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: West Virginia & Syracuse

The last two football universities from the Big East, West Virginia and Syracuse, share their thoughts on Ole Miss.

West Virginia:

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

Khori Ivy and Antonio Brown breaking the ankles of Ken Lucas and Wes Ours rumbling down the sideline. 49-38 on a cold December day in Nashville.-wvu8893

Hot women-doc-

Watching Archie Manning as QB when I was a kid.-DDT Farnsworth

Good-looking women (how many Miss Americas came out of Ole Miss?) followed closely by the weird old white-haired Rebel who looks as if he needs to come out of the closet.-43rd Parallel

My uncle went there for a year or so back in the 50's.....extremely pleasant campus atmosphere.....a FAR wealthier University than most people realize.....I know about the school's reputation for THE most beautiful women in the South, but I've honestly never seen any unusual evidence of it on my couple or three visits to Oxford.-COOL MAN

I have a customer who went to Ole Miss. All he talks about is The Grove and the beautiful women. I asked a friend of mine, who works for ESPN, what is one of the best places for a college gameday experience and he said without question, at Ole Miss. One of these days I'll get down there for a game with my customer so I can experience it. -Stone_Cold

The stars and bars.-coaldigger

I have neutral feelings about Ole Miss since I am not affiliated with any school that considers them a rival-Mounta...oo1005

Antebellum days; the rebel cross (good and bad); cotillions for young ladies; mint julips-Mtneer001

Loyal patient fans who are starving to compete with the SEC's Big 6 ( UGA, UF, UT, LSU, Auburn, Alabama and to a lesser extent Arkansas and South Carolina. The memory of have of Ole Miss that stays with me is Bryce drew hitting a miracle shot at the buzzer to advance Valpo past Ole Miss in the first round of the NCAA tourney.-ATLMountainEER

Good folks, all the way around. It struck how you dress up for a football game. Personally, I get way to worked up to wear anything special. But if I ever get to Oxford, I'll do as the Romans do anyhow. I guess from an Ole Miss perspective, I remember being there to see Eli Manning turn a laugher into, well, a lot less of a laugher. If I recall correctly, that was his coming out party of sorts. I'm glad the coach didn't put him in sooner. I don't know that I would have guess he would have had a Super Bowl ring as a strarting QB by now though!-EnginEER 89

Beautiful Women. I know that Ole Miss has produced the most Miss Americas and I dated an Ole Miss grad and she was very nice.-Cheers

First thought was James Meredith...-Robert...Jacobs

Our bowl victory ove Ole Miss-inner_...ection

Eli Manning wasn't the starter in the 2000 Music City Bowl, and Donald EUGENE Nehlen last win was probably because of that. Well, that and the fact that Man Coverage bump and run defense allowed Brad Lewis to use Antonio Brown and to look like Steve Young / Dan Fouts / Joe Montana / EVERY OTHER NFL HALL OF FAME QB for an entire half and build an insurmountable Lead.-3xWVUenginEER

(2) What are your feelings about Ole Miss?

I think Ole Miss screwed David Cutcliffe and has paid for it dearly. Orgeron was a decent hire but now Houston Nutt, a fine coach in his own right, will have moderately quick success because of what Orgeron left. Ole Miss will get stronger but the Cutcliffe firing is still one of the dumbest college football decisions in recent memory. Oh, and bring back the rebel flags on gamedays. Screw the PC crowd.-wvu8893

Great town, average FB and BB programs-doc-

A likable team and school but also a team/school that seems to have "the cards stacked" against it. Trying to compete in the SEC and make that next step up but just can't seem to get it done due to "something". That "something" could be a lot of things (money, facilities, economy, etc.) but I have a feeling that it's more of a "perception" problem that Ole Miss has to constantly battle more than anything both in and out of the SEC. [kinda like WVU in many ways]-DDT Farnsworth

Ambivalence tempered by not giving a damn.-43rd Parallel

An underdog, and I always pull for underdogs.....few alumni groups in the country overrate their alma mater's ability to CONSISTENTLY compete for a league football title quite as much as Ole Miss alums......still can't figure out how you fire Dave Cutcliffe in favor of Ed Orgeron (even though I know your focus was really on Denny Erickson before he said no).-COOL MAN

Southern school.-coaldigger

Neutral.-Mtneer001

Ole Miss should be the only university from Mississippi in the SEC. The state's population and resources is more suited to support one major university. Because of this, Ole Miss and more frequently Miss State place 10th, 11th, or 12th along with Vandy ( a private university) in the SEC athletic department budget where Ole Miss and Miss State are failing in the arms race to keep speed with The Big 6, South Carolina, Arkansas, and Kentucky.-ATLMountainEER

