Ole Miss football ended the 2018 college football season with a very ugly and disappointing loss to Miss State in the Egg Bowl. Here are first thoughts.
Well on Thanksgiving night we saw the end of the 2018 Ole Miss football season as the Rebels dropped the Egg Bowl in a 35-3 loss to the Miss State Bulldogs. Unless you boycotted the game altogether then you know just how bad it was. The Bulldogs controlled the game on both sides of the ball from start to finish and the Ole Miss coaching staff had no answers.
Of course, the Egg Bowl is the most important game the Rebels played this season and after the way the Rebels began the season it was a huge disappointment. Coach Matt Luke and the Rebels weren’t far removed from 365 days ago as they entered the Egg Bowl looking for their sixth win of the 2018 season. However, this season was a different animal. This season the Ole Miss coaching staff got dogged and the Egg Bowl was no different.
Finally Its Over
Ole Miss Rebels
Many Ole Miss football fans knew what was coming Thursday night. Miss State has a very good defense and a decent rushing offense both of which turned out to be way too much for the Rebels and mainly the Ole Miss coaching staff.
Thanksgiving night most of us saw once again an inept coaching staff overmatched on the sidelines. While the players were doing exactly what they have been coached to do the Rebels coaching staff but the Rebels coaching staff once again failed.
Much like Ole Miss fans knew coming in there would need to be good coaching, good players, big plays and some luck in order for this staff to get a win in the Egg Bowl this season. There really wasn’t much more the players could do.
We watched our senior quarterback try to play despite an injury to his throwing hand and we watched our team play until the end of the game which cannot be disputed. What we didn’t see was a change in our game-plan defensively. We all knew what was coming from the Bulldogs and there was nothing we could do to stop the opposing staff’s game-plan. It was that way all season against SEC opponents.
Not All Bad
Besides seeing the players play their hearts out we also got a very good glimpse into the future last night with a number of true freshmen who will play a major part in any of the success which Ole Miss football sees next season or at least the next three years. All of them saw what is to come with the Egg Bowl rivalry. Isaiah Woullard and Elijah Moore got a firsthand taste;
Freshman quarterback Matt Corral was put into the Egg Bowl fire for the first time as a freshman. Not only did he make some good plays but he also got a firsthand taste of just how toxic this rivalry has become. I was proud of what he did when he took up for his receiver. Corral is a certain leader and I’m looking forward to next season.
Changes are being made as we speak and Ole Miss football fans just need to hang in there as we move thru the process. The loss left a bad taste in the mouths of many from both sides of the fence but it was a Rebels loss nonetheless. Until we can get great coaches we have to get used to losing a few games and it shouldn’t be this way with the talent we have on the roster.
First and foremost, thank you Rebels seniors for the memories and to the team for their dedication. Second, as much as it hurts me to say it, good game to the Bulldogs. The better coached team won. And as I’ll always say it, Hotty Toddy!