SEC Sat.

There will not be a Rebel game tomorrow but there will be a multitude of SEC games that span the length of the day.

I'll start by watching some UK v. Miami of Ohio, which is being played here in Cincinnati but it isn't exciting enough for me to drag myself to the game. (especially with all the other games going on). I'll flip over occasionally to the UT game. Won't be much of a game but I want to see how they look. Then it's on to the Georgia game. I'll flip to the MSU game during commercials. Finally to cap it off I'll catch the Alabama, VTU game. Oh and I guess I'll catch some of the LSU game.

What Ole Miss fans think about the Big East.

Over the past few days, each Big East football member's fans have discussed their opinion on Ole Miss and the SEC. It's now time for Ole Miss fans to share their feelings about the Big East and its football universities.

(1) What do you think of the Big East as a football conference?

In Football, I consider the Big East "top heavy" and #6 of the 6 BSC Conferences. Historically, I consider Syracuse, West Virginia & Pitt the top Football schools in the Big East. Louisville being the new kid on the block falls right behind those three. Again, Historically, Cincinnati, & Rutgers have not done that well, and South Florida and UConn are too new to Division I Football for me to really have an opinion.-SnapperReb

The Big East seams to be an up and coming conference. They have had a couple pretty good teams the last couple of years. They always seam to choke at the end though.-chumanfu2000

When I think of the Big East I think "the Big Joke." Their in-conference schedule is so embarrassing I can't believe that WVU was even considered for the National Championship game recently. All offense and absolutely ZERO defense (see Louisville last year). Go check their schedules and tell me that any single team plays more than three truly tough games a year. You can't, so don't bother trying.-MobTown Reb

I feel like it as known as the "Big Least" for a reason. I can't believe that they get an automatic bcs game with that kind of conference schedule.-smokerjoe

not a particularly strong football conference, but a few quality programs. I'm sure Big Easterners don't want to hear this but when I think of the big east as a whole, the only thing that really comes to mind is basketball.-KobanT...barian

When the Big East pops into my head I immediately think the "Big Least" since they've lost the only hopes of being considered with the big boys when Va. Tech and Miami left. The conference wasn't that great then. Look at what Miami's done since facing decent competition. Nothing. That said, there are some high quality teams/programs, just not enough of them. I have to admit that I've become a Rutgers fan with their emergence. Leonard and Rice are two of the most exciting players I've seen and I can't imagine having a more potent backfield duo. The Big East is a good conference, just not great. I hate to say it, but after the re-structuring, it is basically an upgraded C-USA with WVU's gimmick offense as an example. Basically, it's a C-USA/Big East/MAC hybrid. Kick out some of the C-USA teams, get Va. Tech and Miami back, and add Notre Dame and you'd be on par with the Big 10. Pitt messed up by not keeping Harris. USF will probably end up owning the conference with their ability to keep reeling in FL athletes.-whacko

Do they play football? Really? When did that happen?-72reb

USF and Rutgers being good last year. That just sounds weak.-Alry45

I think of how knowledgeless some of those people are. Big East has great Basketball, decent but still poor football, and bad baseball. Don't really give a flip about the Big East other than they need to understand their position, step-child.-Rebel5

Recent luck, but overall suck.-Rebsrockem

I think that SEC fans as a whole give the East as little credit as they can. It's a conference on the rise. WVU and USF are recruiting good speed out of the south and it's a matter of time before Cinci and UConn have good teams year in and year out. I think it steams a lot of SEC fans that the good teams in the Big East are the minority but I don't think that is anything that the fans can help. I think that it's a lot like the PAC 10 in that it is an offense based league with out a lot of defense unlike the SEC. They have some truly inventive offenses in the conference. -KentuckyReb

It is top heavy and has some good offenses with no defenses.-Indiana Rebel

Hard to judge base upon how bad we have been lately. We could have possibly lost to 5 of those teams last year in football. Appears to be a balanced conference. Would like to schedule West Virginia, Syracuse, and Pitt in football. Cincinnati, Louisville, and UConn are very good basketball programs.-GoodOReb

None of the other teams excite me in football. I'm not saying the other team are not "good enough", I would just rather play an ACC team given the choice.-2001OleMissGrad

Thursday night football helps me get through the week.-As I Lay Dying

Up and coming conference that seems to be innovative offensively. Not quite ready for the rigors of BIG league play week after week.-BobbyBacala

Weak conference that is getting better, but could not play with the big boys week in and week out.-tsreb

I will say that the Big East has definitely supplanted the ACC for the right to claim 5th best BCS football conference.-GroveReb84

I think it is is a pretty decent football league. There are some really good young coaches there(USF, Rutgers, Cincinnati). I do not think any of them will be consistently rated among the top 25, with the possible exception of Pitt and USF. Louisville has had some good teams in recent years, but I do not expect them to be that good year in, year out. There is simply not enough talent in Kentucky to keep them there, and it is not realistic to expect them to take elite prospects from surrounding states. USF is located in a goldmine for talent, and it would not be surprise me to see them hang around the top 25. What may really affect them is the re-emergence of Miami. Cincinnati have a good coach there, but play in the shadows of the Buckeyes. It is hard for me to see them much better than what they had last year. Pitt probably has the best chance to stay strong for the next few years. There is a lot of talent in Pennsylvania, and Penn State cannot sign all of it(although they will get the majority of it). Rutgers- I really like their HC. I expect them to stay in the upper half of the league, although some years will be better than others.WVA is on the upswing, but remind me a lot of Louisville in that there is not much high school talent to draw upon there. I expect them to remain competitive, but nowhere close to where the have been recently. Syracuse will likely have to make a decision on a coach after the year. I have enjoyed watching them in the past-especially when McNabb was there.UCONN- I think they are a solid team, and appear to be well coached, but fall in the same boat as the Cardinals and Mountaineers. All around a good conference that will have a lot of teams who will be up and down in the future.-zricz

