Ole Miss fans are now 45 days away from the kickoff of the 2021 Rebel football season against Louisville in Atlanta, and the staff here at The Cup has brought you another historical countdown piece to celebrate this milestone.
In case you haven’t caught on yet, we are highlighting the importance of a number in Ole Miss football history based on the number we reach on the countdown. Since today marks 45 days, we honor the No. 45—namely Ole Miss’ 45-0 victory in the 2008 Egg Bowl.
Nevermind that Houston Nutt was the Rebels’ coach in 2008 and would eventually deplete the talent of the Ole Miss roster nearly to the point of death; the 2008 season was fun, even if it was a rollercoaster at times. Despite losing games to [checks notes] Vanderbilt and South Carolina, Ole Miss knocked off the eventual-national-champion Florida Gators in the Swamp, beat both LSU and State and won a Cotton Bowl over a Texas Tech team coached by Mike Leach.
Pretty impressive.
The Egg Bowl win was particularly impressive. Essentially aired on the equivalent of the 11 a.m. Jefferson Pilot slot, Ole Miss demolished the Bulldogs in Oxford, racking up four passing touchdowns from Jevan Snead and rushing touchdowns from Dexter McCluster and Brandon Bolden.
The real story of the game, however, was the Rebel defense which held Mississippi State to a whopping -64 yards rushing and forced two interceptions. O, ye despondent traveler, doesn’t thou longest for these days of defensive optimism and Landshark lore?
Following the blowout win, Sylvester Croom was fired at MSU, paving the way for Dan Mullen’s entrance into Starkville. Ole Miss went on to win the Cotton Bowl and finish out its best season since 2003. All-in-all, it was a fun day... and yes, most of us stayed to the very end, relishing it.