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Vassallo: It’s Official…Rebels Walkin’ to New Orleans
Photo by Joshua McCoy, Ole Miss Athletics
The January 1, 2016 Sugar Bowl to be played New Year’s night will feature our Ole Miss Rebels and the Oklahoma State Cowboys.
Because of a tiebreaker between TCU and Oklahoma State, the Rebels will be facing the Cowboys once again, with, hopefully, a similar outcome to the two recent Cotton Bowls. Baylor eliminated themselves from the tiebreaker equation by losing to the Texas Longhorns on Saturday.
For those of us who can remember 1970 (the Rebs’ last appearance in the Sugar Bowl), Richard Nixon was President, Vietnam was occupying the national news and the Beatles were the biggest name in entertainment. It’s been 46 long and agonizing years for the Rebels to receive their ninth invitation to represent the SEC in the New Year’s Day Bowl in New Orleans. This coaching staff has exceeded all expectations accomplishing this feat just four short years into their tenure at Ole Miss.
Ole Miss defeated Oklahoma State in the 2004 Cotton Bowl 31-28 and then again in 2010 by the score of 21-7. The Cowboys did not end this year’s regular season in the best of form being out scored in their final two games 103-58! This contest, however, pits two
scoring machines against one another as both averaged 40+ points a game. Two of the very best receivers in college football, Laquon Treadwell and James Washington, will be making a case why their offense is the best. The Cowboys have not visited the Sugar Bowl since 1946 making both teams anxious to justify their invitation.
Reviewing the SEC’s team history with the Sugar Bowl, here’s a synopsis of all teams number of participation:
- Alabama 15
- LSU 13
- Ole Miss 9
- Florida 9
- Georgia 9
- Tennessee 7
- Arkansas 6
- Auburn 5
- Missouri 2
- Texas A&M 2
- Kentucky 1
- Vanderbilt 0
- South Carolina 0
- Mississippi State, 0
Projecting this success story looking forward, this upcoming recruiting class could ensure many more Sugar Bowls and other New Year’s invitations on the immediate horizon!
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. Currently, Steve is a highly successful leader in the real estate business who lives in Oxford with his wife Rosie. You can contact Steve at sovassallo@gmail.com or call him at 985-852-7745.
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| Mon, Nov 4 |  | vs Long Island University | W, 90-60 |
| Fri, Nov 8 |  | vs Grambling | W, 66-64 |
| Tue, Nov 12 |  | vs South Alabama | W, 64-54 |
| Sat, Nov 16 |  | vs Colorado State | W, 84-69 |
| Thu, Nov 21 |  | vs Oral Roberts | L, 100-68 |
| Thu, Nov 28 |  | vs BYU | W, 96-85 OT |
| Fri, Nov 29 |  | vs 13 Purdue | L, 80-78 |
| Tue, Dec 3 |  | @ Louisville | W, 86-63 |
| Sat, Dec 7 |  | vs Lindenwood | W, 86-53 |
| Sat, Dec 14 |  | vs Southern Miss | W, 77-46 |
| Tue, Dec 17 |  | vs Southern | W, 74-61 |
| Sat, Dec 21 |  | vs Queens University | W, 80-62 |
| Sat, Dec 28 |  | @ Memphis | L, 87-70 |
| Sat, Jan 4 |  | vs Georgia | W, 63-51 |
| Wed, Jan 8 |  | @ 23 Arkansas | W, 73-66 |
| Sat, Jan 11 |  | vs LSU | W, 77-65 |
| Tue, Jan 14 |  | @ 5 Alabama | W, 74-64 |
| Sat, Jan 18 |  | @ 17 Mississippi State | L, 81-84 |
| Wed, Jan 22 |  | vs 13 Texas A&M | L, 62-63 |
| Sat, Jan 25 |  | @ Missouri | 5:00 PM SECN |
| Wed, Jan 29 |  | vs Texas | 8:00 PM ESPN2 |
| Sat, Feb 1 |  | vs 2 Auburn | 3:00 PM TBA |
| Tue, Feb 4 |  | vs 10 Kentucky | 6:00 PM ESPN |
| Sat, Feb 8 | | @ LSU | 7:30 PM SECN |
| Wed, Feb 12 |  | @ South Carolina | 6:00 PM SECN |
| Sat, Feb 15 | | vs 17 Mississippi State | 5:00 PM TBA |
| Sat, Feb 22 |  | @ Vanderbilt | 2:30 PM SECN |
| Wed, Feb 26 | | @ 2 Auburn | 6:00 PM TBA |
| Sat, Mar 1 |  | vs 12 Oklahoma | 1:00 PM TBA |
| Wed, Mar 5 |  | vs 1 Tennessee | 8:00 PM TBA |
| Sat, Mar 8 |  | @ 6 Florida | 5:00 PM SECN |