The American state of Mississippi is a third-world entity. By any metric it is dead last or nearly so among the 50 states: The UN human development index, dead last; Happiness, 47th. The worst history of racism in the U.S.
Yet, Saturday was a grand day for this forlorn population. The state has only three major sports-playing universities, no professional teams, and they have had the darnedest time achieving national sports relevance. The state's unequalled racial ugliness made it difficult to attract black athletes. However, this young college tackle football season, two of the three sports-playing universities are nationally prominent which may be a first for the state that is so often last in everything. In this young season, in the old, long history of football in this embarrassing state there has never ever been the harmonic convergence that occurred on Saturday.
October 4, 2014 will be remembered for a long time, maybe forever in Mississippi for on that date the Mississippi State "Bulldogs" and the University of Mississippi "Rebels," both ranked among the best dozen teams of scholars playing the sport, both played at their own campus stadia, both played higher ranked teams and...both won their games, Mississippi State defeated the 6th-best team in America and Mississippi the third-best team. When the new polls are released today, Sunday, and Monday, both Mississippi State and Mississippi will be ranked in the top 10.
There is a frisson of happiness going on in the entire state tonight that the state has never, ever experienced before. In Starkville and Oxford especially it will be a long, hoarse, drunk night and a hungover Sunday. Churches later this morning will be sparsely attended, maybe even some pastors will be absent for Saturday caused so much joy Mississippians may need a day to recover. The empty pews and the occasional missing pastor will be expected and forgiven for this state of despair is in a state of euphoria.
Congratulations to both universities. Keep those cow bells clanging in Starkville and whatever they do in celebration in beautiful Oxford. For one brief shining moment Saturday was Mississippi's day and they may never pass this way again.
Yet, Saturday was a grand day for this forlorn population. The state has only three major sports-playing universities, no professional teams, and they have had the darnedest time achieving national sports relevance. The state's unequalled racial ugliness made it difficult to attract black athletes. However, this young college tackle football season, two of the three sports-playing universities are nationally prominent which may be a first for the state that is so often last in everything. In this young season, in the old, long history of football in this embarrassing state there has never ever been the harmonic convergence that occurred on Saturday.
October 4, 2014 will be remembered for a long time, maybe forever in Mississippi for on that date the Mississippi State "Bulldogs" and the University of Mississippi "Rebels," both ranked among the best dozen teams of scholars playing the sport, both played at their own campus stadia, both played higher ranked teams and...both won their games, Mississippi State defeated the 6th-best team in America and Mississippi the third-best team. When the new polls are released today, Sunday, and Monday, both Mississippi State and Mississippi will be ranked in the top 10.
There is a frisson of happiness going on in the entire state tonight that the state has never, ever experienced before. In Starkville and Oxford especially it will be a long, hoarse, drunk night and a hungover Sunday. Churches later this morning will be sparsely attended, maybe even some pastors will be absent for Saturday caused so much joy Mississippians may need a day to recover. The empty pews and the occasional missing pastor will be expected and forgiven for this state of despair is in a state of euphoria.
Congratulations to both universities. Keep those cow bells clanging in Starkville and whatever they do in celebration in beautiful Oxford. For one brief shining moment Saturday was Mississippi's day and they may never pass this way again.
