Commentary by Angie Ledbetter

All throughout the week leading up to the 73rd Cotton Bowl Classic game in Dallas, it was all about the Texas Tech Raiders. Ninety-four percent of the country had favored the Texas Red Raiders over the Ole Miss Rebels.

In press conferences,  it seemed Raider head coach Mike Leach over shadowed Rebel coach Houston Nutt with a comedy act. Nutt just sat quietly with all smiles.

The speculation was that the Raiders were disappointed about being at the Cotton Bowl but the Rebels were excited. Leach denied that speculation at the post game press conference saying that his team was excited about being at the stadium and playing the Rebels.

“I don’t know if somehow we were brain washed in that direction. I don’t know why you would be. The media always makes a big production out of that.”

At the player’s luncheon, Rebel quarterback Jevan Snead threw a long pass in the audience for a fan to catch.  Laughs came from the Rebel players as they stood and cheered him on along with their families.

On New Year’s Day was the bowl parade and Rebel fans could be seen from far away, as floats and bands came through downtown Dallas. Hotty Totty could be heard, and when Chancellor Robert Kayat came riding in an old convertible, Rebel fans went crazy.

A impromptu postgame pep rally was held and Rebels were everywhere screaming.

The game was a sellout with a record attendance of 88,175 and half of those were Rebel fans that made the 1,050 mile round trip to Dallas to cheer on the team even though the country was sure the Raiders would over shadow the Rebels and it would not be much of a game.

The Rebel football team had to prove to the entire country that they were there to win. The Rebels crashed the Raider’s party before halftime and never looked back, coming out victorious over the No. 7 Raiders 47-34 in a game that had many special memories.

The Rebel fans remained in their seats as the beautiful sun shone down after the game and cheered as the trophy was presented to Nutt and the team while confetti came pouring down.

The players took the trophy around to all the fans and proudly presented it with smiles and tears.

   History was made on this day as it was the last game played at the historic Cotton Bowl stadium on the Texas State Fairgrounds. It hosted the largest crowd to ever attend a Cotton Bowl game and the 81 points scored were the most ever in Cotton Bowl history.

The Rebels went into the game ranked No. 20.

There were several seniors on the team who will be missed as they prepare for the NFL Combine in Dallas.  Locals in Dallas were Jamarca Sanford, Peria Jerry, John Jerry and also Derek Pegues from Mississippi State. Pegues was at the Cotton Bowl supporting his cousins.