Red Cup Rebellion - Alabama vs. Ole Miss 2014 Gameday StorystreamChanging the culture of Ole Miss Rebel athletics since 2008.https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/community_logos/51401/rcr-fav.png2014-10-05T18:28:34-04:00http://www.redcuprebellion.com/rss/stream/66703942014-10-05T18:28:34-04:002014-10-05T18:28:34-04:00We Feel Pretty Good About Saturday. Don't you?
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<figcaption>Christopher Hanewinckel-USA TODAY Sports</figcaption>
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<p>Oxford was never more electric than it was when the clock hit 00:00 in Vaught-Hemingway Stadium yesterday.</p> <h4>An Aperitif</h4>
<p>As it's an aperitif of sorts for the college football watching world, let's talk about Ole Miss' first ever opportunity to host ESPN's College Gameday. The Worldwide Leader made a point to remind us that this is something that they've always wanted to do, and punctuated that assertion with a quartet of bowtie'd hosts leading us through a three hour long celebration of Ole Miss, the Grove, and college football itself.</p>
<p>There were oak trees, tents, happily buzzed students, champagne fountains,</p>
<h4><b>"That Didn't Sit Well"</b></h4>
<p>The DiGiorno pizza I ate at smeargle's house to soak up the postgame bourbons was a bit to processed-y for my smug gut. Other than that...</p>
<p>Sure, I could talk about how the running game has still not really developed, but when considering what they <i>did</i> do against the opponent we were facing, they weren't all that bad. Everybody that plays Alabama is going to have some difficulties moving the ball on them. I could also complain about how terribly exhausted I was after driving overnight from DC to get to Ole Miss in time for College Gameday and the cramped Grove, but those are things that I signed up for.</p>
<p>But, damn, I'm tired, sick, and happy as a dumb fat puppy. Watching Ole Miss beat a top-5 SEC team, let alone the Alabama Crimson Tide, in front of a sellout Vaught-Hemingway Stadium is an indescribably enjoyable way to spend a fall Saturday.</p>
<h4><b>"Going Back for Seconds"</b></h4>
<p><i>"Good Bo"</i><br>There is a common refrain regarding Bo Wallace that I hope has died a little after yesterday's three touchdowns/zero interceptions performance against one of the country's best defenses. This idea "Dr. Bo and Mr. Wallace" or "Good Bo/Bad Bo" - the idea that Bo Wallace is either a great quarterback or a bad one, and you never know what you're going to get - was parroted by media and fans alike heading into the game. Yes, he does lead the SEC in interceptions, and he has had a fair amount of "what in the hell are you <i>doing</i>" moments over his career, but Bo Wallace is a quarterback who is capable of controlling his offense and making some damn good throws.</p>
<p>A lot of this idea about Bo Wallace being a study in duality is, I think, a product of a complete misunderstanding of just how badly injured his throwing shoulder was for much of the last two seasons. Now that he has a healthy, strong arm, he can make throws like this:</p>
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<p>This season, Wallace hasn't really had a <em>bad</em> game. He has had games that were most definitely worse than others, namely his Memphis performance, but even then he went 22 of 37 for 248 yards with a pair of picks and scores. That's a pedestrian performance, a "meh" performance, but not a <i>bad</i> one. And Ole Miss won that damn by three scores game anyway!</p>
<p>Bo Wallace hasn't had a bad game yet. Dr. Bo's had some bad individual moments, but at this point his overall body of work this season is really tough to deny as anything other than "pretty damn good." Narratives are hard to change, but maybe this game will be one where the ones surrounding Bo Wallace begin to.</p>
