Jackson Jambalaya

This Rebelette throws a tantrum from hell last night:

Veteran and highly-respected LSU blogger Dandy Don writes a great analysis on Ole Miss's thrashing of LSU yesterday:
"Coach Houston Nutt of Ole Miss had his team ready to play and Les Miles did not, and I think it is time for all Tiger fans to admit that LSU is not a very good football team at this time. LSU is poorly coached on defense and has major problems on offense at the quarterback position. I am not ready to say that Les Miles is a bad coach because LSU went 11-2, 11-2 and 12-2 the last three years before this season and you do not go 34-6 and be a bad football coach. I am ready, however, to say that there will have to be major changes made in the coaching staff at the end of this season....." http://www.dandydon.com/

And there arose to the north of Eden a tribe called the Hotty-Toddys, who were also called metros. And the Hotty-Toddys were very displeasing; they didst place centerpieces on their banquet tables, and didst exalt themselves much. And they didst glorify the southern kingdom of the past.

And for a brief time they didst enjoy success on the battlefield. But in the second year of the reign of John son of Joseph, a man named James, of the house of Meredith, of the nation of Cush, didst attempt to enter the seminary at Oxford. But the Hotty-Toddys despised and oppressed the Cush-ites, and refused him entry. But the Judges decreed that James must be allowed to enter. And the Hotty-Toddys rose up with great vengeance and furious anger, and didst burn their own city, and even slew two aliens in their midst. And the LORD saw that it was no good, and was much angered, and uttered a curse upon the Hotty-Toddys:

"THOU SHALT TASTE VICTORY ONCE MORE, THEN NEVER AGAIN SHALL THOU BE FIRST AMONG THY BRETHREN"

And after the following harvest, they didst enjoy their last great victory, then their warriors became lost in the wilderness. And a man named Elisha, who was also called Archie, didst attempt to lead them back to glory, but was wounded in the land of Eden and tasted not the fruits of victory. Then a great famine fell upon Oxford, until Eli son of Archie arrived upon a white horse. Eli led the Hotty-Toddys to many small victories, and girded his loins against an invasion by the warriors from Eden.

But Eli fell backwards*. And a great roar arose, and Johnny of the house of Vaught, the great king of the Hotty-Toddy past, didst ask "What be the meaning of this tumult?" For Johnny was a very old man, 93, and nearly blind. And the Hotty-Toddys cried in despair, "The invaders from Eden hath carried off the West championship! Our curse is still upon us, and the Heisman shall never come to the house of Manning."

And the LORD then caused a great delusion to fall upon the tribe of Hotty-Toddy, and they drove their general David from their midst, even though David had led them to victories for the first time in forty years. And they chose a recruiter of warriors from a western land, Bay Bay of the house of Yawyawyawyaw, because their delusion kept them from seeing he was a fool. And Bay Bay disdt tear his garments, and shout words none could understand. And the LORD loosed against the Hotty-Toddys bands of Cowboys, and Bulldogs, and even Commodores, who laid waste to Oxford. And the Hotty-Toddys continued to exalt Bay Bay, even as half his warriors disappeared from Oxford, and rued the days of Cutcliffe. And finally Les of Eden came to Oxford and destroyed it once and for all.

1 Samuel 4:3 Read more!

While the local media applauds the decision by Jackson State and Mississippi State to play each other in football, JJ refuses to participate in this farce. Make no mistake, such a deal is good for Jackson State and I applaud them for landing such a quality opponent, as it means a great deal of money and attention for them. However, Mississippi State deserves criticism for making such an arrangement.

There is no reason for Ole Miss and MSU to avoid playing Southern Miss, if they are going to start playing Jackson State (USM deserves the same criticism for playing Delta State while avoiding JSU as well). LSU plays Tulane every year and picks up another Louisiana school at least every other year. Tennessee has played Memphis on more than a few occasions. Miami plays Florida. Clemson and South Carolina have a traditional rivalry. Considering this and the fact the schools begged us to spend money to expand Memorial Stadium for them, Ole Miss and MSU should take turns playing USM each year in Jackson.

Such a game should be scheduled during the state fair. One of the hallmarks of the Texas State Fair is the annual Oklahoma-Texas game held during the fair in Dallas. Imagine the turnout if such a game was held during the fair in Jackson. Since Jackson does not have many events with statewide appeal, this would be an opportunity for it to capitalize on one of the few it does. Shuttle buses could ferry visitors back and forth from the game to the fair. For once a family would have a choice between tailgating (where there is gasp, drinking) and a family-friendly Mississippi State Fair.

In times of tight budgets, it is insane for the Bulldogs and Rebels to pay hundreds of thousands of dollars in rent-a-win fees when a game with the Golden Eagles will draw a great deal more interest and money, than would a match-up with the Citadel or University of Louisiana at Monroe or Lafayette or Bunkie or whatever they call themselves each week. Mississippi State can play Jackson State on the gridiron..... after it plays Southern Miss.

Note: Earlier version of this post contained an egregious error on my part. I thought the NCAA rule was that wins against AA schools didn't count towards bowl eligibility. Since then I discovered, through the help of a commenter, that one win every two years can be used. Thanks.