Contributed by doowahdiddy

Last year, the student body governments of Ole Miss and LSU decided to add a new feature to the intense rivalry that is the annual game of football between the two Universities.  The rivalry was at its height during the 1950’s and 1960’s when both schools fielded teams that contended for, and won, the national championship but had died down primarily because Ole Miss did not field conference nor nationally competitive teams in the 1970’s and much of the 1980’s.  The rivalry has recently picked up steam since 2003, when the game determined who would go to the SEC Championship game.

For many years, the game had been played on October 31, Halloween Night, alternating between sites, although only thirteen of the games have been played in Oxford.  The other ‘home’ games for the Rebels were traditionally  played in Jackson, Mississippi, until the capacity of the stadium at Oxford was expanded.

So, after a few years of discussion, it was determined that some sort of trophy or prize should be given to the winner of this contest, which has been played annually since 1945, although the two schools first met in 1894.  Student body representatives from both schools met and came up with the idea to call the game The Magnolia Bowl, since the Magnolia is the State Flower for both Louisiana and Mississippi, and a trophy was designed which would be awarded to the winner.

Ole Miss won the first Magnolia Bowl last year in Baton Rouge, beating the Tigers 31 – 13.  The second year of the Magnolia Bowl bears significance since both teams are bowl eligible. The winner should be in a position to play in a more prestigious bowl game.  Should Ole Miss win, it would also move them into a second place tie with LSU in the SEC West and give them identical season won/loss records of 8 – 3.  LSU holds a 55 – 38 – 4 advantage in the series and the Rebels ended a six game slide with the victory last year.

This is the final home game for Ole Miss this year and the Rebels will be making their 22nd appearance on CBS and their second straight Saturday this season.  The senior class will be recognized in pre-game ceremonies and the 1959 National Championship team, the team that defeated LSU 21 – 0 to win the crown, will be honored.

Hotty Toddy!

Tags: College Football, College Football News, Mississippi State, NCAA Football, Ole Miss, SEC, Southeastern Conference

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