<p><i>The student section</i><br>When I was an Ole Miss undergraduate, acting like you gave a damn about football wasn't cool. Granted, Ole Miss was pretty awful for my four years in Oxford (thanks, Ed Orgeron!), but all the things I see and hear out of the Rebel students - not the least of which is them getting their asses to their seats well before kickoff - are things that do suggest to me that the culture of the Ole Miss athletics has changed a great deal in such a short amount of time. There are probably a lot of people who deserve a lot of credit for this, but I'm just going to take the easy road and thank Ross Bjork for it. I dunno what you're doing to get the students to show up, lock the Vaught, and fervently support the Rebs, but I'm glad you're doing it, Ross.</p>
<h4>A Digestif</h4>
<p>Mustachio'd gaudy coat SAE pledge bro is my favorite bro caught on camera in the post-game celebration.</p>
<p><img src="http://cdn3.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/2324974/jacket.0.gif"></p>
<p>"Whoo! Huehehehaha..." Play on, player.</p>
https://www.redcuprebellion.com/2014/10/5/6910035/Ole-miss-Alabama-recap-analysis-Katy-PerryThe Ghost of Jay Cutler2014-10-04T13:00:02-04:002014-10-04T13:00:02-04:00Ole Miss vs. Alabama OPEN THREAD
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<figcaption>Spruce Derden-USA TODAY Sports</figcaption>
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<p>A major SEC West showdown takes place in Oxford, Mississippi today.</p> <h3> <div style="text-align: center;"><span>No. 11 <a href="https://www.redcuprebellion.com/" class="sbn-auto-link">Ole Miss Rebels</a></span></div> <div style="text-align: center;"><span>versus</span></div> <div style="text-align: center;"><span>The No. 1 <a href="https://www.rollbamaroll.com/" class="sbn-auto-link">Alabama Crimson Tide</a></span></div> <div style="text-align: center;"></div> </h3>
<p>How nervous are you right now?</p>
<p>It's okay, you can say. Nobody here is going to judge you because we're all nervous as hell as well. This game could end up being a seminal moment for the Ole Miss Rebel football program under Hugh Freeze. It could spell good things to come for years in terms of successful recruiting, the courting of new fans, and the excitement of new boosters.</p>
<p>Or it could just be Alabama beating Ole Miss again. But even if it is, it's still pretty damn remarkable how far we've come as a football program in just three years. Of course we can't predict the future, but we've got a feeling that more weekends like this are coming down the pipe for the Rebels.</p>
<h4 style="color: #d6303d;">How to watch today's game:</h4>
<p><strong>When: </strong>Saturday, 2:30 p.m. CT<br><strong>Where: </strong>Oxford<br><strong>TV:</strong> CBS<br><strong>Online streaming: </strong> <a href="http://www.cbssports.com/video/player/live">CBSSports.com</a><br><strong>Radio:</strong> <a href="http://www.olemisssports.com/multimedia/ole-football-affiliates.html">Ole Miss Football Radio Network</a></p>
https://www.redcuprebellion.com/2014/10/4/6906331/no-11-ole-miss-rebels-vs-alabama-crimson-tide-open-threadThe Ghost of Jay Cutler2014-10-04T10:16:07-04:002014-10-04T10:16:07-04:00Chris Fowler gets us.<img src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/6GJgTBfWbPrQTnZJDpCsWPaRoh0=/410x410/cdn.vox-cdn.com/fan_shot_images/350290/BzG7TTqCMAApov2.png" />
<div class="source source-img"><p><p>Chris Fowler. Frat Swoop. Red Cup. Life is complete.</p></p></div>
https://www.redcuprebellion.com/2014/10/4/6907123/1412432168Juco All-American2014-10-04T08:00:02-04:002014-10-04T08:00:02-04:00College Gameday OPEN THREAD
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<figcaption>Kevin Jairaj-US PRESSWIRE</figcaption>
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<p>We're a real football program now!</p> <p>After years of feeling slighted or left out, Ole Miss and Oxford have finally been paid a visit by ESPN's College Gameday, it's flagship college football program. The Grove stage now features the Gameday desk, with a sea of tents, oaks, and overly enthusiastic Rebel fans serving as a frenzied three-hour backdrop.</p>
