Fight For Mississippi State, Win That Game Today

There are a whole bunch of reasons why I will remember Thanksgiving ’09 as CERTIFIED PERFECTION. There was the laid-back, low-key Thanksgiving Day with my little family; there was the household to-do list that I SMACKED DOWN WITH AUTHORITY last Wednesday and Thursday; there was the quick trip to Memphis for a BEAUTIFUL surprise party that my sister-in-law Janie threw for my brother’s birthday; and last but not least, there was the Mississippi State/Ole Miss game, also known as the Egg Bowl.

And oh, this year’s Egg Bowl was EVER-so-enjoyable.

Since the game started at 11:20 Saturday morning – and since we were in Memphis for Friday night’s surprise party – David, Alex, Sister, Barry and I woke up around FIVE FIFTEEN IN THE A.M. and hit the road about 6 (after a Starbucks pit stop, of course). I could lie and tell you that I was VERY rested, but I was actually sort of beside myself with tired. And since Ole Miss was coming off a huge win against LSU, I silently wondered if we were driving all the way to Starkville just to watch our Bulldogs get pummeled by the Rebels.

(I’ve been to several Bulldog-pummeling Egg Bowls in my time, mind you, so I know firsthand that there are certainly better ways to spend a Saturday than getting manhandled by your in-state rival. Like sticking needles in your eyeballs, for example. Or maybe even participating in some sort of rutabaga-eating contest where your goal is to set a rutabaga-eating record. WHICH COULD TOTALLY HAPPEN.)

We stopped about 20 minutes outside of Starkville so that David could get some gas and we could grab some Cokes, and as I walked back out to the car, I spied several red-and-blue-clad Rebel fans climbing out of their game day transportation.

I laughed because it’s such an understated way to travel to a college football game, don’t you think? I mean, a stretch Hummer limo doesn’t stick out like a sore thumb in rural Mississippi AT ALL. Blends right in, really.

When we got to campus we found parking spaces pretty quickly, and while I’m not positive, I’m pretty sure that a certain six year-old was beside himself with excitement.

Bless him.

We made it to The Junction just in time for the Dawg Walk, and Alex was extra excited because he had an especially good view of the players walking up to the stadium.

I won’t tell you how many times I wondered if Alex’s enthusiastic cowbell ringing during the Dawg Walk was going to send his daddy to the emergency room with a slight concussion – or at the very least a ruptured ear drum. But they did just fine.

It was hard to gauge the pre-game mood of the players and fans because it was only 9:30 in the morning – a little early by tailgating standards – but it was still so fun to be on my favorite college campus in the whole wide world.

I mean, I’ve never actually been on any college campuses outside of the United States, mind you. But I imagine that even if I had been, Mississippi State would still be my favorite, the end.

After Dawg Walk we visited with my sweet friend Daphne and her family for a few minutes.

Alex absolutely adores Daphne – which is understandable since David and I do, too – but I think at least part of his fondness for her is based on the fact that Daph always offers him a pre-game snack. Never underestimate the power of Little Debbies and Cheetos, my friends.

We went in the stadium about 45 minutes before kick-off so that we’d have plenty of time to get settled in our seats, watch warm-ups and make sure that our cowbells were functioning properly. You can imagine my distress when I pulled my cowbell out of my bag, tried to ring it and realized that STARKVILLE, WE HAVE A PROBLEM.

Clearly it was a critical cowbell malfunction. And while I don’t know if you have ever had to deal with a cowbell clanger getting all tangled up in a crocheted cap, I can assure you that there is no easy fix. In this instance it took Sister, me and a short season of prayer to remedy the situation. It was touch and go there for awhile, but we managed to get everything in proper working order right before the Bulldogs ran out of the tunnel.

IT WAS AN EGG BOWL COWBELL MIRACLE.

The first half flew by, and at the end of halftime, the day’s excitement – and the 5:15 wake-up call – finally caught up with Alex. Which is why he spent the entire third quarter just like this.

It was probably the loudest, rowdiest quarter of football I’ve ever experienced, and the child didn’t move a muscle. Even with cowbells ringing on all sides. WIPED OUT.

He woke up for the fourth quarter, though, and he cheered like crazy when the Bulldogs won. Especially because THEY GOT A TROPHY, MAMA! A REALLY BIG TROPHY!

Trophies are right up there with Little Debbies and Cheetos, apparently.

When the post-game celebration was over and we were about to leave the stadium, I snapped a picture of Alex and Sister.

And as soon as I saw it, it reminded me of this picture from a State basketball game back in 2004.

Blest be the ties that bind.

All in all, it was a great day at a great school watching a great game in a great rivalry with great friends and great family.

And the final score? Well, that was pretty great, too.

41-27.

Go ‘Dogs.