Ole Miss Football: Grove Grinder, Canes, Cows and Cal, Three Bad Cs

Ole Miss football has been under the watchful eyes of thousands in the past few weeks and in the past week there are a few other things which have affected some of us in one way or another. These are the Bad Cs.

First and foremost, OHT wants to send our thoughts and especially prayers out to the victims of the horrific hurricanes which have ravaged both Houston and most recently Florida. The effects of both have had their toll on many people across the south including Ole Miss football fans.

I know several Rebels who were effected by the storms and many others who opened their homes to victims. There were also a great number who have donated their money, time and clothing, etc. Of course, I know of many others besides Rebels who did the same. OHT thanks you.

I urge everyone to go to redcross.org and make a donation. They are the lifeline for people who have to endure these types of disasters. Many people have nothing or no one and the red cross helps. They are truly amazing.

Till The Cows Come Home

Ole Miss Rebels Football

Some of you who personally know me also know I dabble in the cattle business. Of course, this occupies a good portion of my time away from OHT. It also has allowed me to meet a few good folks who also happen to be Miss State fans. I mean there is a reason why they were Mississippi A&M and why some of still refer to them as the cow college.

Ok, I know they don’t like it when we refer to them that way. But it is true. Of course, having Miss State friends in the cattle business always fairs well for the few of us Rebels who are also into it. From the two veterinarians in town to the guys at the stockyard, it’s amazing the amount of very good and useful info I’ve gathered about cattle.

Just like this week I found myself sick from what actually turned out to be salmonella for the second time from sick bottle calves. It also happened last summer. However, besides feeling like I had been kicked in the gut and near the end of my rope this wasn’t as bad as last summer. Thanks to my vet/Miss State bud, I now know to always wear rubber gloves when bottle feeding calves. It’s the little things which matter most sometimes.

Of course, the love/hate relationship we have with our rivals can be a catch-22 as it was this weekend. After MSU beat the brakes off LSU Saturday evening I knew the banter from TSBU would happen. My hunting buddy Josh, also a Miss State fan texted me WHO LET THE DAWGS OUT! I responded with COACH O. Besides State College winning and realizing LSU is in serious trouble with coach yaw, I desperately wanted to see the Rebels win Saturday night. Instead, like many other Rebel fans I felt like I had been kicked in the gut again.

And Then There Was Cal

Oh Lord, where do I begin? First, I’d really be interested in exactly what a Golden Bear actually is. It doesn’t matter now of course. They are obviously better than Black Bears, smh. Second, I know you watched the same game I did and we all have our observations. Sure, I have a bunch of my own which parallel yours as well. This isn’t an effort to beat a dead horse. However, this is the Grinder and you know I’ve got to voice my opinion.

Of course, I’m a die-hard Ole Miss fan and believe in the Ole Miss family. When it comes to any Rebel in any sport I want to see them succeed. I want to see Matt Luke succeed. I’d prefer to see him succeed and have the interim tag removed than see anybody else coach at Ole Miss. With the looming COI penalties he would be a lock if he has success. However, what I saw Saturday night was a head coach which looked like a deer in the headlights.

Look, I’m not going to beat up on our head coach. However, I’m going to say what I saw. I saw a first year head coach with a 2-0 record beat another first year interim head coach with the same record. Plain and simple, a lesser team won a game and most of it was because of coaching. Sure, there were injuries which played a part in the loss. Injuries happen in football and the next guy steps up.

Next: Can Still Be A Great Season?

Something else which happens in football are adjustments in your game plan. Ole Miss made no worthwhile adjustments in the second half against Cal. The coaches at Cal did however. Basically, I believe the entire Ole Miss staff was out-coached by Cal in the second half. Hopefully, they can fix that problem within the next two weeks because the next head coach we face will eat us alive if we don’t. In all honesty, this could be a long season if we don’t.