Romero Miller

Egg Bowl

Egg Bowl

Mississippi (53)	Mississippi St. (22)
1927 1928 1930 1931 1932 1933 1934 1935 1938 1944 1945 1947 1948 1949 1950 1951 1952 1954 1955 1956 1958 1959 1960 1961 1962 1965 1966 1967 1969 1971 1972 1973 1975 1976 1977 1978 1979 1981 1983 1984 1985 1986 1988 1989 1990 1992 1995 1997 2000 2002 2003 2004 2006	1936 1937 1939 1940 1941 1942 1946 1964 1970 1974 1980 1982 1987 1991 1993 1994 1996 1998 1999 2001 2005 2007
Ties (5)
1929 1953 1957 1963 1968 All of the figures within this article represent only those games since the series was named the Egg Bowl and not the overall series, which Mississippi leads Mississippi State 59-39-6.

The Battle of the Golden Egg (nicknamed the Egg Bowl) is an annual college football game between the Mississippi State University (MSU) Bulldogs and the University of Mississippi (Ole Miss) Rebels. While the 2 teams have played each other since 1901, with 2003 being the year in which the 2 teams had played each other 100 times and now having played each other a total of 104 times, the first game officially known as the "The Battle of the Golden Egg" was in 1927. While it is called a "Bowl", the game is not a postseason bowl game, but rather a regular season Southeastern Conference (SEC) game for both teams as they are both SEC members in the West Division.

History

Up until 1926, Ole Miss had claimed only five wins in the previous twenty-three meetings of the teams. When Ole Miss beat what was then known as Mississippi A&M College 7 to 6, the Ole Miss fans were celebratory, rushing the field, some trying to tear the goalposts down. A&M fans did not take well to the Ole Miss fans celebrations, and fights broke out all over the field between the schools' fans. Some A&M fans defended the goal posts with wooden chairs, and several injuries were reported. Ole Miss and A&M students vowed then that such an incident should not happen again. The result was the "Golden Egg", a trophy to cool the heat of battle - the trophy, not the goalposts, would be the winners' reward. The name derives from a large trophy which has been awarded to the winning team each year since 1927. The trophy consists of a large football-shaped brass piece mounted to a wooden base and traditionally symbolizes supremacy in college football in the state of Mississippi for the year. The footballs used in American football in the 1920s were considerably more ovoid and blunter than those in use today and similar to the balls still used in rugby; the shape of the football on the trophy naturally depicts a football from the era when the trophy was first awarded. The trophy thus, to modern eyes, more resembles an egg than a football. The awarding of the "Golden Egg" was instituted in 1927 by joint agreement between the two schools student bodies.

The game is a typical example of the intrastate rivalries between several public universities in the U.S. These games are usually between one bearing the state's name alone, and the land-grant university, often styled as "State University". Like most such rivalries, it is contested at the end of the regular season, in this case on Thanksgiving weekend, sometimes on Thanksgiving Day (or, in recent years, Thanksgiving Night) itself. At one point the level of rivalry was such that a victory by one of the schools in this game could salvage what had otherwise been a poor season. This was however proven not to always be the case when in 2004 Ole Miss won the game but fired its coach, David Cutcliffe, the next week, following a disappointing season.

For many years this game was played at Mississippi Veterans Memorial Stadium in Jackson, which seats approximately 62,000 spectators. There were several reasons behind this. Besides being centrally located in the state, at the time it was the only venue in the state capable of seating the anticipated crowd; for many years Vaught-Hemingway Stadium in Oxford seated only about 32,000 and Scott Field in Starkville seated only about 31,000. Both have been considerably expanded and are now capable of accommodating the crowds which can realistically be expected, and both on-campus venues have been continually upgraded to the point where they are actually superior in amenities to Mississippi Veterans Memorial Stadium, so the decision was made to move the game into a home-and-home series in the 1990s. It was decided that the on-campus atmosphere is generally better; the game is now more useful for both schools as a recruiting tool, and this has the additional advantage of only requiring the bulk of one team's core fan base to make a road trip rather than both of them as was previously the case.