There is always a few good teams, but top to bottom, its not very strong. -Reb4DaleMurphy

The Big East is a conference trying to redefine itself. If this were the the NBA the Miami, VaTEch and BC for UConn, S Fla, Cincy and Rutgers trade would have never been approved. Those three defections nearly killed the conference.-IronCityReb

The Big East took a big blow when it lost Miami, V Tech and BC, but it's on the rebound. This is not just a one-team conference as some may think. However, WVU is the only team that can consistently compete with the bigger BCS programs right now. Being a BCS school, however, the Big East will eventually bring up some of these former mid-major schools it now has and make them future title contenders. Right now, however, there is no doubt they are the weakest BCS conference.-YeeOleMiss5

I think the Big Least should stick to basketball. WVU is the only team capable of going toe to toe with the top 5 teams in our conference and they may have lots of trouble with them too. Add in a coaching change and there goes your best team. When BC, Miami, and Va. Tech left the automatic Big Least bid should have been revoked.-ozzy2378

A great basketball conference that is starting to have an impact in football. I'd play any of them any time, any where. -mredge

(2) What's the first thing that comes to mind when I mention the following teams and what general impression do you have of each team? Also would you like to play each team in football?

(a) Cincinnati

Struggles to find Football Identity. When I was in school they were everyones Homecoming Opponent. Yes, I'd like to play them.-SnapperReb

What can you say about Cincinnati. They are doing an alright job of trying to be a 1A team. Still have a long way to go. We used to play them when I was playing at Murray State. They were still 1AA then. Hope they have have put a lot of money into the stadium there, it was a rat hole then.-chumanfu2000

Bob Huggins-smokerjoe

Cincy-Bob Huggins-surprisingly good last year in football. Thanks for letting us have Andy-don;t have much desire to play them in football-KobanT...barian

Cincinnati nothing comes to mind-72reb

Bob Huggins, don't really feel one way or another. I guess I wouldn't mind if we played them in football, my jaw wouldn't drop if I saw them on the schedule.-Alry45

I hope they enjoyed Andy, goofed by not hiring him. Impression is better than good. Yes in football. Go Bearcats!-Rebsrockem

Good coach in football. Team on the rise. Thanx for Andy Kennedy.-KentuckyReb

Had a huge win a few years back (I think Ohio State but I'm not sure) really a BBall school.-Indiana Rebel

Steve Logan is/was an animal -As I Lay Dying

Not much in the way of football. Tough traditional basketball school. I wouldn't mind playing them.-BobbyBacala

They have a good year about every five. Defenses have been pretty good at times. Commuter school.-tsreb

They were stupid enough to fire Andy Kennedy and allow us to hire him-Reb4DaleMurphy

The Wake transfer, Mauck, comes to mind. He definitely helped that team post a record that many would have said would be unrealistic. I'd love to play them in football.-YeeOleMiss5

Cincinnati? I didn't even know they had a football team.-ozzy2378

They face a tough row to hoe since they are in a NFL market-mredge

(b) Louisville

Up and coming Football school where Hoops still is priority. Yes, I'd like to play them.-SnapperReb

Louisville has been pretty consistant the last few years. They always seam to have a good QB. When I was going to school in Kentucky the people from the Ville always seamed cocky and wanted people to think Louisville was like a New York or Chicago or something.-chumanfu2000

Rick Pitino-smokerjoe

Basketball-Notorious trash talkers with little to back it up. Patrino. had a brief run of success that allowed them to escape the black hole that is CUSA. I've been to Louisville and it reminded me a lot of millington and frayser. don't care much about playing them in football-KobanT...barian

Louisville Petrino gave them the shaft-72reb

Rick Petino. Im seeing a trend that Big East basketball coaches come to mind before anything related to football. I would like to play them, they have been fairly solid the past couple of years.-Alry45

Over.......Rated. Almost as arrogant as Alabama, without the history. They are equal to Moo U (Miss. State) of the SEC. They have a great baseball coach. Impression is not good. Bring them on in football.-Rebsrockem

lived there for five years. Fans are some of the biggest bandwagoners I've ever been around. They have the biggest chip on there shoulder as far as football I have ever seen, which can be a good thing. I think this is caused by the local UK fans.-KentuckyReb

Good offenses and QB's. Kind of a comuter school.-Indiana Rebel

Birds-As I Lay Dying

Riding a pretty good wave of success the last few years in football. I still think of them as a basketball school first. Denny Crum was one of the best coaches in NCAA history. Would love to get a series going with them in both sports.-BobbyBacala

Really had a couple of good years, but no real history. Help prop up their conference-tsreb

Dan McDonnell coaches there, they have one of the best AD's in the country. Recently have had good teams in all 3 sports.-Reb4DaleMurphy

Oy, oh, boy...did Louisville ever find out that a BCS conference is much harder than C-USA. I usually cheer for them, though, b/c my father took some crime prevention technology courses there. Too bad they have to admit they were ever associated with that slime bag, Petrino. I'd play them in a heartbeat.-YeeOleMiss5

They're ok but like another poster said they found out pretty quick that beating up on the Conference of Unwanted Schools of America is a lot easier than playing BCS level opponents (If you can call Big Least conference games "BCS level"-ozzy2378

Excellent AD who seems to make all the right moves. I'm not sure about the present head coach, but the AD will not let a loser hang on too long.-mredge

(c) West Virginia

Traditionally a tough Football team. We owe them one from the Music City Bowl. Yes, I'd like to play them.-SnapperReb

