Rebels Football: Seminoles We Respect You, Not Fear You

Dec 31, 2015; Atlanta, GA, USA; The Florida State Seminoles huddle prior to their game against the Houston Cougars in the 2015 Chick-fil-A Peach Bowl at the Georgia Dome. Mandatory Credit: Brett Davis-USA TODAY Sports

The Florida State Seminoles are a talented team with championship potential. However, so are the Ole Miss Rebels. That is why we respect the Seminoles, but we don’t fear them.

We can count on one hand the number of days left before the Ole Miss Rebels take the field of play again. On September 5th, the Rebels will finally get to face the Florida State Seminoles. This highly anticipated match up has been all the talk on the national media stage. But if you are looking for real fireworks, just log on to the social media platforms.

The Rebels’ fan base and the Seminole’s fan base have been expressing their opinions on the outcome of this game. Though the level of animus has not risen to the level of the hate that comes from Starkville, there have been some fiery exchanges.

So, I want to speak to our upcoming opponents. FSU, we respect your team. You guys present a true problem for our Rebels. Your roster is one of the most talented in college football. Coach Jimbo Fisher is an excellent coach. You guys are good. We respect your team. However, be clear and very clear, WE DO NOT FEAR YOU.

We are the Ole Miss Rebels. We don’t have reason to be afraid of any team. If you are unclear as to who we are, you might want to check our resume. We have become so good that our enemies have gone to extremes to try to pull us down. The Rebels won’t run from any challenge. We will take on all foes. Also let it be known that when Ole Miss comes to Orlando, we are expecting to win.

There is a narrative that is floating around that we have no chance for victory. Some Seminoles fans scoff at the idea of the Rebels winning the game. Let me give you fair warning. If you sleep on Ole Miss, you will be taking a sad 250 mile ride back to Tallahassee. We respect you. But WE DO NOT FEAR YOU. Let me explain to you why we have no fear.

Jul 11, 2016; Hoover, AL, USA; Southeastern Conference commissioner Greg Sankey speaks during SEC media day at Hyatt Regency Birmingham-The Wynfrey Hotel. Mandatory Credit: Butch Dill-USA TODAY Sports

We Play In The SEC

Ole Miss is a member of the SEC. I know it sounds conceited to just use that as a reason for us not to fear you. However, the fact is that the Southeastern Conference IS the best college football conference in America. We can all pretend I’m wrong, but we know it’s true. Come on, you know it it’s true.

Week after week we battle the best teams in the nation. There are no off-weeks in the SEC. As the cliché so appropriately states, “you can be beaten on any given Saturday”. Not only that, but we reside in the SEC West. The toughest division in the toughest conference.

Every year the SEC has at least three or four teams that have the ability to make a run at the College Football Playoffs. Last year’s champion resides in Tuscaloosa, AL. In case you hadn’t heard, their only loss came to Ole Miss. We beat them at their place, in front of their fans, on television. It was glorious.

We are not intimidated by a lofty ranking because we usually play three top ten teams a year. Your rabid fans don’t impress us. Come on. We face Alabama fans who explode after one loss. Mississippi State fans who have an inferiority complex. Plus Arkansas fan who will call the hogs for no reason whatsoever. Auburn fans toilet paper their own trees after a victory. Yeah, the SEC is the kingdom for rowdy fans.

We are not intimidated by traveling to what amounts as a home game for you guys. Try playing at Bryant-Denny at 2:30 on a Saturday afternoon. Try listening to those God-awful cowbells on a Thanksgiving Thursday night in Starkville. Better yet try going to the “real” Death Valley in Baton Rouge on a Saturday night. We are use to crowds. So we will be o.k. in Orlando.

