10 Things to Feel Good About

Yes, Football is king in the south but fortunately for us there are other sports at Ole Miss. And in almost every other sport we are succeeding. Let's take a look at 10 things we as Rebel fans have to feel good about.

Baseball--

• This year's class is the #25 class in the nation. (Collegiate Baseball).
• One of only two schools in the country to host a regional in each of the last 4 season
• Advanced to the Super Regionals in the last three seasons
• Most SEC wins in the past 5 years in the conference
• Only school to post wining record in league since 2002
• Upgrading stadium to one of the best in the country

Basketball--

• Andy Kennedy in his first season won the West.
• Season ticket sales are up and the excitement is in the air for the first time in several years.
• A new Basketball practice facility is in the works.

Volleyball--

• First NCAA appearance in school history last year.
• Poised to make a second appearance in the NCAA with a current record of 18-5, 8-4 SEC.

Women's Basketball--

• Elite 8 appearance last season.
• Renee Ladner Era begins.
• OOC schedule includes teams from each major conference.

Tennis--

• Ole Miss returns 7 of our 8 top players from last year.
• Six straight SEC West titles
• Sweet 16 last year and ended the season with a #7 ranking.

Soccer--

• Three SEC West titles
• Three NCAA appearances in the past 5 years

Track & Field--

• Both Men's and Women's teams finished the 2007 NCAA Outdoor Championship with their highest rankings in school history. (Men finished 12th, Women 27th)
• Kirui won the national championship in the Men's 3,000 meter Steeplechase.

Golf--

• Ole Miss men have won back to back tournaments for the first time since 1985.

Campus--

• Our campus is one of the most beautiful in the country. The beauty, safety and host city all make Ole Miss an easy sell to recruits.

Alumni-- We Alumni who are currently playing in professional sports that focus the national sportlight on Ole Miss.

• Eli Manning
• Seth Smith
• Patrick Willis
• Deuce McAllister

The curse of my generation.

I've often wondered if my generation is cursed, at least from the stand point of being Ole Miss fans. It seems that since my birth Ole Miss has been mediocre at best.

I'm 34. I arrived just after the glory years of Ole Miss football. The first big win in my life I don't remember as it came in 1977 against Notre Dame. The first bowl game we played in was in 1983, I was 10. In my lifetime I've celebrated 195 Ole Miss victories and suffered through 189 defeats. In those 34 years we have only appeared 11 times in a bowl game. Only two of these bowls, Gator and Cotton, have been major. Against the power teams in the SEC, we have been horrible. Take Alabama for example, we are 4-21 against them since 1973.

What has caused Ole Miss to fall from it's College football powerhouse status? Is my generation really cursed? As, my southern baptist pastor dad would say, curses aren't real.


Is it because of our affiliation with the "old south"? Possibly, there is no doubt that other coaches used the "flag" and "dixie" against us to dissuade football players from coming to Ole Miss. It is also true that our image around the country was tarnished by our use of certain symbols and the happenings in 1963.


Has it been because of poor administration? We fell greatly behind in the 70's and 80's with our lack to "keep up" with the rest of the SEC. We have made great strides lately but are still behind.


Could it be because of our fan support or the size our fan base? Other universities located in similar states have done well. Alabama and Auburn have been able to be competitive and are still thought of as powerhouses.


I don't why we have fallen. Perhaps some of you with more "behind the scenes knowledge" know the answer.


It hasn't been easy being a Rebel in my life time. However, I wouldn't exchange it for any other experience. I live and die Ole Miss. And this is not just in football. I went to the Women's elite 8 up here in Dayton. I was so nervous, I couldn't eat. I kept thinking to myself, it's women's basketball, I don't personally know anyone on the team, why am I so nervous? I eventually realized it's because I so badly wanted Ole Miss to be ultra-successful in something. We seem to be on the cusp of greatness in some sports. We haven't been able to achieve super success in any sport with the exception of tennis.


It's time to take a step forward. Not a giant leap, baby steps. Six wins or more this year and we are on track. Perhaps we are already on track with our recruiting. I long to feel the tinge of something spectacular in the air. The way it felt at the LSU game in 03.


Who is with me? Forward Rebels, March to Fame....