They have been the best for the longest of the whole Big East bunch. Always do pretty well. I remember a few years ago they played Florida in the sugar bowl and I got to go with a Gator uddy of mine. They scored first then Florida drove down and scored with out even throwing a pass. I told the guys in front of us it was going to be a long day if Spurier could move the ball without throwing it. The gators went on to low them out.Maybe this is when some of the WV fans grew the hate they seam to have for the SEC. Probably my 2nd Favorite BEC team behind S Florida.-chumanfu2000

Don Nalen and our matchup in the Music City Bowl-smokerjoe

party school that lights couches on fire. helped Marshall out of a tragic situation. got shafted by Rich Rod I would like to play them mostly because I have friends who attended WVU and I'd imagine it be fun to burn a couch or a mattress.-KobanT...barian

West Virginia nothing comes to mind-72reb

Kevin Pittsnogle and Rich Rod. I would love to play them in football. Love the offense they run.-Alry45

Recent success in football, speedy team. Impression is good. Yes in football.-Rebsrockem

Probably the closest to SEC fans that I have been around outside the SEC. I am going up there for the Auburn game this year with my father and can't wait. I will never forget Kevin Pitsnoggle (sp?) Quite possibly the ugliest bball player i've ever seen. ha. And also the ass whoopins ya'll have put on UGA, Ok, us, MSU etc. Very good team that SEC fans don't want to acknowledge as good. -KentuckyReb

Great running backs. Great people and like to burn crap when they win a big game!-Indiana Rebel

Pitznogle-As I Lay Dying

Really good football tradition. Hard nosed. Would love to avenge the Music City Bowl. A win over WVU would be a big win.-BobbyBacala

The only team in the conference that is really legit lately. Strength of their conference.-tsreb

They've been a good football team recently, will be interesting to see them without Rodriguez. I thought they would have gone out and hired someone better-Reb4DaleMurphy

Best team in the Big East; needless to say, they definitely carry the conference banner proudly. Nonetheless, USF's defensive coordinator seems to have found their offensive secret to success. Oh, and if Eli Manning would have started that Music City Bowl, they wouldn't have won. They couldn't stop him. I wouldn't mind playing them, but I'd rather it be a few years from now since they just played State (sorry for you having to meet their toothless fans, by the way).-YeeOleMiss5

Played a great quarter against UGA in the Sugar Bowl and beat an overrated Oklahoma team. Brightest star in an otherwise dull conference sky.-ozzy2378

Best football tradition in the Big East. -mredge

(d) Syracuse

Traditionally a very tough Football team with lots of history. They've dominated their Conference over the years. Yes, I'd like to play them.-SnapperReb



They are a fine basketball school, not so much in football. They have always seamed to be pretty good against the spread at home tough. -chumanfu2000


Jim Boeheim -smokerjoe


a once good team that has fallen a LONG way-indifferent about playing them.-KobanT...barian


Syracuse nothing comes to mind-72reb


Jim Boeheim. You guys should probably just stick to basketball. No I wouldn't want to play them in football because I know they would want to play one game up there and who wants to travel all the way up to New York just to watch a bad Syracuse team.-Alry45


That big orange walkin' around aimlessly. Impression is fair. Yes to football.-Rebsrockem


Used to have cool unis. Good basketball school. -KentuckyReb


Basketball and Donavan McNabb-Indiana Rebel


D. McNabb & need new uniforms badly-As I Lay Dying


I think of Boeheim and the great basketball teams first, but the 'Cuse did produce Jim Brown and John Mackey, two of the greatest at their positions of all time. Would love to play them.-BobbyBacala


doormat of D1 football. I get the impression that football here is just something to do until basketball season.-tsreb


That big orange globe mascot thing they have-Reb4DaleMurphy


Donovan McNabb, Carmelo Anthony... I'd play them in football, but wouldn't expect them to be nearly as competitive against us as their old teams would have been.-YeeOleMiss5


Haven't been worth a crap since Donovan McNabb and still weren't that great with him.-ozzy2378

Very much like Ole Miss. Their best days were decades ago. They may face an even tougher struggle to come back than Ole Miss.-mredge

(e) Pitt

Fairly tough Football team that is trying to regain their old form. The Panthers have some good Football history. Yes, I'd like to play them.-SnapperReb



Pittsburg has more tradition than any of these other BEC schools. Marino and Dorsett put them on the map then they went away for a long time kinda like Ole Miss in the 80's. I think they tend to be overrated by the east coast media when they do have a decent season. I think Wanstadt (sp) will have some wins if he stays very long.-chumanfu2000


Wannstedt's struggles-smokerjoe


another team with sporadic periods of success- overshadowed by Penn St. I have tons of family in Pittsburgh and love the city-playing them would be fun for me but I doubt many other rebel fans would care much.-KobanT...barian


Pitt Jackie Sherrill cheating big time-72reb


Dave Wannstedt. No real feelings about Pitt. Wouldn't mind playing them one way or another.-Alry45


Dave W. and Tony Dorsett. Impression is fair. Yest to football.-Rebsrockem


There post on your blog made them come off as a bunch of a holes, but hell Im sure ours will portray the same image. Larry Fitzgerald was good but other than him in the last 2o years nothing to write home about. -KentuckyReb


Will show up every so often with a good year, The great receiver that played there and now plays for the AZ Cardnials I believe.-Indiana Rebel


Waiting for them to return to the scene-As I Lay Dying


Makes me think of Hugh Green first and foremost. Dan Marino next. Good history, tough school. Would love to play them and beat them because it would be like sticking it to Jackie Wayne again.-BobbyBacala


Best history of the league. Had a couple of flash in the pan teams lately, but I don't think they will stick as a good team. Maybe I'm wrong, and I hope that I am.-tsreb


They have always have a good hoops team. Football they've stuggled recently-Reb4DaleMurphy


