Ole Miss fans express love, appreciation for Rebel football team ahead of final game of season

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JACKSONVILLE — The ‘Last Dance’….we all heard that phrase as the Ole Miss football team assumed the mantra before the 2024 season began. It was a reference to the 1997-98 Michael-Jordan-led Chicago Bulls and their quest for a championship, which they ultimately won. The Rebel players entered this season knowing they had a roster assembled that was one of the most talented in the nation, one they believed could lead them to the new 12-team College Football Playoffs and a possible national title.

We all know that didn’t happen. But something interesting did occur along the way. Jaxson Dart and this year’s team bonded in a way that not many do. They stuck together through thick and thin, through the ups of a win over Georgia and the downs of unexpected losses to Kentucky, LSU and Florida.

One more opportunity @taxslayerbowl | #HottyToddy pic.twitter.com/VhKCsu7cxd

— Ole Miss Football (@OleMissFB) January 2, 2025

Before the season began, I was frequently asked how the team culture would be with so many transfers on the roster and players who were going to be receiving hefty NILs? How would they all assemble into one unit? How could head coach Lane Kiffin and staff get guys who might be one-and-done to ‘buy in?’ What would happen if Ole Miss lost or got knocked out of playoff contention? Surely, I was told by fans of other teams, the Rebels would just pack it in and opt out.

Well, that’s absolutely the opposite of what happened.

The team completely bought in to an ‘all-for-one,’ ‘one-for-all’ mentality. They bonded like no other Ole Miss team I’ve covered in over a decade of reporting on the Rebels. They stuck together through the losses, arriving to the postseason in a completely different place than where they all expected back when fall camp began — and that was squarely outside of the College Football Playoffs. But they arrived there together and that’s how they will finish out the season and, for a large number of them, their Ole Miss careers.

On the table is a potential ten-win season. If the Rebels defeat Duke to finish 10-3, that will be the second 10-win season in a row for Ole Miss and that would be a historic achievement. The ONLY time in school history the team has finished with back-to-back 10 wins came in 1959 and 1960 — when Johnny Vaught was at the helm.

We asked Ole Miss fans on X, formerly known as Twitter, to give us their thoughts on the season and the Rebel team — and what it means to them that almost all the players are here in Jacksonville for the bowl game.

Here’s what they had to say:

@LeighAtTheBEACH: While we were disappointed that we were not selected for the playoffs, I am thrilled to see this team play together one more time. Instead of opting out, they chose to share their talents once more with Rebel nation. I am so proud of them for having the courage to finish. This shows the depth of their character. No way will I remember the disappointments along the way. These players have a true bond and are real leaders, I will remember them as a group that broke records and laid the foundation for a bright future. Looking forward to cheering for them in their future endeavors.

@Nicolepoptart: In a world where NIL has turned CFB on its head by making money the deciding factor, Lane Kiffin has built a TEAM whose payers value each other enough to play one last game together. That’s pretty special.

@WhodatHolly9: The fact these guys are finishing the season and playing in the bowl game underscores the bond this team has and the individual character of each young man. My heart is full thinking about this team and I will miss them all.

@CathyCox5: This team sticking together one last time is the only reason we ARE going to the bowl game. The respect they have for one another, their coaches and us fans by playing this game says so much about these guys. The only way we can show them our respect is to show up and show out in Jacksonville! Hotty Toddy!!

@are_uno: Obviously we fell a game short, so outside of the playoffs, seeing a team we love, represent a program and university we cherish is the next best thing.

@HottyToddyStros: It’s been a pleasure watching this group of young men grow together. While I’ve loved many of our former players, this team holds a special place in my heart and I can’t wait to watch each of them as they look towards their future.

@joshloper: This group of guys has really made Ole Miss football great again.  Waking up every Saturday and knowing we are going to have a shot to win every game is pretty awesome.  I appreciate all that this group has done for Ole Miss and the vast majority of these players staying together and dressing out for the Gator Bowl shows that Ole Miss means as much to this group of awesome players as it does to all of us at home. Thank you for the memories guys, you sure have made all of us proud.

@HeatherH_628: We made the 8-hour drive because these guys didn’t opt out of the bowl game, so we didn’t either. It’s a special group of young men that have given everything to Ole Miss so we wanted to be here to cheer them on for their final game, as they deserve!

Game Info

The 80th annual TaxSlayer Gator Bowl’s kickoff will slide from 7:30 pm EST to 8:05 pm EST on Thursday, January 2 due to the Allstate Sugar Bowl being rescheduled to 4:00 pm EST on the same day.