Vassallo: Rock and Lock the Vaught This Saturday — Stakes Never Higher

Football commentary by HottyToddy.com contributor Steve Vassallo
It has been 52 years since we’ve been in the discussion of winning a National Championship. Did I mention it’s been 52 years? For those who missed it the Selection Committee has spoken (at least for now) and Hugh Freeze’s 7-1 Ole Miss Rebels made the cut!
With Auburn and State also in the “elite group,” this means Ole Miss must face not one, but two, final four teams in Oxford before even the SEC Championship game is held!
What I enjoyed most about the selections is the fact three of the four teams chosen are from the SEC West with a fourth (Alabama) breathing down everyone’s neck. The biggest surprise coming out of the first week was the little respect given to Georgia. The Bulldog fans have got to be quite upset to be running in fifth place in the SEC, not to mention the other teams (such as TCU and Oregon and others) all in front of the Athens’ war machine.
Regardless of the positions now this is similar to the Kentucky Derby with all of the thoroughbreds still in the first turn. No. 3 Auburn and No. 4 Ole Miss don’t need a roadmap to understand the route to the final four. It all starts here Saturday night!
I do not want to be over dramatic, however I believe following Ole Miss football intensely for 52 years allows me some level of qualifications. Having said this, I will now go out on a limb by saying “this will be the most important football game ever played in Oxford, Mississippi,” including the Maryland game way back when!
Even for those who disagree you must admit I’m not too far off base. So if we’re ALL close to being on the same page, here’s what needs to happen Saturday night. To begin with we ALL need to be inside the stadium one hour before kickoff starting to build the tempo.
Next, we need to set any disappointing (second guessing, Monday morning quarterbacking) views totally aside regarding LSU. That’s one over and we have survived! Every Ole Miss fan on the face of the earth needs to be either in or near Vaught-Hemingway Saturday night. Prepare to arrive early, stay long and remain LOUD for three hours until Auburn is done.
We owe this to our coaches and our players! I’m asking “Are You Ready?” In this case, being ready means the entire Rebel Nation mustl be ready to win! Don’t let our team down. Let’s ALL do our part. As Chuckie said years ago….”It’s Time.”
Steve Vassallo is a HottyToddy.com contributor. Steve writes on Ole Miss athletics, Oxford business, politics and other subjects. He is an Ole Miss grad and former radio announcer for the basketball team. In addition, he is a certified economic and community developer and currently, a highly successful leader in the real estate business with Premier Properties of Oxford. Steve’s lifelong dream has been to live in Oxford full-time. “I am now living my dream daily as is my wife Rosie, who works with the Oxford Chamber of Commerce,” Steve said. You can contact Steve at sovassallo@gmail.com or call him at 985-852-7745.