Rebels Enjoy Fast Start, But Bigger Challenges Ahead

From Archie to Eli, from A.J. to DK, Bruiser to Deuce, and Charlie C. to P. Willis, Ole Miss alumni and fans couldn’t be more excited about this year’s version of the football Rebels.

Of course, two of those Hall of Famers — Bruiser Kinard and Charlie Conerly — have long since passed along with other Ole Miss legends like Don Kessinger and William Faulkner.

Nobody can argue that the University of Mississippi has produced some of the most influential alums of any school in the country.

What a lot of folks who live north of Stankville, west of Tusca-loser, south of the Big 2 + 2, and east of the River want is for the current crop of Rebels to do what hasn’t been done in 61 years: win the Southeastern Conference championship.

The way the Rebs are playing, fans are dreaming of even more. They want to replicate what happened before most of them were born, when Ole Miss earned a share of the national championship in 1960.

Those 1959 and ’62 teams deserved more recognition for the Nati, too. That was the Golden Age of Ole Miss football with Coach John Vaught’s teams from 1959-62 compiling a glittering record of 39-3-1. That included a 21-2-1 SEC mark to go with three Sugar Bowl wins and a Cotton Bowl appearance.

The tremendous tradition of excellence was carried on by Archie Manning and his youngest son, Eli, who brought further honor to Oxford by winning two Super Bowls. Talented players have continued to excite the fans who frequent The Grove prior to kickoff — but no team has captured the imagination of fans like the current squad.

The numbers are staggering. The unbeaten No. 6 Rebs have outscored four foes 220-22. Yep, the competition gets serious this weekend with a home game against Kentucky, the team that took No. 2 Georgia to the wire two weeks ago.

But the Rebs are ready to take on all comers and won’t flinch whether that’s a road game at No. 14 LSU or home dates with No. 21 Oklahoma or the biggest Dawgs from Georgia.

Why the confidence? Well, there’s a great home-field advantage at The Vaught. And the Rebs might have the country’s best quarterback in senior slinger Jaxson Dart, a legit Heisman Trophy candidate.

Dart leads the nation in passing yards with 1,554 or an eye-popping 388.5 yards per game. He’s tied for fourth with 12 touchdown passes and is the igniter in Coach Lane Kiffin’s innovative, wide-open offense that keeps defensive coordinators awake at night.

Dart’s favorite target is senior Tre Haris, who is second in the country with 628 yards on 38 catches and four touchdowns.

Amazingly, the Rebs sit atop both categories when it comes to scoring. They’ve averaged 55 points per practice — excuse me, per game — and surrender a mere 5.5, same as SEC newbie Texas.

The Rebs might end up squaring off against the Shorthorns when the 12-team playoff rolls around come bowl season. Before then, all the top teams — well, at least the ones that play in the SEC — face a gauntlet of tough teams just to get to the postseason.

Says here that Kiffin’s kids will be ranked among the top 5 seeds come playoff time. The goal, however, is win the SEC and earn one of the four byes into the quarterfinals. That extra week of rest could make the difference after a bruising SEC slate.

Hold on, says Kiffin. First things first. That means kick Kentucky to the curb Saturday with another impressive performance at The Vaught. Then, Saturday by Saturday, the Rebs will look to make alums proud.

Ole Miss by damn! Hotty Toddy!