I like Ole Miss. Don't think of Ole Miss much but when I do it is always positive. I hear it is a great place to go to a game.-Cheers

The past is the past, and I have generally positive feelings about Ole Miss, the flagship university of a small, poor state, a la WVU... -Robert...Jacobs

It's pretty presumptuous to think that I have any feelings toward Ole Miss, which I don't.-inner_...ection

Don't really have any feelings about them. The school is in MS and don't deal much with the state. I know the folks at Mississippi State don't care much for you, and I thought those fans were the friendliest I've ever encountered.-3xWVUenginEER

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

Sure. Ole Miss would be a good win on our ledger. Just get bowl eligible the year we play you because we don't need an out-of-conference costing us valuable computer points in the BCS. We have Marshall handling that.-wvu8893

will be in BB next year-doc-

Definitely yes. Basketball is supposed to happen next year or two I believe.-DDT Farnsworth

I believe our basketball team goes to Oxford this year. So, yes.-43rd Parallel

Yes and yes.....a good and beneficial matchup for both schools-COOL MAN

Yes and yes.-coaldigger

Yes and Yes-Mounta...oo1005

Yes, a home and home for football would be fun.-Mtneer001

Basketball - YES Aside from Evans couple seasons of good basketball, Ole Miss has lacked stability with coaching firings and resignations. Kenedey is on the verge of changing the basketball climate at Ole Miss. WVU and Ole Miss would be a terrific series allowing for tough hard noses OOC matchuYes..apparently wep that will be a great baramoter for each coach before conference play. Football- Absolutely NOT. It's not good enough that WVU is suppose to beat Ole Miss. What's comical is WVU has to beat a team like Ole Miss by 21-24 points and show a lot of flare amd dominate from 1st quarter until end. Forget if Ole Miss beats a couple good SEC teams or is beating UF in 4th quarter or was beating Alabama at halftime. WVU seems to be held to a different set of rules when playing mid or lower tier teams from BCS and NON BCS conferences. If WVU destorys Ole Miss, it hardly gets a pack on the back ( see Miss State) even if Florida, LSU, or Georgia need heroics and last plays to beat Ole Miss, WVU won't get it's credit, yet Auburn, UGA, UGA, LSU and so forth are patted on the back and reminded anything can happen at any time in the SEC. If WVU and Ole Miss were a tough game with WVU pulling out a win late, WVU would most likely drop in rankings ( while a SEC school wouldn't), lose sex appeal and be regulated to the end of the line of National Championship contenders.
WVU playing Ole Miss is a lose lose. If we don't destory Ole Miss, it will be used against us. If we blow them out, It will be barely mentioned as significant. Hell, Miss State was 8-4 this year and we killed them. Only LSU Put a whoop down on the Bulldogs like WVU did, but WVU's thrashing was hardly noteworthy and because the perception is Miss State football is a bottom SEC program even though Miss State was better than Kentucky, South Carolina, Alabama, and Auburn last year, it hardly registered WVU was beating an upper echelon SEC team by 31 points in the 1st quarter. Instead, it was dismissed as being " Miss State". The same would happen with a series with Ole Miss.-ATLMountainEER

Yes, I had a great time with your fans at the Music City Bowl in 2000. Would Love to play you.-Cheers

Yes, would like to play Ole Miss in football and basketball...-Robert...Jacobs

I don't know. It is a long road trip and I've already been to MS 2 years ago. I'd kind of like to play a SEC School a little closer (such as TN, FL, SC, GA, or even VANDY).-3xWVUenginEER

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

Nation's most talented conference, nation's deepest conference, and responsible for perennial nationally televised reaming of Ohio State for the last two years. Well played.-wvu8893

Arrogant, fans who have no respect for any other conference. It's no surprise most of them are Southern Baptists.-doc-

SEC is a tough conference but I do think it thinks a little more highly of itself than it should. I believe there are many teams across this country who could compete in the SEC on a weekly basis just fine. Great football fans.-DDT Farnsworth

Was truly surprised at how slow Georgia and Mississippi State played, but then they were both faster than Oklahoma.-43rd Parallel

Biggest, best, most demanding, and dirtiest league in the universe.....THE dictionary definition of a nuclear war masquerading as an athletic conference-COOL MAN

Attitude towards college football is over the top (I love it!). Beautiful girls, lots of bourbon, football and rabid fandom. What am I missing? -coaldigger

I think the SEC is a solid athletic conference-Mounta...oo1005

Arrogant. But it is the best conference for football. Many of my friends from the SEC are proud (sometimes overly so) of being the best.-Mtneer001