My boy, Dan Marino, and that turd, Mark May. My girlfriend's from there too. I honestly didn't expect Wannstedt to do as well as he has, but they've got a long way to go. Funny thing is...I read where some Pitt fans talked trash about Ole Miss, but have nowhere near the same history. Some of their fans are just like many people around the nation: they forgot that Ole Miss was a mainstay in the postseason before Orgeron got here a few years ago. I'd love to play them. A win would give me bragging rights over my girlfriend's family.-YeeOleMiss5


Can they rewind to the 70s? Does Marino or Dorsett have anymore eligibility? -ozzy2378

Another school whose best days are in the past. In addition, they are in an NFL market which makes creating a strong fan base tough.-mredge

(f) Rutgers
"Flavor of the month." They appear to have a good young coach. They've been tough recently, but can the continue to win? Yes, I'd like to play them.-SnapperReb



Rutgers has had a couple of good seasons the last 2 years. I'm anxious to see what they do this year. They are also overated by no fault of their own, the media from New York wants them to be good really bad to give that area some kind of presence on the college football world. We will see what they do now that Ray Rice is in the NFL.-chumanfu2000


Women's basketball and the Don Imus story-smokerjoe


Hardly knew they played football a few years ago, and now they're a power team in a minor BCS conference. chop wood. - Love their coach but don't have any real desire to play them.-KobanT...barian


Rutgers nothing comes to mind-72reb


Nothing comes to mind really when I think of Rutgers. I guess I would like to play them in football since they have been decent recently.-Alry45


Over.......rated, but not quite as bad as U of L. Impression is fair. Yes to football.-Rebsrockem


Wow, what a turnaround this program has done in recent memory. I can't think of a school that has done a better 180 than Rutgers-KentuckyReb


The huge upset win they had a few years ago when they flooded the field after the game & a great football coach.-Indiana Rebel


DC Jefferson-As I Lay Dying


Good run lately. Not much tradition. Had a physics instructor that graduated from there. He was a jerk. Why not play them?-BobbyBacala


Had the best teams in their history by far the last couple of years. Being in the Big East as it is now should help them remain respectable records.-tsreb


Used to be terrible, but have turned it around recently-Reb4DaleMurphy


Intriguing program, Tony Soprano, etc. all come to mind. Oh, and you're welcome for Eli. Rutgers fans have popped from out of the woodwork the last few years. They are putting together an excellent recruiting class, though. So, while losing Ray Rice may hurt them now, they will compete again in a couple of years. I'd like to play them, but don't really desire a trip to Jersey. Come to the Grove! We'll treat you right.-YeeOleMiss5


one good season in a long line of bad ones. I bet they'd love to have homestate phenom Knowshawn Moreno.-ozzy2378

I don't know how these people can say Rutgers doesn't have a great football tradition. That maybe true lately, but they did happen to play in the FIRST college football game with Princeton.-mredge

(g)South Florida

Not a lot going for them on the gridiron. HUGE school (enrollment wise...over 45,000), but they get lost in the Florida Football mix with Florida, Florida State and Miami. Yes, I'd like to play them.-SnapperReb



South Florida set the CFB world on fire early last year and tanked. That want happen often in a conference like this. They will be the USC of this conference very soon. To much talent n this state not to. They have only been playing 1A ball afew years and look where they are now. WOW! I pull for them above all the others in the BEC.-chumanfu2000


Don't know much, overachieving football team last year-smokerjoe


USSF good team but like most Big East teams I don't follow them much and playing them would just be another game to me.-KobanT...barian


nothing comes to mind-72reb


Tampa Bay. Really becoming a player in Florida recruiting, just look at their commits right now. Id like to play them in football, who wouldn't want to take a road trip down to south Florida for a game?-Alry45


Luck will run out, but welcomed surprise. Impression is good. Yes to football.-Rebsrockem


People better watch out because there location will alow them to recruit the one think that not many teams up north have. Speed, speed and more speed. This team is the next WVU. -KentuckyReb


School on the rise. They have had great recruiting over the past few years. They were fun to watch last year.-Indiana Rebel


non-qualifer/partial qualifer U-As I Lay Dying


Too new to have much of a thought one way or the other. They have the money and location to be a player in the future. Look out for them. I say play 'em.-BobbyBacala


This team has the potential to really skyrocket. They have a great recruiting area and are starting to get some respect. The rest of the Big East may soon come to regret letting them in.-tsreb


Up and comer in the football world. Have a huge talent base-Reb4DaleMurphy


USF, Grothe, and their incredible DE, Selvie--who had 31.5 TFLs and 14.5 sacks last year--are showing they are here to stay. I'd be thrilled to play them.-YeeOleMiss5


Had a good year last year. Believe the Auburn game would rarely turn out the way it did last year for South Florida. Rising star but keep proving it to me. I'm not convinced.-ozzy2378

Right now they are #4 in Florida but they are about to kick some one to the curb. I wonder whether it will be Florida State or Miami-mredge

(h)UConn

Won some games they probably should not have won, but still too new to Big Time College Football. Also very much a Hoops school, moreso then Louisville. Yes, I'd like to play them.-SnapperReb


UCONN is another basketball school. They did have a good year last year or the year before. ESPN loves them cause they are from the same state. Do not really know much about them.-chumanfu2000

basketball, basketball, basketball-smokerjoe



Uconn-basketball-KobanT...barian


nothing comes to mind-72reb


Basketball being king. Suprised about their good year in football last year. Wouldn't want to play them in football because it's way too cold up there and its too far to get in a car to drive.-Alry45


Basketball school and a darn good one. Impression is good. Yes to football.-Rebsrockem


Another team that is going to be a player in the next ten years. I went to school with a girl from Boston who now works in their AD and she says that they are tirelessly doing everything that they can to build something special in there football program.-KentuckyReb