<p>The show begins at 8:00 AM Central and lasts until 11:00 AM. We'll be sharing our observations here and via social media. Speaking of which, for live action updates from the day's festivities, follow @<a target="_blank" href="http://www.twitter.com/smargleRCR">SmargleRCR</a>, @<a target="_blank" href="http://www.twitter.com/Jeff_GraySBN">Jeff_GraySBN</a>, and @<a href="http://www.twitter.com/redcuprebellion">RedCupRebellion</a>. Yes, spoiler alert, that means that Ghost was foolish enough to spend his entire Friday night driving down to Oxford from DC to be here for this Saturday. And, no, he doesn't have a ticket to the game, but that's okay because he loves Ole Miss and Oxford anyway.</p>
<p>So watch, share your observations, and be sure to provide the comments thread and our Twitter feeds with the best screengrabs you get. We're probably going to want to share this to an irrational extent today, so let's make it all easy on everybody.</p>
<p>Happy Gameday, y'all.</p>
https://www.redcuprebellion.com/2014/10/4/6906373/espns-college-gameday-is-finally-in-oxford-so-naturally-wereThe Ghost of Jay Cutler2014-10-03T10:00:53-04:002014-10-03T10:00:53-04:00Ole Miss-Bama preview: IT'S HERE
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<p>GAMEDAY's IN OXFORD, GAMEDAY's IN OXFORD, GAMEDAY's IN OXFORD</p> <p>This is the game we've all been waiting for.</p>
<p>Ole Miss, ranked as one of the SEC's top teams, is hosting the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.rollbamaroll.com/">Alabama Crimson Tide</a>, the most dominant SEC program of the past several years and arguably the best team in all of college football. ESPN's College GameDay is making its first ever visit to the Grove. Vaught-Hemingway Stadium's attendance record will be broken. The Grove will feel like a ten acre can of sardines. The Square's bars and restaurants will be breaking all sorts of fire code violations. There will be CBS cameras, Verne, Gary, <span>Robert Nkemdiche</span>, Nick Saban, celebrity sightings, and probably a blimp or something.</p>
<p>It will be huge, and the eyes of the college football watching world will be upon us.</p>
<p>It's big, and while not a now-or-never moment for Coach Hugh Freeze and company -- one can't help but think that there are games like this coming again in the near future -- it's a situation where a win goes a long way. It keeps the football team undefeated, <a href="http://www.sbnation.com/college-football-recruiting/2014/10/2/6888687/ole-miss-recruiting-alabama-football-game" target="_blank">gives Ole Miss a leg-up in recruiting</a>, excites fans and boosters, and cements Ole Miss as a legitimate top-10 team this season in the eyes of currently skeptical fans and pundits.</p>
<p>A loss... well, it's just a loss. Alabama's still Alabama, and Ole Miss is still Ole Miss. It doesn't exactly kill the program or halt this staff's progress. But it's a failed opportunity and that sucks.</p>
<p>But never mind all of that. This is a huge weekend unlike anything we've seen in years. There's Ole Miss football and all of its accoutrements just waiting to be celebrated. We've waited years for this type of spotlight to be thrust upon us and it's finally here. The only question left is... Are you ready?</p>
<p><img src="http://cdn2.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/40755662/451644357.0.jpg" width="100%" class="photo" alt="Rebels_medium"><i><font size="1">Photo by Stacy Revere/Getty Images</font></i></p>
<h4 style="color:#d6303d">How to watch</h4>
<p><b>When: </b>Saturday, 2:30 p.m. CT<br><b>Where: </b>Oxford<br><b>TV:</b> CBS<br><b>Online streaming: </b> <a href="http://www.cbssports.com/video/player/live" target="_blank">CBSSports.com</a><a href="http://espn.go.com/watchespn/index" target="_blank"><br></a><b>Radio:</b> <a href="http://www.olemisssports.com/multimedia/ole-football-affiliates.html" target="_blank">Ole Miss Football Radio Network</a></p>
<h4 style="color:#d6303d">Bama's season so far</h4>
<p>- West Virginia - <b>W</b> 33-23<br>- Florida Atlantic - <b>W</b> 41-0<br>- Southern Miss - <b>W</b> 52-12<br>- Florida - <b>W</b> 42-21</p>
<h4 style="color:#d6303d">3 key matchups</h4>
