Get Off His Back and A Rivalry Re-Born

If you're like me and growing weary from all the Brees bashing lately, here's something a little different.

But first something off my chest.

This season I made the decision to wait till at least Wednesday after the game to write. I did so to be less visceral in my take. Written last Monday, this would've been an ugly rant aimed at the further decline of Brees, his Farvian transformation and Powerball salary.

But I'm glad I waited. Because as my emotion faded and I calmed the eff down, I started to think about Heath Shuler, Kerry Collins, Doug Nessmeier. Jim Everett, Mike Buck, Wade Wilson, Steve Walsh, Danny Wuerfel, the Billy Jo's(Tolliver and Hobert) and Aaron Brooks.

Then I started counting my blessings. Because there isn't any one of those QB's, NONE, that  I would take over Drew Brees, with all his troubles, right now. And It ain't even close.

He's being called overrated(as opposed to who?). He's called overpaid. Resented for a salary that he only asked for but forced no one to pay him. Fans and media are turning against him.

Not me.

Only next time, Drew, take the sack.

This Saturday, LSU plays Ole Miss in Tiger Stadium and are 3 point underdogs. Think about that. LSU is an underdog at home to Ole Miss. Some would say this is a statement on how down the LSU program is in 2014. However I say this a bigger statement on how much the Ole Miss program has risen. Since Hugh Freeze took over as HC of the Rebels only three seasons ago, he has brought them back to the glory days of Archie who?.

Most people may not realize this, but the LSU vs Ole Miss game was once the biggest rivalry in the south. Yes, bigger than the Iron Bowl. The problem is since the era of Archie Manning ended, the Ole Miss football program has been stuck in the bowels of the SEC, save for a few sporadic winning seasons. Sure, LSU had its down years but the one game LSU fans could generally count on was beating Ole Miss. In fact, an argument could be made that at least  two coaches were fired because losing to Ole Miss was the final nail in their coffin.

Now the situation has completely turned.

It used to be when Ole Miss beat LSU, you got the feeling they got away with one. LSU was the better team having a bad night. Maybe looking ahead to a stronger opponent or flat from the week before. Example, in 1997, LSU beat #1 Florida and Steve Spurrier only to lose to unranked Ole Miss the very next week. That or something flukish happening like clock mismanagement or trick plays.

That won't happen this week. After beating Alabama at home followed by thumping Texas A&M in College Station, possessing perhaps the best defense LSU has faced since the 2012 BCS championship, Ole Miss has LSU's full attention. Which leads me to this.

How will Ole Miss handle success? Hugh Freeze and the Rebels are playing with house money. It's less difficult for a good coach to start winning when nothing is expected of you. But now every Ole Miss fan is expecting them to waltz into Tiger Stadium and do to the Tigers what Mississippi St did. In fact, since beating Alabama, Freeze can say goodbye to the good old days when just becoming bowl eligible made you an Oxford legend.

Now it's LSU who can be loose, at home, no expectations. "Hey, we're rebuilding. This is your best season ever, Ole Miss. Let's see whatcha got."

No one. I mean no one expects LSU to win this game save for some flukish things happening.

It will be interesting to see if Ole Miss can handle success or fold under the pressure they've created for themselves. I'm certain LSU would love to be the ones to make them.

THAT'S why they call it a rivalry!