Repeat After Me: "It's Not A Rivalry Game To THEM"

Memphis is traveling to Oxford, MS to open the 2006 football season against Ole Miss. Drunk off a few good seasons with DeAngelo Williams, Memphis folks are starting to get a little irrational I think.

Not "leave your kids in the hot car" or "bitch done stabbed me" irrational, but just a little irrational over their sports.

The first sign was 2 years ago when I overheard someone stating (after a great Memphis win over Arkansas State) that Vanderbilt should be kicked out of the SEC and they should let Memphis in. Um, okay. I guess if UM could bring the SEC's grade point average up like Vandy does then fine, but until then we still need Vandy as our "brains of the SEC."

This year I hear talk of this "rivalry" with Ole Miss. Now, the blue collar fans of Memphis absolutely hate the uppity genteel that is Ole Miss. Memphis really embraces their "Go To Hell Ole Miss" cheer.

However, here's Gary's first rule of rivalries-- the teams need to be similarly matched in wins-losses or ability. Currently, Ole Miss holds a 43-10-2 winning record against Memphis. Memphis's only success has come in the past 3 years. This is not a rivalry, this is 55 year running ass whipping. I found out today that the first 2 games between these schools were won by Ole Miss-- 82-0 and 92-0. Ouch. That's gonna leave a mark.

Rule 2-- BOTH sides have to agree that this is indeed a rivalry. You'll never catch either side doubting the importance of Auburn-Alabama, Ole Miss-Miss State or Georgia-Florida. Memphis is fired up about this game, Ole Miss is prolly not that excited.

I'm not saying that Ole Miss-Memphis can't become a rivalry. As it currently stands at least one side hates the other. And the past 5 years have made for some great games. However, I think it's a little premature to think this is a great college football classic.