Basketball school period, and pretty good at that.-Indiana Rebel


Liked watching there football team play last season-As I Lay Dying


Basketball all the way. Could have moderate success in football. Why not?-BobbyBacala


Waiting for basketball. Their football history is awful, but a couple of pretty good teams recently. No big wins.-tsreb


Basketball school, getting better in football -Reb4DaleMurphy


Need to stick to basketball...I don't expect them to even repeat their moderate success of last year b/c the rest of the teams in the Big East (save Syracuse) are passing them by. I don't see what we'd gain out of this game. A historically strong SEC team on the verge of the top 25 in all-time victories (that has 30 bowl appearances) vs. a traditional basketball school. We are currently bringing our program back up, and it will again resemble our teams of the '90s and early 2000's. How bad would our OOC schedule look with UConn on it when we had a winning record against teams like LSU in the 90s?-YeeOleMiss5

stick to basketball-ozzy2378

I just don't see football as happening big here.-mredge

Other comments:

I would not mind playing South Florida, West Virginia or Pitt 1 for 1 in football. Although I see no reason to do it after September, its to cold in Pitt and WV, Now a trip to South Florida would be great late in the season. Don't care who we play in Basketball even though Coach K will have a really good team in the next couple of years.-chumanfu2000



I don't feel strongly about playing any of these teams in football. I guess I would like a chance to get back at WV for that bowl game loss they gave us a few years ago.-smokerjoe


Don't care. It may give us exposure in a new part of the country, but I can't really get excited about playing any of those teams.-72reb


I would love to play any of the Big East teams as long as it was home and away for both football and basketball.-tsreb


I'd like to play any of these schools in football. I like playing teams we don't usually play. -Reb4DaleMurphy


Cincy, Pitt and UConn are all urban schools and have a lot of difficulty filling up their stadiums. If it weren't for Notre Dame and and West Va, Pitt would average less than 25k per game. Louisville gambled on Schnellenberger and hit a home run. Their Fiesta Bowl win over Alabama put them on the map. Then they got lucky with Indiana and Kentucky. Both of those schools were terrible in ALL phase of the game. Bad athletes, bad coaches and even worse recruiting. Louisville was in the right place at the right time. If Kentucky has a resurrgence and if Indiana improves only marginally, then Louisville will suffer. Rutgers will collaspe when Schiano(sp) leaves for Penn State. Syracuse is nearly as bad as their uniforms are ugly and as long as they are in upper state NY they will never recruit well. West Virginia has it figured out and is dialed in for long term success. They would be a very nice addition to the SEC. THey are the only Big East team to consistantly sell out every home game.I would love to play Pitt on a regular basis. There is a glut of talent in Western Pa. There are over 180 football playing high schools in the WPIAL. At one time there were 240 school but many consolidated. Ole Miss could go into that area and clean house. I was dissapointed when we had an opportunity to sign Bill Stull but then passed on him. I thought it would have been a good strategic recruiting move had he been able to win a starting spot at Ole Miss. -IronCityReb


Bottom line. Big Least has 2 teams that MAY be able to compete against the likes of UGA, LSU, Auburn, and either UTrash or Bama. Compare that to the SEC having 3 or 4 other teams not listed that can beat their top teams and the Big Least is less than impressive. Did I mention they need to have their auto-BCS bid revoked?-ozzy2378





Posters from
RebelSports.net (Rivals)Ole Miss Spirit (Scout)

How we are perceived: Cincinnati & Lousiville

We continue our series with comments from fans of Cincinnati and Louisville. These former CUSA members should be a bit more familiar with Ole Miss as we have had recent "touches" with both universities.

Cincinnati:

(1) What is the first thing that comes to mind when you think of Ole Miss?

(Tie) Mannings and the Confederate Flag Controversy.-wacodavid

The Grove (John Grisham second)-BCSBearcats

The first thing I now think of is Andy Kennedy. I wish him and you
University success in the future.- ginsid007

National Center for Physical Acoustics - one of the best, over the years, acoustics programs / labs in the world - has produced some great research and talent-BearcatOldTimer

Two things - James Meredith being the first black admitted to the university, but not until 1962. The great writers - Faulkner et al - who have come out of Oxford.-coloradobuck

A public school that thinks its a private school.... for better and for worse. Marked by traditions, mostly good ones. The Egg Bowl, a little like being at a beauty pagent in the stands.... with a warlike football game on the field. If you ever want to see women in an all out beauty battle it is Mississippi State and Ole Miss. The Grove. Hate to say it, but an athletic department that thought firing David Cutcliffe was a good idea.... and also thought that Ed "Mumbles" Ogeron was also a good idea.-bearcatvol

Money, Money, Money,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,Money-SoonerChad11

Andy Kennedy- bearcat

SEC-chefjon

(2) What are your feelings about Ole Miss?

Don't know very much about the school, but I'm sure graduate and undergraduate students receive a great education in Oxford.-wacodavid

I feel that Ole Miss would be a very fun University to attend.-BCSBearcats

Neither positive or negative. I am sure you have recruiting issues recruiting against the flag but I have NO problem with the tradition of the south-ginsid007

Have never visited, but would like to - supposed to be a beautiful campus. I kind of like boiled peanuts - the south keeps all the best peanuts for itself so I get them in some form whenever I can hit a non-tourist place down there.-BearcatOldTimer

Beautiful campus, great college town, and a university that has come a long way since 1962.-coloradobuck

Easily the World Champions of tailgating. LSU fans are wilder.... Ole Miss tailgates define class. Mostly good. Lovely ladies, great fraternities. Superb tradition, awsome campus. Warm resectful greetings to visitors. The stadium has been improved nicely.Not far from Tunica. One pet peve, way too many of the Ole Miss people I have met keep thinkng John Vaught is coming back. They have no grasp that it isn't 1963, and the rest of the league's powers have past them by. They truly don't understand it. Unlike say a South Carolina, Kentucky or even dare I say a Mississippi State fan who knows what they are in the SEC. Basically that the planets would have to line up perfectly for them to have a chance to win the SEC ever again. But none of the Rebel fans I know seem to understand why and are truly stuned when the season goes badly.-bearcatvol

Great academics, culture and Oxford is beautiful. Money-SoonerChad11

Andy Kennedy - bearcat

Middle of the pack (football & basketball) consistantly ....IMO-chefjon

(3) Would you like to play us in football or basketball in the future?

