Rebels plenty motivated for Dogs

By By Will Bardwell / staff writer
Nov. 25, 2003
OXFORD Mississippi State fans who hoped No. 17 Ole Miss would enter the Egg Bowl downtrodden after a close loss to No. 3 LSU can thank Trev Alberts if it doesn't happen.
The ESPN college football analyst said after the Rebels' 17-14 loss that Ole Miss, like a pig that cannot compete with its bigger siblings, would always be "a runt."
Understandably, the comment has met unfavorable reviews from the Rebels.
Cutcliffe said Alberts' slam, coupled with Mississippi State looming on the horizon, helped the Rebels (8-3, 6-1 in the Southeastern Conference) bounce back quickly after the tough loss.
Quarterback Eli Manning, who completed less than 50 percent of his passes against LSU, said the team's resilience in the Sunday practice was comforting.
Although MSU is only 2-9 for the year, Cutcliffe said he expects an intense game from the Bulldogs. Thursday's matchup will be Mississippi State head coach Jackie Sherrill's final game, and he needs a win to have a winning record in his MSU career.
The Bulldogs' best is what Ole Miss got the last time it went to Starkville. In 2001, a 7-3 Rebels squad suffered a 36-28 loss to a Mississippi State team that entered the game 2-8. Manning threw three interceptions that day and said the Bulldogs' record is equally deceiving this season.
The Rebels will be playing for more than bragging rights over their in-state rival. A win against Mississippi State would give Ole Miss at least a tie for its first SEC West division championship, and the Rebels would remain alive for a berth in the SEC championship game.
An Ole Miss win over the Bulldogs and a Razorbacks win over LSU would send the Rebels to the conference championship.