1) Most passionate fans in any American sport.2) Most ignorant fans on college football outside their own conference3) Most exciting games week in and week out.4) The best atmopsheres of any conference on gameday5) Best food 6) Doesn't travel North to play football games ( couple exceptions)-ATLMountainEER

As for the SEC as a whole. Excellent conference, no doubt, but you have to understand that your bowl games are virtually home games. Folks born on third base think they hit a triple. Would LSU have beaten OSU in Cincinnati? Maybe, maybe not-EnginEER 89

SEC is a great conference that gets the benefit of the doubt regardless of actual performance. Still, top to bottom it is probably the best conference in america for all sports. Great, very supportive fans.-Cheers

I get tired of hearing how great SEC football is, allegedly. I think SEC fans are full of themselves and their football. I loved seeing the stunned faces of UGA fans during the Sugar Bowl loss to WVU...-Robert...Jacobs

The SEC is overrated and the fans in general blow donkey d*ck.-inner_...ection

Some of the SEC Schools are pretty good, but other schools and conferences play good football too. The SEC doesn't have a stranglehold on SPEED either. I don't think the conference has been as dominant as CBS has made it out to be either.-3xWVUenginEER

(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?

I haven't been but I'd like to. I've heard it's a fun atmosphere and beautiful women are everywhere. Hope to visit soon.-wvu8893

Not on gameday but I've visited there many times back in the day. Hung out at a place called The Gin. Oxford is a fun place.-doc-

Never been to the state in my life. And one final unsolicited thought......more than once us West Virginians have said "Thank God for Mississippi"-DDT Farnsworth

Next time I go to Mississippi will be the first time. It's a trip I need to make. Have met several people from Mississippi and have liked them all. They're as self-deprecating as West Virginians, if that's possible.-43rd Parallel

Though I have business in the area, and therefore travel to north Mississippi several times a year.....the answer is NO, and likely never will. But I've have long suspected it to be among THE most pleasant Football Saturday experiences in the South.-COOL MAN

I would love to visit Oxford on gameday. Prior to the Music City Bowl we heard a lot of good things about it and The Grove.-coaldigger

Never been, but I've heard it is heaven on earth with all the Southern Belles in sundresses you have walking around.-Mounta...oo1005

I've heard it was fun. Not the best; of course the georgia and lsu folks think their tailgating is better-Mtneer001

Oxford- This passionate humble fan base makes up for on field results with Great food in one of the SEC's best tailgating venues.-ATLMountainEER

No, never been to Oxford for any occassion. Would love to come for a game. I have heard your gameday experience is top notch. Great tailgating and again....lots of beautiful women. What more do you need. Well, a few more victories would help. Let's schedule a game.-Cheers

No, I have never been to Oxford, and I have not heard how gameday is at Ole Miss.-Robert...Jacobs

No, I haven't visited and haven't heard anything about the gameday experience.-inner_...ection

Never been there and don't know much about it other than ESPN's exploitations of it. I've heard Ole Miss is the only school that curses in their fight song (ie "Are you ready? Hell, yeah, Damn right, Hotty Toddy All Night, etc)-3xWVUenginEER

Posters from WV.com (Scout)

Syracuse:

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

Not sure, this is the first time I have ever thought about Ole Miss-sufan4eva13

Eli Manning, quarterback for my world champion Giants.-boog7

I think about tailgating excesses that make UVa tailgates look like a bunch of redneck wannabes. And generally a pretty mediocre football team.-Cusefan95

I've heard it has a seriously beautiful campus. The other thing that comes to mind when I hear Ole Miss is the southern bells. I worked with a lady that went to Ole Miss and she was an extremely nice lady.-SURules

Lynchings-TheRealOrangello

Archie Manning - "The Legend of Archie Who"-OrangePA

I have attended a few games at Ole Miss and loved the atmosphere and especially The Grove for tailgaiting. It's amazing that people start showing up at the crack of dawn for an afternoon kickoff. The amount of tailgating is crazy, with all of the different displays of food. It was interesting to see many of the ladies in dresses though. The highlight was actually meeting and tailgating with John Grisham.-WhitesboroOrange

The South...and "Manning"-OrangeNirvana

Eli Manning-Swish7

Eli Manning-All11Star5

Been to Ole Miss several times: Very pretty campus and enjoyed Oxford.Gloria Swanson or someone said that they have the most beautiful coeds (I think she's right}-wardo2

that Yosemite Sam lookin mascot and rebel flags-OrangeMojo

The Mannings-orangetradition44

My Grandmother-STORANGE

The State of Mississippi - really. Don't know much about the school or its history.-javadoc