Nov 14, 2015; Baton Rouge, LA, USA; LSU Tigers running back Leonard Fournette (7) is tackled by Arkansas Razorbacks defensive back Josh Liddell (28) and defensive back Santos Ramirez (9) during the second quarter of a game at Tiger Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Derick E. Hingle-USA TODAY Sports

We Face Top Talent Every Week

Now don’t get me wrong. The Seminoles are bringing some big time players to Orlando on Labor Day. Their highly touted running back Dalvin Cook, is one of the best running backs in the nation. He rushed for over 1740 yards last year with 19 touchdowns. Travis Rudolph is an all-around great guy and great wide receiver. Also FSU’s redshirt freshmen quarterback Deondre Francois was highly recruited out of high school. That’s just their offense.

Josh Sweat, DeMarcus Walker and Derwin James on the defense make up an impressive team. Believe when I say the Seminoles have my respect. However, that’s the kind of talent we see in the SEC every year.

For example, last year we faced the eventual Heisman Trophy winner Derrick Henry from Alabama who rushed for nearly 2200 yards and 28 touchdowns. Then later on we faced Leonard Fournette from LSU who rushed for 1950 yards and 22 touchdowns. Oh and let’s not forget Alex Collins from Arkansas with over 1500 yards and 20 TDs. Dalvin Cook is good, but it’s not like we aren’t use to playing good running backs. Get in line.

Don’t get me started on the SEC defenses. Every week the Rebels line up against a bunch of five star or four star linemen. Skilled pass rushers like Myles Garrett of Texas A & M make for a long evening. In addition, once you’ve had to line up opposite of Jonathan Allen and Tim Williams of Alabama, you can handle anybody. Ole Miss has faced the best the nation has to offer at every position on the field. Monday won’t be anything new.

The name on the front of your jersey doesn’t frighten us. Nor does the names on the back of you jersey scare us. I’m looking forward to the battle. But believe me when I tell you that it will be a battle. Which leads me to my last reason why we have no reason to fear.

Jan 1, 2016; New Orleans, LA, USA; Mississippi Rebels quarterback Chad Kelly (10) gestures while running off the field at the end of the the second quarter against the Oklahoma State Cowboys in the 2016 Sugar Bowl at the Mercedes-Benz Superdome. Mandatory Credit: Chuck Cook-USA TODAY Sports

We Are Very Good

Somehow lost in the analysis of this game is one simple fact. We are good. No, we are very good. Since Florida State Seminoles have been a national power for years it is implied that we are out of our league in this game. That their talents and skills are vastly superior to ours. Many seem to think we will just be a nice little test for them.

Go ask Alabama just how talented we are. Call Baton Rouge and find out if they think we are some small test. Oklahoma State still hasn’t figured out what happened in New Orleans at the Sugar Bowl. In the Ole Miss football facility, we have possession of both rivalry trophies and a Sugar Bowl trophy. We aren’t lucky. We are good.

Do you really know who you will have to face on Monday night? Have you done the research? Have you seen the film? I respect your guys. Your guys are good. But, let me introduce you to some of the guys who will be on the other side of the line of scrimmage.

You will be facing the leading passer in the SEC last year, Chad Kelly. He passed for over 4000 yards and 31 TDs while rushing for 500 yards and 10 TDs. Although we loss a great receiver in Laquon Treadwell, we actually are probably deeper at that position than we were last year. All our receivers are 6’2 and bigger. Plus, we have one of the best receiving tight ends in the nation in Evan Engram.

Then defensively you may want to learn a couple of names. Marquis Haynes is a pass rusher extraordinaire. He has blazing speed off the end. If you don’t believe me, google the play he made against Fournette in last year’s LSU victory. Breeland Speaks, D.J. Jones and Isaac Gross will be clogging up the middle of that line.

Oh and there’s a guy on defense wearing number 12, his name is Tony Conner. Tony has bad intentions for anyone coming over the middle. Avoid at all cost. You see, we don’t fear anyone. We have enough talent on our team to hold our own against any team in the nation. We may lose on Labor Day. But it won’t be because we don’t have the talent or ability to win. We’ve beaten the best before. I expect us to do it again Monday night as well. Hotty Toddy!