Absolutely, would love to play Ole Miss in a football series.-wacodavid

100% Yes. -BCSBearcats

Yes-ginsid007

Would love to play Ole Miss in both football and basketball. Would be a great road trip.-BearcatOldTimer

Ole Miss would be a helluva lot of fun to play.-coloradobuck

Sure would. I think the football series would be a lot of fun. Anytime we could get an SEC team to play us other than Kentucky and Vandy it helps us raise the bar. Most UC fans love Andy Kennedy. He would be greeted back by most very warmly..... perhaps that is why our athletic department would ever let that happen.-bearcatvol

Boy would I. Last time you kicked a late field goal to beat us, and I lost a hundy to my little brother who graduated from Ole Miss. Watched it in a bar in Memphis, with lil bro and also got stuck with the tab. Money!-SoonerChad11
S
ure. Whatever. But don't get used to it. Maybe for a bowl.- bearcat

Football yes, basketball....who cares........IMO -chefjon

(4)What do you think about the SEC in general?

SEC is the best football conference in the United States.-wacodavid

SEC is the best football conference, great fans, and the best ladies.-BCSBearcats

Great athletes. Football is king. Basketball is improving-ginsid007

SEC is a great conference but, in general, has a reputation for skirting the boundaries of ethics and fairness. And this is a polite statement.-BearcatOldTimer

Best fans in football, solid bourbon drinkers (after my own heart), but a conference that often looks the other way in terms of athletes' academics and conduct.-coloradobuck

The most passionate fans hands down. Absolutely no question. Most people here can't really grasp that UGA will send 20-thousand plus fans 2,000 miles to Tempe, AZ to see the Bulldogs play there. Or that nearly that many Tennessee fans will travel to Los Angeles for the opener at UCLA. Is the league a bit out of control especially in football??? Yes?? but at the same time it is part of what makes it what it is. Basketball in the SEC is on the rise, ironically with the two powers Kentucky and Arkansas taking a step back. Florida, Tennessee, and MSU and Ole Miss look to be heading in a good direction. -bearcatvol

Love it. Best fans, traditions and football conference in the land. -SoonerChad11

Too far south. - bearcat

Love their football-chefjon

(5) Have you ever visited Oxford on game day? If yes, what was your experience? If no, what have you heard about our gameday experience?

No. But I've heard it's one heck of a party-wacodavid

Yes, for an LSU - Ole Miss game weekend in 1998'. The experience was fantastic. I could not find a hotel anywhere close so I called the local chapter of my Fraternity and they offered me a private room (The Colonel Bill Room) with a full bathroom. I had a relative attending Ole Miss at that time. I have never had so many very attractive girls all over me, being so nice.-BCSBearcats

I have never been to Oxford. I understand that game day is special. Very civil! Many fans wear ties and sport coats to the game.-ginsid007

Have never visited Oxford on game day but probably would if the Bearcats were to make the trip for football. I hear it is very fun. One of my former bosses went Miss State and he commented how this game in particular is just about as much fun as a barrel of snakes.-BearcatOldTimer

Classic setting, from what I understand. The genteel old south meets raucous SEC football.-coloradobuck

Yes, I touched on it above. It's not the biggest SEC venue. But as a gameday experience it truly is special among SEC schools. They have taken pregame celebrations and turned them into an artform. -bearcatvol

Yep. Honestly, I could not believe it coming from Oklahoma. (note to Bearcat fans coming to Norman, there will be no silver at the tailgates and if you encounter a shrimp coctail, don't eat it) White linen, Full Silver sets, the Grove, Makers Mark and my Jim Beam. Blue Blazers in the heat, and dresses, high heels and hats, at least I think some had hats. Got to go down on the sidelines during the game. LSU fans in one end zone completely over powered the entire stadium. (note to self, got to make one of those death valley at night games) Chicken on a stick before the Grove. Band coming through the grove and the walk into the stadium. Back to the familiar confines of

Beal Street for the after game festivities. All in all, great time. -SoonerChad11

You gotta be kidding. Mississippi? Oxford, Ohio, maybe. No offense, but, uh, ... hmm. How do I put this? I'm a northern kinda guy. But I'm sure the atmosphere is very collegian.- bearcat

No, have not heard one way or the other, however it is the SEC-chefjon (Louisville fan on Cincinnati board)

Posters from:
Bearcat Insider (Scout)
Cincinnati Big East Board

Louisville:

(1) What is the first thing that comes to mind when you think of Ole Miss?