Notable games

1941: Mississippi State won its very first Southeastern Conference title behind quarterback Jennings Moates after winning this Egg Bowl, 6-0.

1976 and 1977: Mississippi State won the Egg Bowl these 2 years but had to forfeit the wins due to NCAA violations in 1975. The Bulldogs were slapped with a two-year probation in September 1975 when Larry Gillard was charged with a loss of eligibility after the NCAA Committee on Infractions found he had been "provided clothing at a discount not available to members of the university's student body in general." MSU accepted the committee's finding but joined Gillard in successfully filing litigation against the NCAA to restore his eligibility in a Mississippi chancery court. Gillard was allowed to participate by virtue of a restraining order granted by the chancery court and had his best season in 1976, when he made 10 sacks for the 9-2 Bulldogs. The NCAA then appealed the chancery court's decision, and the Mississippi Supreme Court upheld the NCAA action late in the 1977 season. In June 1978, the NCAA made the Bulldogs forfeit 19 games (18 wins and a tie) in which Gillard played from 1975 through 1977. That turned 6-4-1, 9-2 and 5-6 records into 2-9, 0-11 and 0-11 seasons.

1983: In what has become known to Ole Miss and MSU fans as "The Immaculate Deflection", the 1983 Egg Bowl played in Jackson is notable because the wind helped preserve Ole Miss' 24-23 victory. Down by a point with 24 seconds left in the game, MSU proceeded to kick what would have been a 27-yard game winning field goal. MSU freshman kicker Artie Cosby kicked it straight and long and what appeared to be over the crossbar, but as the ball reached the goal posts, a 40 mph gusting wind suspended the ball inches from the uprights, after which it fell short of the goal post, securing the victory for the University of Mississippi.

1997: A melee broke out between the 2 teams before the game. The game was won 15-14 by the Ole Miss Rebels on a game-winning 4th quarter drive. Tommy Tuberville, in his third season as the Rebels' head coach, opted to attempt a two-point conversion in order to avoid overtime. The conversion was successful as Stewart Patridge connected with Corey Peterson for the score. This victory gave Ole Miss its first bowl berth in several years.

1998: Mississippi State clinched their first SEC West division title after winning this Egg Bowl, 28-6, sending them to the SEC Championship game where they were defeated 24-14 by eventual national champion, Tennessee.

1999: Known as "The Pick and the Kick", this game is best known for its dramatic ending. Down 20-13, MSU rallied late in the 4th quarter to tie the game. With 20 seconds left, instead of kneeling the ball to go to overtime, Mississippi decided to run a play, deep in their own territory. Rebel quarterback, Romero Miller, dropped back and lobbed a deep pass which was deflected off the hands and then the foot of MSU cornerback Robert Bean before being intercepted by MSU's Eugene Clinton and returned into Rebel Territory. On the next play, with 8 seconds left, Bulldog kicker Scott Westerfield kicked a 44 yard field goal to win the game.

2003: Ole Miss clinched a share of their first SEC West division title (along with eventual SEC and National Champion, LSU) after winning this Egg Bowl, 31-0, with current New York Giants quarterback and Super Bowl XLII MVP Eli Manning leading the team.

2007: Mississippi State, after trailing 14-0 late in the fourth quarter, reeled off seventeen points in the game's final 7:51 to win the game and leave Ole Miss winless in the SEC for the first time in 25 years.

Game results

Mississippi victories are shaded ██ blue. Mississippi State victories shaded in ██ red. Ties shaded white. Forfeits shaded ██ gray.

