Ole Miss Football: Take A Deep Breath, We Have A Long Way To Go

OXFORD, MS - SEPTEMBER 9: Head Coach Matt Luke of the Mississippi Rebels discusses a call with the referee during the second quarter of an NCAA football game against the Tennessee Martin Skyhawks at Vaught-Hemingway Stadium on September 9, 2017 in OXFORD, Mississippi. (Photo by Butch Dill/Getty Images)
OXFORD, MS - SEPTEMBER 9: Head Coach Matt Luke of the Mississippi Rebels discusses a call with the referee during the second quarter of an NCAA football game against the Tennessee Martin Skyhawks at Vaught-Hemingway Stadium on September 9, 2017 in OXFORD, Mississippi. (Photo by Butch Dill/Getty Images)

Coach Matt Luke and Ole Miss football are sitting on the cusp of having a great season but we should still temper our expectations for now.

Last season we watched coach Matt Luke and Ole Miss football finish out strong with a 6-6 season under the cloud of the exit of Freeze and the COI ruling which was hanging over their heads. Of course, finishing with a 31-28 season ending Egg Bowl win was somewhat sweet relief seeing a .500 season considering what the program had been thru.

Now we are 7 games deep into the 2018 season and we have to be happy sitting at 5-2. When you consider those two losses came at the hands of the No.1 Alabama Crimson Tide and the then No.5 LSU Tigers it is impressive. The Rebels began the season with a huge win in Houston against Texas Tech which surprised quite a few fans from both sides.

Since the season opening win over the Red Raiders we have seen the ups and downs with the Rebels. Even before the first half debacle against Southern Illinois very few Ole Miss football fans expected us to be 5-2 entering Auburn week. Now we are here and many fans have decided to get back in the groove and think a little more positive. Some of us, including myself, have already set our expectations too high. Maybe you should be careful too.

Approach Cautiously

Ole Miss Rebels Football
Ole Miss Rebels Football

Ole Miss Rebels Football

There is nothing in this world which is wrong with being a die-hard rah rah Rebels fan. I am and I even picked the Rebels to go 9-3 in 2018. Naturally that prognostication was made way back in the summer before camp even began. Yes I may be a homer but I had much rather hype a 9-3 record and fall a little short than be like some Rebels fans who believed we wouldn’t win 5 games and then the Rebels win 8 or 9.

No I did not approach the 2018 season with cautious optimism but instead went all-in on Ole Miss. I have no problem with being wrong at my age or having people point at my 9-3 prediction and laugh. It kind of comes with the territory when you cover sports for your favorite college team. Of course, if you have family, friends or coworkers who hail from TSBU then you might want to be a little more reserved than I was myself. Just try to be cautious.

So Saturday Ole Miss football will be hosting the Auburn Tigers and I had way more confidence in them than the Rebels when I first made the season predictions. Yes I picked Auburn as one of the three losses I saw the Rebels with at the end of the season. After seeing both teams play thru 7 games I really hope we don’t lose Saturday. I guess I should take my own advise and just take a deep breath and hang on for the rest of this ride. Hotty Toddy!