. With Bo Wallace healthy and a defense that refuses to quit, the Rebels stand a fighting chance against the Alabama dynasty, and I can’t wait to run up and down that field with my camera for round two.
And even if we lose the game, there’s always a win in the Grove.
Senior quarterback Bo Wallace takes a snap to start the game.
The Ole Miss defense held Memphis to only 13 first downs throughout the game.
The Rebels struggled for most of the first half but pulled out a 24-3 win over Memphis.
Sophomore wide receiver Laquon Treadwell with a touchdown to end the game.
Ole Miss’ defense is one of the best in the country only allowing about 8.5 points per game all season and only two touchdowns.
The cheerleaders and Rebelettes are constantly keeping the crowd energized while also trying to watch some of the game.
Celebrations for the defense were common after big tackles and sacks throughout the game.
Denzel and Robert Nkemdiche combine for a terrifying piece of the Landshark defense, and Denzel had a number of big plays against Memphis.
Amelia Camurati is managing editor of HottyToddy.com and can be reached at amelia.camurati@hottytoddy.com.
| Sat, Aug 31 |  | vs Furman | W, 76-0 |
| Sat, Sep 7 |  | vs Middle Tennessee | W, 52-3 |
| Sat, Sep 14 |  | @ Wake Forest | W, 40-6 |
| Sat, Sep 21 |  | vs Georgia Southern | W, 52-13 |
| Sat, Sep 28 |  | vs Kentucky | L, 20-17 |
| Sat, Oct 5 |  | @ South Carolina | W, 27-3 |
| Sat, Oct 12 |  | vs LSU | L, 29-26 (2 OT) |
| Sat, Oct 26 |  | vs Oklahoma | W, 26-14 |
| Sat, Nov 2 |  | @ Arkansas | W, 63-35 |
| Sat, Nov 16 |  | vs Georgia | W, 28-10 |
| Sat, Nov 23 |  | @ Florida | L, 24-17 |
| Sat, Nov 30 |  | vs Mississippi State | W, 26-14 |
| Thu, Jan 2 |  | vs Duke (Gator Bowl) | 6:30 PM • ESPN |