<h5>Ole Miss O-line vs. its first real test</h5>
<p>The Rebel offensive front has underwhelmed in run blocking against mediocre-to-bad opponents, and now they face a Bama defense that's allowing just 62 rushing yards per game, third best in the country. Ole Miss ranks 11th in the SEC with 4.0 yards per carry, thanks in large part to an offensive line that has failed to create running lanes and is allowing its ball carriers to be tackled at or behind the line of scrimmage on nearly a quarter of their attempts. If the Rebels can't establish a reliable run game, the pressure shifts entirely onto <span>Bo Wallace</span>. We don't want that.</p>
<h5>Bama secondary vs. the spread</h5>
<p>The whole "Saban doesn't know how to handle the spread" line is wildly overhyped considering the man has won three national titles during the scheme's rise, but there is some truth to the notion that the Tide's secondary has struggled to handle big wide receivers in space. Against West Virginia this season, they allowed the 6'3, 230-pound <span>Kevin White</span> to pile up 143 yards and a touchdown. The presence of Laquon Treadwell (6'2, 229), <span>Cody Core</span> (6-3, 196) and <span>Evan Engram</span> (6-3, 227) give the Rebels their only bona fide advantage going into this matchup.</p>
<h5>Dr. Bo vs. throwing the ball to the wrong team</h5>
<p>This pretty much goes without saying, but I'll mention it anyway. If Ole Miss is going to pull of this upset, Wallace is going to need to play a near-flawless game. We saw him do it against LSU last season, so we know he has the ability to step up on the big stage. It helps that despite Bama's defensive reputation, they've forced just two interceptions this season.</p>
<h4 style="color:#d6303d">Players to watch</h4>
<h5>
<span>Amari Cooper</span>, Bama WR</h5>
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<img src="http://www.sbnation.com/chorus_images/40757808/portrait/medium_500/1412321939"><font size="1"><i>Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images</i></font>
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<p>Cooper may be the best wideout in the country, and he has 655 yards and five touchdowns to prove it. Ole Miss counters with one of the best secondaries in the country, but the 6'1 Cooper will be a matchup problem for diminutive Rebel corners <span>Mike Hilton</span> and Senquez Golson. That's assuming Golson can stay on the field -- he's been nursing a hamstring injury that cost him much of the second half against Memphis. This would be a great time to have the rangy, athletic <span>Tee Shepard</span>, who was lost for the year back in fall camp.</p>
<h5>
<span>Blake Sims</span>, Bama QB</h5>
<p>Coming into the season, Sims was supposed to be a place holder while highly-touted transfer <span>Jake Coker</span> got accustomed to the offense. Instead, the senior has grabbed the reins and become one of the biggest surprises of the young college football season. A break from the game manager mold of <span>A.J. McCarron</span>, Sims is an athletic playmaker who can work outside the frame of the offense -- an ability that lends itself well to avoiding the Ole Miss pass rush. He had a national coming-out party two weeks ago against Florida, torching the Gators for 445 yards and four touchdowns through the air.</p>
<h4 style="color:#d6303d">What to drink</h4>
<p>It's time. Time to quit being cute. Time to dispense with all formalities. Time to step up our game. If we drink in this manner, maybe our Rebels will play in this manner. With that in mind, let's keep it simple. Get your best whiskey, pour it in your best glass, and try not to get any on your best shirt. Hotty Toddy.</p>
<h4 style="color:#d6303d">Game predictions</h4>
<p><b>Catfish Powe-boy</b>: 24-20 Bama<br><b>The Ghost of Jay Culter</b>: 28-17 Bama<br><b>Whiskey Wednesday</b>: 16-13 Bama<br>(we're pessimists, sue us)</p>
https://www.redcuprebellion.com/2014/10/3/6849667/ole-miss-alabama-gameday-tv-online-streaming-previewJeff GrayThe Ghost of Jay CutlerWhiskey Wednesday