He followed in the footsteps of his father. He constantly is compared to his older brother. And now Eli Manning is emerging from his family’s shadow as he leads the 8-2 Ole Miss Rebels in a classic showdown with LSU this Saturday in Oxford, Miss.
Throughout the first four years of his career, the fifth-year senior never could escape the stronghold his elder family members had on Southeastern Conference football.
His father Archie is an icon at Ole Miss, the greatest quarterback in Rebels history. His brother Peyton holds the same claim at Tennessee.
Since his freshman year, Eli Manning has not only been compared to his family members, but many critics claimed the only reason he was held in high esteem among college quarterbacks was because of the name on the back of his jersey.
But now he has come into his own. He is a Heisman Trophy candidate and owns 45 Ole Miss single-game, season and career records while leading the SEC in passing yards and touchdowns.
“I’ve always thought that he was a great quarterback,” said LSU coach Nick Saban. “He’s as good a quarterback as we’ve seen in all three years we’ve played against him.”
Ole Miss coach David Cutcliffe said when Manning first stepped on the Rebel scene in 1999, he quickly became aware of the expectations the people of Oxford had for him.
“We talked about that early on,” Cutcliffe said. “And I think he understood it the first time we had Meet The Rebels Day. He hadn’t taken a snap here, but he was overwhelmed with the number of people there. I think it hit him right there what was expected.”
Cutcliffe said Manning has the type of personality that can easily handle the rare situation of playing in the same place as his father – who is highly regarded as the greatest player ever to put on an Ole Miss uniform – and at the same position no less.
“I don’t know if anyone else I know could have handled it as well as he does,” Cutcliffe said.
Manning said pressure and expectations were never really a deciding factor when choosing a school to attend while he was a student at Isiodore Newman High School in New Orleans.
“No, it never bothered me when I was thinking of schools that this is where my father went or that it’d be too much pressure,” Manning said. “It was so long ago, and the students here might know the name, but they weren’t here during that time. They wouldn’t know what he did to Ole Miss.”
With all the “hype” that has surrounded Manning throughout his Ole Miss career, Cutcliffe said he is more than just a player with a famous last name.
“There have still been people asking, ‘Is he still just hype?'” Cutcliffe said. “I’ve read that a lot before games this season. I think he’s consistently proven it’s not hype, and it’s not his last name. He’s a great player, and he would be regardless of what his last name is. I think he’s established that a lot more this season.”
Through 10 games this season, Manning has thrown for 2,881 yards and 23 touchdowns while throwing only eight picks.
Saban said Manning is one of the best quarterbacks in the country at reading defenses and taking what the defense gives him.
“It comes down to how much you are willing to give him,” Saban said. “He will take what you give him as long as you give it. We’re going to have to mix things up and disguise everything. You name it, we’re going to have to do it all [to confuse him].”
Manning was just as complimentary about the LSU defense.
“From watching them on film, they are the best team defensively that we’re going to face,” Manning said. “They’ve got a lot of talent and are really big up front. They have good linebackers and a good secondary. They make a lot of plays and do a lot of things, like different blitzes.
“You’ve got to play smart football against them because you can’t give them any easy opportunities.”
Besides his individual records and improvements, Manning is the leader of this Ole Miss football team. A team that has vastly improved and turned many heads as it holds the best record in the SEC at 6-0.
Manning said that is one of the main reasons he decided to return to Ole Miss for his senior season.
“I thought about the players coming back,” Manning said. “There were a lot of fifth-year seniors who I came to Ole Miss with, and I wanted to leave with them also.
“We’ve had a great time, and I wanted one more shot of playing another season with them and trying to have a better season that what we had the year before.”
Last season Manning led the Rebels to a 7-6 season, a 27-23 win against Nebraska in the Independence Bowl secured them of a winning record. This season, the Rebels already have surpassed that mark and possibly could be on their way to their first ever SEC Championship Game appearance if they get past LSU on Saturday.
“Everybody knows it’s a big game,” Manning said. “Hopefully the players won’t come out nervous and tense. We will have to make sure we are relaxed but still focused on what we have to do to win the game.
“I think a lot will be said this week at practice just to make sure everybody knows what’s at stake and how we are going to have to play this game to be in contention to win.”