Vassallo: Rebels Apparently Headed to New Orleans

Sugar Bowl graphic, as seen on www.allstatesugarbowl.org

You heard it here first on HottyToddy.com. If I’m wrong, place me in the category that saw thousands of Muslims cheering in New Jersey following 911.

Now for the Good News, make that the great news! With the College Football Selection Committee raising our rank to No. 13 and dropping the Florida Gators to No. 18, we’re almost a certainty now for the Sugar Bowl. The only thing that could possibly change this is an upset by the 17 point underdog Gators over Alabama this Saturday.

Now for the Bad News. We might have to face TCU again! With TCU ranked 11th and Baylor 12th, there is the possibility that TCU could slide into the Fiesta Bowl (another New Year’s Day Six Bowl) to avoid an Ole Miss rematch. In either case, it won’t be a Texas two step.

Other SEC teams are Alabama at No. 2, LSU as No. 21 and Tennessee as No. 25. Rounding out the group ahead of No. 13 Ole Miss are as follows:

1. Clemson
2. Alabama
3. Oklahoma
4. Iowa
5. Michigan State
6. Ohio State
7. Stanford
8. Notre Dame
9. FSU
10. North Carolina
11. TCU
12. Baylor

This would be the first trip to the Sugar Bowl for the Rebels since January 1,1970 when we defeated favorite Arkansas 27-22. The game in that era was outdoors. I nearly froze in the 30 degree temperatures sitting (what seemed like) in the clouds. This time it should be much more comfortable.

Other previous Ole Miss Sugar Bowl appearances are as follows:
1963 versus Alabama L 7-12
1962 versus Arkansas W 17-13
1960 versus Rice W 14-6
1959 versus LSU W 21-0
1957 versus Texas W 39-7
1954 versus Navy L 0-21
1952 versus Georgia Tech L 7-24

With an invitation to the Sugar Bowl apparently on the horizon, Hugh Freeze will have accomplished what no Ole Miss Head Football Coach has since John H. Vaught. This is the eighth season since 1963 that an Ole Miss team has won 9 or more games. Hugh Freeze has now accomplished this in back-to-back seasons. Hail to the Chief!

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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