Last year Mississippi State celebrated its victory over OleMiss. State’s players took turns holding the Egg Bowl trophy abovetheir heads and parading across Scott Field in Starkville. Cowbellsrang and the fans shouted with joy.

State head coach Sylvester Croom was recognized as 2007 SECCoach of the Year after leading the Bulldogs to an 8-4 record and aLiberty Bowl victory over Central Florida.

One year later, Croom decided to resign under pressure Saturday,one day after his Bulldogs were thoroughly whipped 45-0 by Ole Missin Oxford.

This time the Rebels hoisted the Egg Bowl Trophy. Fans cheeredand sang. The crowd chanted, “Houston Nutt! Houston Nutt. HoustonNutt.”

Nutt is now the darling of the Ole Miss faithful. His loftypedestal could quickly crumble if he doesn’t win enough games nextseason.

Such is the highly paid, high-pressure life of a major collegefootball coach.

Mississippi State senior cornerback Jasper O’Quinn was saddenedby the news that Croom had resigned. He started two years for theBulldogs after transferring from Copiah-Lincoln CommunityCollege.

“It is a tough time but I know our program is going to bounceback,” said O’Quinn, a Franklin County product. “Like coach said,you have to focus on the future.”

O’Quinn has visions of playing at the next level. However, fewplayers have the NFL opportunity so he’s concentrating on hiscollege work first.

“I want to get my degree. I want to keep training hard.”

Asked about his final game, O’Quinn said, “It was a tough way togo out. We always fought hard, no matter what the circumstances. Ithink that was the thing that Coach Croom was most proud of. Wenever gave up.”

Problems at quarterback, running back and the offensive linecaused the Bulldogs to stagnate in point production most of theyear.

“We had a lot of bad breaks this year,” said O’Quinn. “The balljust didn’t bounce our way. We didn’t have that streak of goodluck.”

Croom brought a high level of respect to the probation-plaguedprogram he inherited. Players learned they were expected to beresponsible students and citizens. Class attendance was mandatory.Extra study study time was required, too.

“I really liked playing for Coach Croom,” said O’Quinn. “Hestressed the fact that we should be good men on and off the field.He showed we must have class and leadership at all times. I learneda lot of lessons in life from Coach Croom.”

O’Quinn is majoring in sports communications. He said he wantsto be a sports agent.

Senior defensive tackle Jessie Bowman of Brookhaven missed thegame because of surgery to repair a torn quadriceps muscle in hisleft thigh. Dressed in nylon maroon warm-ups, Bowman leaned heavilyon two aluminum crutches as he witnessed the blowout.

Certainly, it was difficult to watch his teammates getbulldozed. As a tribute to his senior teammate, O’Quinn hadscrawled Bowman’s No. 94 jersey number in the biceps area of theUnder Armour material worn underneath his game uniform.

There are other players from this area who will be playing forthe Bulldogs next season.

Mike Hunt, a linebacker from Franklin County, got redshirtedthis season. “He’s been working hard and a lot of good things willhappen to him,” said O’Quinn.

Damien Anderson backs up O’Quinn at cornerback. The redshirtfreshman from Hazlehurst has a bright future.

Offensive tackle Philip Freeman of Wesson, a transfer fromCopiah-Lincoln Community College, was redshirted this season. Hewill be bigger, stronger and wiser when the 2009 campaignarrives

Former Franklin County teammate Marcus Tillman started for theRebels at defensive end. He helped the Rebels make life miserablefor State’s quarterbacks and running backs.

“I talked to Marcus,” said O’Quinn. “I told him he played agreat game and to go have fun with his team.”

O’Quinn said he was impressed by the Rebels’ front four. “TheirD-line came out and established the tempo of the game from thebeginning to the end. They were relentless.”

Tillman, from McCall Creek, helped the Rebels make lifemiserable for State’s quarterbacks and running backs. He said therewas no secret formula leading to the Rebels’ success.

“We were just trying to play hard and make this our best game,”said Tillman. “We want to make each week our best game.”

This will be the first Ole Miss bowl trip since 2003 whenquarterback Eli Manning was an All-SEC senior. Obviously, Ole Missfans are delirious with joy.

“I’m excited to go to the bowl game,” said Tillman. “I’ve neverbeen to a bowl game. The Cotton Bowl would be nice.”

Tillman said Houston Nutt’s arrival as head coach had a majorimpact on the football team. “We turned the program around.Hopefully it will stay that way.”

Coach Ed Ogeron was fired at Ole Miss following last season’sfinale, after three struggling years. He failed to win an SEC gamein 2007. The final straw was allowing Mississippi State to erase a14-0, fourth-quarter deficit and beat the Rebels 17-14.

Ogeron was notorious for his grueling, marathon practicesessions and expletive-filled dialogue. Even the assistant coachesfelt his foul-mouthed wrath.

Tillman said he was enjoying the new coaching staff. “HoustonNutt is a great guy. He makes football fun. His personality is goodand he treats us right and talks to us.”

With eight wins securely tucked away and several bowlinvitations available, the good times have returned to Oxford.

“We are winning and that makes it fun.”

Tracy Rocker coaches the Ole Miss defensive line. “He’s straightforward and a good guy,” said Tillman.

Former Southern Miss star Tyrone Nix serves as defensivecoordinator at Ole Miss. Nix has the Rebels playing withintensity.

“I like Coach Nix’s personality,” said Tillman, laughing softly.”He knows how to fire us up.”

For sure, every Rebel fan is fired up right now.

Write to sports editor Tom Goetz, c/o The DAILY LEADER, P.O. BOX551, Brookhaven, MS 39602 or e-mail sports@dailyleader.com