The scene was set. Oh my, how the scene was set.
Eli Manning, already a living legend in Oxford, Miss., was about to lead the Rebels on a 68-yard drive that would have emblazoned his name in the so-called rich history of Ole Miss football-a drive that would have spelled LSU’s doom and placed Ole Miss in the Southeastern Conference Championship game for the first time in its history.
Sure, LSU’s defense had befuddled Manning and the Rebels high scoring attack all day, bringing more pressure and confusion than Oxford’s golden boy could handle.
But the fourth quarter was a different story.
Manning found a streaking Bill Flowers on a 43-yard bomb that set up Ole Miss’ first offensive touchdown earlier in the fourth quarter and also led the Rebels into field goal range before kicker Jonathan Nichols missed a 36-yard field goal wide right that would have tied the game. But that only meant “Eliiii” would have his last shining moment in Vaught-Hemingway Stadium.
However, to the Ole Miss fans’ chagrin, the Rebels final legitimate chance to beat the Tigers summed up the whole day for their offense.
With 2:16 remaining and the ball at its own 32, LSU’s defense showed why it’s the best in the country.
-First and 10: Manning’s pass is incomplete to Kerry Johnson.
-Second and 10: Manning’s pass is incomplete to Mike Espy.
-Third and 10: Manning’s pass is incomplete to Taye Biddle.
-And then there was fourth down.
Ole Miss fans were probably thinking, “Eli can’t lose on senior day. Hotty Toddy,” (which by the way is the most aggravating cheer ever).
And then something happened that probably satisfied LSU fans to the fullest and made Ole Miss fans wonder “what if.”
ELI TRIPS.
But not only did he trip. He was tripped by his own offensive lineman who was overpowered into “Archie’s Boy” by LSU’s All-American-deserving defensive tackle Chad Lavalais.
And just like that it was over.
If LSU handles business against a strong Arkansas team the Friday after Thanksgiving, Ole Miss probably won’t have another chance to win an SEC title until Eli has a son and he reaches college-which could be anywhere from 18 to 30 years.
If the Rebels were going to do it, this had to be this year.
They were 6-0 going into Saturday’s game and everybody knew the level of emotion would be unbelievably high.
Auburn, a sheik preseason pick to win it all, was a major flop.
Arkansas tailed off after a hot start and Alabama is in simple disarray.
I don’t even need to mention Mississippi State and LSU had to go to Oxford to keep its hope alive.
But I think ESPN’s Trev Alberts put it perfectly-Ole Miss is the runt of the SEC litter, and the big boys keep picking on them.
Matt Mauck had probably the worst performance of his career, and this was supposed to be Manning Heisman coming out party.
And assuming LSU will beat an Arkansas team the Tigers are superior to, the nation saw who really is the best team in the SEC West; and for that matter, in the entire conference.