Beat Finland Week: Ole Miss Defeated Georgia, Rebels Now Must Beat Beat Florida to Stay in Playoff Hunt

OXFORD, Miss. — Beating Georgia was epic and none of us who were there will ever forget it. Oxford was on fire all weekend. The pregame tension was palpable. Ole Miss faced adversity from the opening drive and fell behind before five minutes had elapsed. From then on, they delivered a beatdown of a top team, the likes of which we’ve never previously witnessed. It was glorious. The defense was in full “Remember the Titans” mode the entire game. Jaxson Dart was heroic. Backup quarterback Austin Simmons gave us a taste of what the future holds. (I’ve been telling anyone who would listen for months that he’s a superstar). The offensive line’s protection was outstanding. Cayden Lee has proven to be incredibly dependable, and Jordan Watkins just does Jordan Watkins stuff. Throw in that Rebel fans in the stadium did their part at an unprecedented level. I can’t stop watching the replay, highlights, interviews – basically anything related to the game. I probably never will.

Janna and Clint Crockett celebrate after the Rebels’ 28-10 win over Georgia. (Photo courtesy of Clint Crockett)

And yet the win still doesn’t get us where we need to be.

For those of us old enough to remember the 1980 U.S. Olympic Men’s Hockey team, you recall the incredible victory over the Soviets (We didn’t really refer to them as Russia much back then. They were the Soviet Union. Made up of a lot of different Eurasian countries. You could look it up.) The victory came in the opening game of the medal round. Many of you not old enough to remember have seen the Disney Studios movie “Miracle” though, so you know the story. The Soviets were the dominant force in the hockey world, and they had pummeled the U.S. 10-3 in an exhibition game just a few days before the start of the Olympics. The movie captures the essence of the speech that Coach Herb Brooks gave to his team before the Olympic contest (paraphrased): “Great moments are born from great opportunity. And that’s what you have here tonight boys…If we played ‘em ten times, they might win nine. But not this game. Not tonight…Tonight we are the greatest hockey team in the world…This is your time. Their time is done. It’s over.  You were born for moments like this…Now go out there and take it!” Brooks’ group of amateurs responded and pulled off what many consider the greatest upset in sports history.

But what many do not recall – and the movie gives very brief attention to this – is that the U.S. still had to beat Finland to win the gold medal. In that game they actually trailed 2-1 heading into the final period.  And though the speech Brooks gave before the Soviet game is the one immortalized, some of his players have stated that what he said to them before that final period against Finland was the most impactful. He told his men, “If you lose this game, you will take it to your (inappropriate for Disney movie expletive deleted) grave. Your (once again, inappropriate for Disney movie expletive deleted) grave!

They scored three goals and won 4-2.

That team made a kid from Pensacola, Florida a hockey fan and I remain one to this day. I have a Mike Eruzione U.S.A. hockey t-shirt that I wear just about every week. I’ve even had the opportunity to witness a game seven of the Stanley Cup Finals with my two sons as the Tampa Bay Lightning won the 2004 Cup.

Wes (left) and Will Crockett celebrate the Tampa Bay Lightning’s Game 7-win and Stanley Cup Championship. (Photo courtesy of Clint Crockett)

But I digress.

It is now Finland week for the Rebels.

I thought I’d never recover from the LSU loss. It was absolutely crushing. I had friends who attended that were inconsolable. One father who took his son struggled with subjecting him to the pain that so often accompanies being a Rebel fan. (Been there.) Fortunately, the win over Georgia changed everything. All is forgiven! Honestly, it wasn’t’ some huge upset like our hockey team beating the Soviets either. In fact, many of the pundits picked Ole Miss to win. It was monumental though. But it will be confined to the dust bin of history if the Rebels don’t follow it up with a win in Gainesville. (And in case you’re asking yourself if I’m discounting Mississippi State. Yes. Yes, I am. We will destroy them. If we beat Florida, the Egg Bowl will be a bludgeoning. You know it. I know it. State knows it. The American people know it.)

Ole Miss hasn’t played in Gainesville a lot over the years – in fact only five times since 1989. They have managed to win three of those matchups though. In 89 it was a 24-19 victory over the Emmitt Smith led Gators. In 2003 Eli Manning marched the Rebels down the field for a late score in a 20-17 win. Then there was the blocked extra point and late 4^th down stop of Tim Tebow in the 31-30 upset in 2008.

The Rebels will need to play well against the Gators but two weeks to prepare is certainly advantageous. The team knows exactly what is at stake. I don’t believe they’ll take anything for granted Saturday. They’ve essentially played three straight elimination games and have more than risen to the occasion in them all.

As the rankings currently stand, they sit at #11. But things will change with the next release, and the subsequent ones. Style points are going to matter, so while escaping with wins is the priority, winning big could certainly impact their final position by a spot or two heading into the playoffs.

So, for those of you who attend, and for the rest of us watching, when you see that “F” on the Florida helmets on Saturday, just think Finland. Because if we lose, we’ll all take it to our (inappropriate for Disney movie expletive deleted) grave.

I expect Florida to suffer the same fate as their Nordic predecessors.

Hotty Toddy. Why. Not. Us!