State Recap

Well the Egg is back in Oxford but the Rebels were the big winners Thanksgiving weekend. What is funny now is to see how fast the Eddie apologist, including our friend from Canada, now say he needed to be fired.

(Pictures from The Clarion Ledger)

THE GOOD

For three quarters the Rebels whipped the Bulldogs. They showed they had the players to win. They have a lot of returning talent for next year. Some of the young players stepped up and had a really good game like freshman safety Johnny Brown. Next year the Rebels will have a lot of holes but have enough players that with good coaching they can win some games next year.

The game also saw the end of the Eddie Era after he blew a 14 point lead late in the fourth quarter. Of course it all worked out in the end because he was fired in less than 24 hours. So to all my State friends and acquaintances, including the fine chap who introduced me to the Lady Wookie, thank you for making this happen. Rebel Nation can't thank you enough.

THE BAD

After playing well for three quarters and pitching a shut out the Rebel defense let it slip in the fourth. A lot of this was because the momentum clearly shifted after Eddie's disastrous call to go for it in his own territory on fourth down. Predictably the call didn't work and State managed to see their first offensive production of the game and marched down the field to score.


The Rebels also had plenty of chances to hold onto the game due after allowing State to score. If the Rebels could have achieved a few first downs they could have run out the clock to win. State even tried to give it away when their true freshman quarterback Wesley Carroll threw a redzone pick on their second to last drive. However the Rebel receivers could not hold onto the ball and make the big catch when they had to make it. If the receivers make these crucial third down catches the Rebs win the game easily.

THE UGLY

As it has been through out the Eddie Era special teams were the Rebels final undoing. After appearing to lock up the game with Ashlee Palmer's interception the Rebels allow a punt return touchdown to tie the game. Besides from the lack of coverage the most hideous thing was the punt itself. Needing to back the bulldogs up as much as possible the Rebels punt the ball about 8 feet in the air in a line about 30 yards right at the Derek Pegues, the Bulldog return man, with less than a second hang time. The Rebels never had a chance to cover the punt and Pegues was able to split right through and into the endzone easily. This punt singlehandedly lost the game and was the worst special teams display since Jonathan Nichols missed two gimme field goals against LSU in '03.

I hope with a real coach coming to Oxford he'll be able to manage the special teams and turn it into a strength. Hopefully force the opponent to start the game deeper than the 35 after a kickoff occasionally.