DALLAS, Texas-- Red shirting offensive lineman Josh Tatum held up a sign in the closing moments of Ole Miss’ 47-34 AT&T Cotton Bowl win over Texas Tech that depicted underdog mentality that drove the Rebels all season.
The sign read: “94% said we couldn’t, we did.”
94 percent of the nation in ESPN Bowl Mania challenge picked the No. 7 ranked and one loss Red Raiders over the Ole Miss team with four losses.
“When over 94 percent of America writes you off as a loser, it kind of gives you an attitude, a little chip on your shoulder,” Ole Miss quarterback Jevan Snead said. “You got to try to show them what’s up.”
Led by a career day from Snead who went 18-29 for 292 yards three touchdowns and one interception, and the all purpose play of Dexter McCluster who had 180 total yards (97 rushing and 83 receiving) and a rushing touchdown, the Ole Miss offense out gained the highly touted Tech offense 515 to 469.
It looked early as if the majority of the nation would be correct in the pick of Texas Tech. The Red Raiders capitalized on a first quarter fumble by Cordera Eason by capping a 61-yard drive with a 35-yard touchdown pass from Graham Harrell to Edward Britton.
Three plays later Red Raider free safety stepped in front of a Snead pass and returned it 45 yards for a Texas Tech 14-0 lead.
“I never doubted because he is a real good quarterback, and he kept his composure and stayed focused,” Ole Miss wide receiver Mike Wallace said about Snead after the interception. “Nobody was getting on him. He said he wasn’t worried about it. After he threw the interception he was the one on the sideline telling everybody ‘lets go’. You couldn’t help but keeping playing after you see something like that.”
The Rebels outscored Tech 35-7 from the interception on until Harrell found Britton again on a 12-yard touchdown pass.
Wallace would become the recipient of the second of Snead three touchdown passes as Wallace hung onto a 41-yard pass in between two Tech defenders in the end zone to tie the score at 14. Snead connected with tight end Gerald Harris on an 8-yard touchdown on a bootleg a drive earlier. Harris also caught a 21-yard pass to tie the game at 21 mid-way through the second quarter.
After taking a 24-21 lead into halftime, the big break for the Rebels came on the opening drive of the second half for Texas Tech. Harrell sent a pass towards All-American wide receiver Michael Crabtree, but Crabtree slipped and allowed cornerback Marshay Green to intercept the pass and return it 65 yards for a 31-21 lead.
Green and the rest of the Ole Miss defensive backs held Crabtree to only four catches for 30 yards and a two-yard touchdown catch in the second quarter.
Harrell passed Colt Brennan to become the NCAA all-time touchdown leader on the pass to Crabtree and finished with 134.
Ole Miss controlled the clock on the ground in the second half behind the running of McCluster and freshman running back Brandon Bolden. Bolden set a career high with 101 yards rushing including a 17-yard third quarter run to put the Rebels up 38-21.
After Harrell’s second touchdown pass to Britton got Tech within 10 points early in the third quarter, the Ole Miss defense turned a potential present into a game clinching play. With the ball at the four-yard line, Ole Miss running back Enrique Davis was hit by Tech safety Anthony Hine and fumbled at the one-yard line where Tech recovered. On the ensuing play, Ole Miss linebacker Patrick Trahan came through on a blitz to sack Harrell on a play action for a safety. McCluster took a direct snap at the four -yard line and stretch around the corner to dive in for the score on third and goal to put the Rebels up 47-28 with 4:34 to play.
McCluster was given the offensive MVP award, while Green earned the defensive honor.
“I can’t say enough about the effort and attitude (of the team),” Ole Miss head coach Houston Nutt said. “I’m really proud of our seniors, the way they took ownership of this team, and we just got better each week, and it’s a wonderful day.”
The majority of the 44,000 Ole Miss fans stayed in the stands after the game alternating between chants of “S-E-C” and “Hou-ston-Nutt,” as they were met by hugs and high-fives from players on the field.
Riding a six game win streak to end the season, McCluster backed up the sentiments of Nutt, not wanting the season to end.
“The past seven weeks we have been on a roll,” McCluster said. “I wish we could keep playing, but we have to take a break for a little bit. We want to carry this on to next season and keep it going.”
The Rebels final ranking is still yet to be determined, but wherever it ends finished will make last season 3-9 record a distant memory.
“We got a taste of what it is like to be successful and winning so we don’t want to give it up,” McCluster said. “We are going to work just as hard.”