I've heard they were very good, back in the day(50's-60's?), Eli Manning played there, as did his father, though that was before my time.-Crimsonelf

I have heard the tailgating is a much different environment for the middle aged group. From what I have heard / read it is more "sophisticated" celebration for the wine & cheese crowd. -villun

Eli Manning and an always struggling football team in a tough conference, not to many good memories....sorry.-dgrace4cards

First thing that I think of are the soroity girls in their dresses and pearls and the guys in their ties at the football games. For some reason I like it. It's cool seeing a hot girl in a dress and heels jumping up and down during a football game.-OutkastCard

Unfortunately, I think of the "Rebels" nickname, rebel mascot and logo, rebel flag, the way things were in "ole"-time Mississippi, etc...things tied to slavery, the Civil War, mistreatment of minorities (one in particular) - things that are not good and not related to athletics.-GoCardsGoKrogering

Rebel Flag-ninetyproof

Manning, Southern tradition.-DemonSpawn

The nickname "Ole Miss" is not, contrary to popular belief, derived from "Old Mississippi." The name "Ole Miss" was historically the nickname of the mistress on a plantation. The students at the University of Mississippi selected the nickname in the late 1800s. That, coupled with the mascot "The Rebels" (adopted in 1935), always makes me think about Mississippi's resistance to racial equality and the civil rights movement.-cardfistacuffs

The women, of course-sargecard

The Grove-BrothaCard

Didn't you guys think you were going to steal our coach a couple years ago? also - Eli and Archie played there...-BPSUL

Which one are they?-RoscoPCardtrane

Great Coach in Houston Nutt, and I love his "balls" to roll out of Arkansas right after the big bowl win, and go to Ole Miss and have a Press Conference, before the ink from the bowl win dried.... Too cool! Great Coach in Andy Kennedy, and I can't believe that idiot woman AD at Cinci, has let Huggins AND Kennedy slip away. Congrats on Kennedy winning the C of The Year, 1st year in the SEC too.-Louvil...dinals

My thoughts -- Dickie Scruggs getting five years. Otherwise, who cares a wit about Ole Miss on this board unless you beat Kentucky.-billyjeff

Why don't your fans call the school Mississippi instead of something a bullfighter does????-CardTopper

Why are you and your other, MSU afraid of Southern Miss?(and yes you are)-MtCardinal

Honestly, pretty girls is the only thing that comes to mind at Ole miss or Eli Manning.-shootsix77

Hot women-RFSCard

The Colonel logo; Red and Blue (great color combo) and Confederate Flags (banned but still present)-WildCard

I don't live too far from Ole Miss, and here are my thoughts. Loud mouth, blow hard alumni-cardfaninmemphis

(2) What are your feelings about Ole Miss?
Neutral - haven't had much contact with Ole Miss, to my recollection.-Crimsonelf

Good tradition, bad coach currently on the sidelines. -villun

Neutral, no beef with you guys, probably because we don't have much going on with you in fball,bball,baseball, and we aren't THAT close to you.-dgrace4cards

No beef with Ole Miss. I think they have some good fans. -OutkastCard

Ole Miss seems to sit not only near the bottom of the SEC when it comes to major athletics (which I mostly mean football and basketball), but also behind Miss St in their own state. They are not the conference doormat, however, and seem to have a lot of potential if they can make the right hire. They do have some football legacy (thanks largely to Archie and a little more recently with Eli and Duece).-GoCardsGoKrogering

No feelings one way or the other. I take that back. Are they really scared of USM?-ninetyproof

Don't have any whatsoever. -DemonSpawn

Neutral-sargecard

The Grove is full of fine looking women, dressed very well-BrothaCard

Im your biggest fan whenever you play uk.-BPSUL

I like you, but only as a friend.-RoscoPCardtrane

Football and Basketball are on the rise, with 2 great coaches in place now.-Louvil...dinals

bullfighting is cruel-CardTopper

Kinda like you guys, not blowhards like the Alabama schools.-MtCardinal

Hottest women in the country-RFSCard

Academically, neutral. Football, living in the past (i.e., Johnnie Vaught days)-WildCard

A party school with the elitist attitude that you can find at an Ivy League school, but without the bother of academics. Check the Princeton Review, and you will find that Ole Miss students spent the least amount of time studying of all students. They were also rated the #2 party school in the nation. So, it represents some aspects of the South well: the old-boy network in which smart doesn't count for much. And the women are really hot.-cardfaninmemphis

(3) Would you like to play us in football in the future?

Sure.-Crimsonelf

Yes, home & home. -villun

Sure, but only in an even home and home series (1/1 or 2/2)-dgrace4cards

Yes, I'd love to have a home and home. Oxford sounds like a great football atmosphere.-OutkastCard

I would not mind having Ole Miss on the schedule at all...not as our primary non-conf foe, but as 2nd or 3rd fiddle.-GoCardsGoKrogering

Why not. I know that you guys Memphis and its regional, but i don't see why we couldn't play home and home when/if opportunity presents itself.-ninetyproof

Only if you were ranked. We would have nothing to gain playing a poor SEC team, and everything to gain playing an SEC power.-DemonSpawn

Yes. I'd love to see a home-and-home.-cardfistacuffs

Yes-sargecard

Sure- BrothaCard

yes absolutely - I would welcome non conf games against any SEC team-BPSUL

Football? Definitely, could use the schedule bump. Basketball? Sure, always up for kickin some SEC ass.-RoscoPCardtrane

We play you this year in basketball, and I would not even consider playing you in football, while
Steve Kragthorpe is here.-Louvil...dinals

Couldn't care less-CardTopper

In football, home and home, do you even have a basketball program?-MtCardinal

Yes, so I can travel down there and see those hot women-RFSCard

Love to play in football; no strong feeling about b-ball-WildCard

Sure. Anytime we can play another BCS league team in football, lets go for it. It beats playing Middle TN State. Basketball: why not? Can we play the game at the Fed Ex forum so I don't have to drive so far to watch the Cardinals play?-cardfaninmemphis

(4)What do you think about the SEC in general?
Best fball conf. top to bottom (the BEast is the SEC of bball conferences).-Crimsonelf

strong conference-villun

Very good conference in most sports, situated itself with 95% state schools, which is the best possible setup a conference could have, throw in all in the southern warm weather, and there is your recipe for success.-dgrace4cards