The Mannings-kirbivore

MVP-li Manning and Mark Twain is the mascot.-KaiserUEO

(2) What are your feelings about Ole Miss?
I have none-sufan4eva13

I have none.-boog7

Mostly apathy since no school I follow plays them.-Cusefan95

I like Ole Miss overall and think it is an good old southern school that has an extremely good amount of resources to draw upon. Unfortunately, Ole Miss is not looked at as being a top sports school in the SEC like Florida, Georgia, and some others are.-SURules

See #1-TheRealOrangello

reat Football tradition - Johnny Vaught-OrangePA

None-OrangeNirvana

empty-Swish7

Indifferent-All11Star5

I recently lived in Atlanta and met some nice Ole Miss grads - so generally positive-OrangeMojo

Nothing in particular. They have nice uniforms.-orangetradition44

Currently second tier SEC football program.-javadoc

Underachieving sports teams and hot southern belles-kirbivore

none. but Elvis was born in Miss, so the state in general has that going for it.-KaiserUEO

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

Not on my life-sufan4eva13

Could care less.-boog7

I would like to see a 1-for-1 football series, I go to most of the non-conference games so I can see football stadiums and experience gameday around the country. Basketball I couldn't care less - if it happened fine but I wouldn't jump for joy.-Cusefan95

Could be fun to play Ole Miss.-SURules

Nope-TheRealOrangello

Yes-OrangePA

Sure, why not-OrangeNirvana

yes, both-Swish7

Yes-All11Star5

Would be fun to play a home and home with the Rebels-wardo2

Football - yes; Basketball - don't have strong feelings either way-OrangeMojo

Sure, we'll play anyone.-orangetradition44

Why Not ?-STORANGE

No objection, no real motivation either. We're kind of overscheduled in football as is so not likely
to happen.-javadoc

Football yes basketball no-kirbivore

football??.... sure why not. basketball??....not on your life.-KaiserUEO

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

Hell of a football conference.-sufan4eva13

Great conference; football is king in the south.-boog7

Torn between feeling it is the best run conference as a business model and the worst collection of rogue academic institutions regarding NCAA rules violations. -Cusefan95

My general impression of the SEC is that those schools will do anything and I mean anything to win. Academics are not even a consideration to the SEC schools for their atheletes. SEC schools have one of the best if not the best atmosphere's in college football game day. The next runner up might be the Big 10/11.-SURules

Schools Engaged in Cheating-TheRealOrangello

Great Football Conference - probably the best-OrangePA

Overrated, but still good. The passion of the fans makes it what it is.-OrangeNirvana

bunch of cheating arse pole smokers-Swish7

Strongest football conference in the country. Over-rated basketball.-All11Star5

Having lived and worked in Knoxville and Nashville, its hard to argue with the SEC ,toughness, etc. though they invest a considerable amount of money in athletics.-wardo2

great football conference - although not as great as their fans think -OrangeMojo

Great football, deep south.-orangetradition44

Clearly the best conference in strength from top to bottom, and most likely the dirtiest -STORANGE

Cheating is the first thing that comes to mind, a tail-wagging-the-dog athletic mentality at the university. Having seen games at Auburn and Georgia tho, the gameday atmosphere is fantastic.-javadoc

Do whatever it takes to win-kirbivore

Triple AAA NFL-KaiserUEO

(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?

Didnt know Oxford had a football team, but Im sure the players are the worlds smartest.-sufan4eva13

Never heard of Oxford. Thought it was in England.-boog7

Never been to Oxford, but would love to make it - especially for the pre-game. Would love to be there for the Egg Bowl rivalry game some year.-Cusefan95

I've never been to Oxford.-SURules

Guys in button downs and bermudas throwing up on their dates-TheRealOrangello

No, but I have heard that Oxford is beautiful, there is a great football environment on game day and that the football facilities are first rate.-OrangePA

No - Nothing, but I'm sure it's solid as it's part of the SEC-OrangeNirvana

no. overdone southern belles in skirts, and a bunch of semi-hetero dudes in khakis with 1980s surfer haircuts-Swish7

No-All11Star5

haven't been, but have heard that the gameday experience is second to none - would love to check it out some day-OrangeMojo

No, but from my experience, all southern schools in Big Conferences know how celebrate football.-orangetradition44

Don't really know anything about it.-javadoc

No. I have heard about the grove and the abundance of hot sorority girls-kirbivore

never been, but have heard its legendary.-KaiserUEO

Posters from SyracuseFan.com (Scout)