by Roger Smith

Cotton Bowl 2008 – Explosive Ole Miss Pulls Upset tilts, # 8 Texas Tech, 47-34

Copyright © 2009 Ed Bagley

In his 10th Years of coaching at Arkansas last season, Houston Nutt went 8-4 and beat No. 1-ranked LSU 50-48 in overtime in its last game. It was not good enough, he came amid controversy over his performance and became coach of Ole Miss Mississippi set.

Arkansas went 5-7 in this year and was not even bowl eligible. Houston Nutt inherited a team that Mississippi was 8:03 last season, was winless in the SEC and did not have a bowl game since 2003, when quarterback Eli Manning had been. This year, Ole Miss 09.04 after polishing by the powerful Texas Tech Red Raiders 47-34 in the 2008 Cotton Bowl.

To say that Arkansas' loss of the Mississippi was to win, is nothing less than a massive understatement. Ole Miss students, fans and supporters are giddy with excitement and the promise of the new glory of their beloved Ole Miss, and well they should be.

No. 20 Mississippi's rank came into the Cotton Bowl at 4:08 after starting the season 3-4 and smarting from consecutive losses to South Carolina and Alabama after pulling off a huge upset 31-30 on the road against then No. 4 ranking Florida. Ole Miss win its next five games, Florida, and would eventually would win the national title against Oklahoma 24-14 in the BCS National Championship Game.

No. 8 ranking was Texas Tech in the Cotton Bowl at 1:11 with a 39-33 victory over last-minute signature Texas. The Red Raiders explosive offense would end the year at number one in the country in passing offense with 413 + yards per game ranked No. 4 nationally in total offense with 531 + yards per game and 3rd in scoring offense 43 + points per game.

Against this backdrop, Houston Nutt's Ole Miss players have him and themselves proud. For door opener, they were the only team to beat including national champion Florida Gators.

Mississippi discovered Texas Tech a 14-point lead on a couple of turnovers and then sophomore quarterback Jevan Snead led Ole Miss to touchdowns on their next three possessions, an 8-yard pass to tight end Junior Gerald Harris, a 41-yard pass Senior wide receiver Mike Wallace and another 21-yard pass to Harris.

A 27-yard field goal by kicker Joshua Shene Junior, the rebels set 24-21 at the half. Ole Miss would be the Red Raiders 23-13 points touted as a crime make in the last half of the 47-34 score stick.

A nifty 65-yard interception return touchdown by junior cornerback Marshay Green picked Ole Miss to a new level. Green would also race another 63 yards on a punt return for TD apparent that again by an officer, who ruled out-of-bounds was called for the "nine and two thirds yard line. Have you ever anything so Dippy?

No matter. Snead would be completed 18-of-29 for 292 yards and three touchdowns. Freshman running back Brandon Bolden would pick up 101 yards on 11 carries (9.1 yard average), and the little 5-foot-8 would pick up, 165-pound junior wide receiver Dexter McCluster bears further 97 meters to 14 (six , 9-yard average). McCluster also caught 6 passes for 83 yards.

Note that amounted Mississippi's 4 losses this year, a combined 19 points, which is more serious when Texas Tech coach Mike Leach said losing makes "You are an incredibly good team." Glad you noticed, Mike.

This competition made history in at least three respects. It was the last Cotton Bowl that played in the Cotton Bowl Stadium, ending a run 73 years. Next year, the Cotton Bowl will move the new 0.1 billion stadium being built for the NFL Dallas Cowboys. Second, the final 47-34 score the most points (81) are achieved more in a Cotton Bowl game. Third, the 88 175 fans turned on hand the largest crowd ever.

Trust me when I say that you have not heard the last year of the first coach Houston Nutt and his Ole Miss players. Sound the horn, because come the rebels.

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