Vassallo on Football: Until the Cowbells Come Home

My entire life I have been impressed with the high quality of high school football in the Magnolia State.
Growing up in Tennessee (a state with more people) Mississippi has had routinely more and better football players. This year it is truly evident as many of the great players at Ole Miss and Mississippi State are home-grown products. The primary difference between these two teams is Ole Miss also has a tremendous amount of talent from out-of-state as well.
Fantasize with me for a moment and think what the Saturday following Thanksgiving could bring to Oxford. We all know now what a great experience yesterday was with the Bama win. But what if, Saturday November 29th comes down to decide who will represent the SEC west in Atlanta! Can you imagine the hype and focus on this in-state rivalry that in recent years has been simply for bragging rights between Olive Branch and Gulfport?  I think many of us are “worn out” with hearing nothing more than Alabama this, Alabama that and ditto for Auburn. Leading up to our October 4th clash with Bama, all we heard was how great the Alabama team was and so on. Most of the “national mouthpieces” didn’t give our players or even our coaches a mention and certainly NO chance to win!
Enter October 5th. Well now all has changed! The bragging rights are here in both Oxford and Starkville. Should both teams be victorious again this Saturday, the momentum will be greater than a tsunami!
 

As for Bama, Nick Saban has now lost “3 straight games” to ranked teams! Not a very good résumé builder. But still, all the “talk” on the SEC Network reminds us how great they are.
Football is also played in the Magnolia State and I must emphasize, played very well. Never again will WE be intimidated by any team that shows up here. Ole Miss and State will hold their own with anybody. I’ll bet my last Hotty Toddy while ringing my cowbell on that forecast!!
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