Gearing up for the big game

By Staff
Nov. 23, 2003
As this is written, the big game between Ole Miss and LSU has not been played. But after a quick trip to Oxford at mid-week last week for an early celebration of my daughter Sarah's 20th birthday, I can attest to the fact that emotions were running high well before the kickoff.
A lighted sign in front of one building on Jackson Avenue proclaimed "Go 2 Hell, LSU," with the appropriate letters colored blazing red. Okay, maybe we should pray that God will overlook such a sign just this once.
The students undoubtedly they were students responsible for the display were probably trying to arrange a Christmas divinity scene and got a little carried away. Give college students a bunch of colored Christmas lights and you take your chances, especially on a big football weekend.
Tents were being staked out in the Grove in anticipation of elbow-to-elbow crowds eating barbecue and drinking, well, iced tea.
RVs were already piling into their designated parking spaces. A quick look at the tags said many of them were from out of town; they must have come in early to avoid the crush of traffic that certainly would jam Oxford from all directions by Saturday morning.
An RV, as comfortable as they are, must be tough enough to drive in normal circumstances. You really don't want to be trying to make a left turn against oncoming traffic in a land yacht on the Ole Miss campus on the Saturday morning of a big game.
A festive atmosphere ruled. There were reports of some Friday afternoon classes being canceled. The campus daily newspaper was doing what a college newspaper should do to rally students. The picturesque Oxford square was closed to vehicular traffic Thursday night so a huge pep rally could take center stage.
There were rumors that Col. Rebel might make a surprise appearance, and, more probably, that legendary Rebels Coach Johnny Vaught at age 90-something would throw out the first Hoddy Totty with the customary "Are you ready …" cheer from the high-intensity lights and booming speakers in the JumboTron. That's the scoreboard, folks, the big one that towers over the north end zone.
As I said, at this writing, the game has yet to be played. But its significance indeed, the significance of big time college football on sports fans everywhere, is impossible to ignore. It's larger than life.
Hurst on the run
And now comes a story from Meridian resident Roy Hurst that is just too good not to share with our readers today. Here it is, in his own words:
He finally stopped and kneeled down totally exhausted. He could not run any more.
Hmmm … just another bright sunny day in the old hometown.