I have mixed feelings. Some of their fans are knowledgeable and respectful to others. Some think that they are god's gift to college athletics. I respect the fans from Ole Miss, Arkansas, Auburn, Vandy, and Miss State. Fans from UGA, UT, LSU, UF, and especially UK are just unbearable. They think that the game of football only exists in the SEC. UK has been riding the coattails of powers such as UT, UF, and LSU forever.-OutkastCard

The SEC is great for fan enthusiasm, large stadiums, small college towns where everything shuts down for the game, etc. It is clearly a premiere athletic conference no matter how you slice it, but it is tarnished by a history of programs loose with rules and education.-GoCardsGoKrogering

Large Stadiums. Sunny and 80degrees. Due to location, best sports conference.-ninetyproof

Usually the best conference in the county, although the PAC 10, Big Ten, and Big 12 sometimes gives it a run for its money. -DemonSpawn

Best football conference. But I resent that that results in SEC schools turning their noses up at other BCS conference programs. Especially when it's a school like UK, Miss, Miss St., or Vandy, who basically coattail on the success of the SEC heavyweights.-cardfistacuffs

Elitest Attitude-sargecard

Best overall conference, though the bottom dwellers are as bad as any conference's bottom dwellers-BrothaCard

random thoughts: most crooked conference overall, best football conference overall, sick of hearing about it (from uk fans) overrated basketball (yes I know FLA won two consecutive natl titles) awesome awesome awesome football game day experience (the SEC sets the standard) Florida rocks alabama is for rednecks, USC will never get over the hump, miss state hired the first black coach in the SEC props to them, ole miss is the rebels (only in the deep south could a school still be getting away with that one lol ) vandy helps keep the conference GPA up to par, UT phill is fat and has lost it, UGA I have respect for them, LSU not much to say, arkansas if they keep petrino for 3 years they will play in the conf champ game, who did I miss? oh yea, uk sucks.-BPSUL

Football - Toughest conference, bar none. Basketball - Did I mention it's a great football conference?-RoscoPCardtrane

Most powerful football conference EVER and ALWAYS, and SEC basketball is REALLY on the upswing, though the SEC will be down a bit this year in basketball, compared the the last 3 years.-Louvil...dinals

Corrupt - You have to cheat to win because everyone, except Vandy, gets caught for cheating every few years.-CardTopper

Because of yeekay fans, I hate $ez football. They have lived off the $ez football teat for 100 years. They used to rag us for going to the Liberty Bowl, yet they think the HeeHaw bowl is just short of the BCS. The $ez gets waaaaayyyy to many teams in the basketball tournament. You NEVER deserve more than 5 EVER. The $ez is a basketball joke! In football it is the best football conference, no thanks to yeekay, and the Mississippi teams. (you asked) The $ez is the most corrupt conference in America, bar none. The only reason one of your teams doesn't get the death penalty, see the old Southwest Conference. Oh,and they make the NCAA a boatload of money!-MtCardinal

Love the football tradition and hot women-RFSCard

Best football conference in America, but...if you ain't cheatin'; you ain't tryin'.-WildCard

SEC knows how to play football and how to keep the status quo in football. They keep emerging in basketball, and given the money that they have, they should be farther ahead. But, change, even change for the better, never comes easy in the South.-cardfaninmemphis

(5) Have you ever visited Oxford on game day? If yes, what was your experience? If no, what have you heard about our gameday experience?

No, but I believe I read an article about how the young ladies wear dresses and the young men wear coats and ties, sounds classy and stylish, a nice tradition if so.-Crimsonelf

No-villun

No, I've also heard about the dresses and shirt/ties. While the picture of the southern babes in dresses sounds great, I think its a little much these days and comes across a little snobby. That maybe my ignorance of the history and it may not be that all, but when I see the guys at Auburn
Georgia, and those other places dressed up, I think of the young, snobby rich kid at school-dgrace4cards

No I have not, but I want too. Autumn is my favorite month and Oxford looks gorgeous in the fall. It would be great to go there.-OutkastCard

I have never been to Oxford on a game day or otherwise, but I have heard wonderful things about the place and would like to be there someday for a game.-GoCardsGoKrogering

Never been to Oxford. How far is that from Tunica?-ninetyproof

Nope. I haven't really heard anything about the gameday experience in Oxford. Honestly, Ole Miss is one of those so-called "mystery" SEC schools. -DemonSpawn

Never been. Heard about the formality---white tablecloths, fine silver, candelabra, formal gowns, coats and ties, etc. Sounds like quite a sight to behold, although the formality coupled with the history at Univ. of Miss (see #s 1-2 above) leaves me with the impression that the old guard at Univ. of Mississippi look back on the old days of segregation with some kind of wistful nostalgia. I don't think this is necessarily true, but that's what I think of when I think of all of this stuff together at "Ole Miss". And this is coming from a Kentuckian, so I'm in no way suggesting that my home state was beyond reproach in its own history with respect to race.-cardfistacuffs

No, but I've heard it is great-sargecard

Yes, had a hell of a time. Great tail gate, great atmosphere with a lot of nice ladies, great college campus -BrothaCard

No - but see above - im sure its fantastic - I wish we could pull off what the average SEC school does week in and week out...-BPSUL

I have never visited Oxford, and I have no idea of your game day experience.-Louvil...dinals

nada-CardTopper

No, heard it's a great place to watch a game!-MtCardinal

Visited Oxford on game day vs. Alabama in the late 90s. The Grove was tremendous and it was an overall great experience. Did I mention the hot women?-RFSCard

No; I've heard it's great. Get a series set up and I'll be there!-WildCard

I have, unfortunately never been to Oxford for a football game. My wife would probably not speak to me for a week if I did: I would be very distracted by the scenery, if you get my drift.-cardfaninmemphis

Posters from:
Cardinal Sports (Rivals)
Inside the Ville (Scout)