Something weird has happened. I have become one of those disgusting football crazies and proud of it. I mean I fought the syndrome for years, well – not really a fight, just no interest until four weeks, two days, and ten hours ago, when on that fateful day StarkVegas was declared number one in the nation, followed closely by Hotty-Toddy in third place. Disclaimer: Sad but true, the Ole Miss Rebels are now in 7th place, but I’m certain only temporally.  Hotty-Toddy! Hail State!

     There I go again!

     It all happened innocently enough. You see I had just completed the annual Rose Hill Cemetery Costumed Tour and the Liberty & Friends Gospel Concert. Yes, I had a little time on my hands, when, WHAM, I was struck by a defensive lineman (oops), I mean I had my attention diverted by Lindsey on the WTOK TV Sports News. OMG – the Bulldogs, who were unranked the first four weeks, became #1 (Coaches Poll & AP Poll) on week five! MSU is the first college football team to do that ever – Hail State!

     I know, I know, I know … I am just a Mississippi storyteller, sometimes Gypsy Queen or even the Widow Shackleford (it’s a long story), but today (somebody hand me my cowbell), forget the Gypsy Queen. I am the Football Queen seated in my red leather recliner.

     It’s really, really weird – this transformation. My husband is totally confused, again. You see during those normally pesky fall football games, I am busy, busy, busy researching/writing/creating stories or making costumes, or even practicing for a storytelling session. Now all has changed.

     WOWZER! Now I’m rattling off things like the National Collegiate Athletic Association and the Southeastern Conference and muttering such names as Dak, Dan, Hugh, and Bo, just as if they were old friends. I arrive to the around-the-town early Monday morning coffee sessions with stats in hand and “did you see?” commentaries on my lips, all about last Saturday’s game. I mean I don’t miss anything and have an opinion about everything. Yeppers!

     Oh, and those Saturdays that our teams have open. What to do? What to do? I admit it’s mighty hard, but we can clean house or grocery shop, however better yet, we can tune into arch-rival games. YEAH! There’s ROLL TIDE and DEATH VALLEY. Uh-huh …

     Hail State! Hotty-Toddy!

      The Grove, need I say more? Is there anyone breathing who has not heard of The Grove located in Oxford? I’ve been there and walked the sacred ground, breathed the pungent, yet refined air, soaked in my being the true delights of Hotty-Toddy.

        ESPN ranked The Grove as the number two tailgating spot in the country, writing, “Tailgating in The Grove is an experience so sublime that even native son William Faulkner would be at loss to describe it.” On a personal note — I don’t even need to know the number one tailgating spot in the nation – don’t think my heart could stand it.

Hotty Toddy, Gosh almighty!

Who the heck are we? Hey!

Flim Flam, Bim Bam

Ole Miss, Yes Ma’am!

 

     Clang, clang, clang – the cowbell reigns supreme only in StarkVegas on game-day. That’s right – there is no doubt the MSU Cowbell is a fixture for Bulldog football. The exact beginning is not clear, but in the early 1940s, during a home game (MSU/Ole Miss), a jersey cow wandered on to the playing field. Whether by skill or spell, whatever, Hail State beat the daylights out of Hotty-Toddy on that fateful day, thus from that time forward, the cowbells twang at each home game.

     How many times have you read such downers as the following? Mississippi ranks bottom per Median Family Income (but second nationwide in charitable giving)? If you are in doubt, checkout www.mississippibelieveit.com, especially this one: Yes, we wear shoes. A few of us even wear cleats. I say — feels good to be on top!

      Saturday, November 29, is the Egg Bowl (MSU/Ole Miss) and will be televised by CBS, chosen the first time ever on the network, instead of the Iron Bowl (Al/Auburn). YEAH!

     By-the-way, I’ll be the one in the red leather recliner. Can you say StarkVegas and Hotty-Toddy?  

    Anne McKee is a writer and storyteller. Visit her website: www.annemckee.net