Date	Site	Winning team		Losing team		Series
November 24 1927	Oxford	Mississippi	20	Mississippi State	12	MSU 17-7-1
November 29 1928	Starkville	Mississippi	20	Mississippi State	19	MSU 17-8-1
November 28 1929	Oxford	Mississippi	7	Mississippi State	7	MSU 17-8-2
November 27 1930	Starkville	Mississippi	20	Mississippi State	0	MSU 17-9-2
November 26 1931	Oxford	Mississippi	25	Mississippi State	14	MSU 17-10-2
November 24 1932	Starkville	Mississippi	13	Mississippi State	0	MSU 17-11-2
December 2 1933	Oxford	Mississippi	31	Mississippi State	0	MSU 17-12-2
December 1 1934	Starkville	Mississippi	7	Mississippi State	3	MSU 17-13-2
November 30 1935	Oxford	Mississippi	14	Mississippi State	6	MSU 17-14-2
November 21 1936	Starkville	Mississippi State	26	Mississippi	6	MSU 18-14-2
November 25 1937	Oxford	Mississippi State	9	Mississippi	7	MSU 19-14-2
November 26 1938	Starkville	Mississippi	19	Mississippi State	6	MSU 19-15-2
November 25 1939	Oxford	Mississippi State	18	Mississippi	6	MSU 20-15-2
November 23 1940	Starkville	Mississippi State	19	Mississippi	0	MSU 21-15-2
November 29 1941	Oxford	Mississippi State	6	Mississippi	0	MSU 22-15-2
November 28 1942	Starkville	Mississippi State	34	Mississippi	12	MSU 23-15-2
November 25 1944	Oxford	Mississippi	13	Mississippi State	8	MSU 23-16-2
November 24 1945	Starkville	Mississippi	7	Mississippi State	6	MSU 23-17-2
November 23 1946	Oxford	Mississippi State	20	Mississippi	0	MSU 24-17-2
November 29 1947	Starkville	Mississippi	33	Mississippi State	14	MSU 24-18-2
November 27 1948	Oxford	Mississippi	34	Mississippi State	7	MSU 24-19-2
November 26 1949	Starkville	Mississippi	26	Mississippi State	0	MSU 24-20-2
December 2 1950	Oxford	Mississippi	27	Mississippi State	20	MSU 24-21-2
December 1 1951	Starkville	Mississippi	49	Mississippi State	7	MSU 24-22-2
November 29 1952	Oxford	Mississippi	20	Mississippi State	14	MSU 24-23-2
November 28 1953	Starkville	Mississippi	7	Mississippi State	7	MSU 24-23-3
November 27 1954	Oxford	Mississippi	14	Mississippi State	0	Tied 24-24-3
November 26 1955	Starkville	Mississippi	26	Mississippi State	0	MISS 25-24-3
December 1 1956	Oxford	Mississippi	13	Mississippi State	7	MISS 26-24-3
November 30 1957	Starkville	Mississippi State	7	Mississippi	7	MISS 26-24-4
November 29 1958	Oxford	Mississippi	21	Mississippi State	0	MISS 27-24-4
November 28 1959	Starkville	Mississippi	42	Mississippi State	0	MISS 28-24-4
November 26 1960	Oxford	Mississippi	35	Mississippi State	9	MISS 29-24-4
December 2 1961	Starkville	Mississippi	37	Mississippi State	7	MISS 30-24-4
December 1 1962	Oxford	Mississippi	13	Mississippi State	6	MISS 31-24-4
November 30 1963	Starkville	Mississippi State	10	Mississippi	10	MISS 31-24-5
December 5 1964	Oxford	Mississippi State	20	Mississippi	17	MISS 31-25-5
November 27 1965	Starkville	Mississippi	21	Mississippi State	0	MISS 32-25-5
November 26 1966	Oxford	Mississippi	24	Mississippi State	0	MISS 33-25-5
December 2 1967	Starkville	Mississippi	10	Mississippi State	3	MISS 34-25-5
November 30 1968	Oxford	Mississippi	17	Mississippi State	17	MISS 34-25-6
November 27 1969	Starkville	Mississippi	48	Mississippi State	22	MISS 35-25-6
November 26 1970	Oxford	Mississippi State	19	Mississippi	14	MISS 35-26-6
November 25 1971	Starkville	Mississippi	48	Mississippi State	0	MISS 36-26-6
November 25 1972	Oxford	Mississippi	51	Mississippi State	14	MISS 37-26-6
November 24 1973	Jackson	Mississippi	38	Mississippi State	10	MISS 38-26-6
November 23 1974	Jackson	Mississippi State	31	Mississippi	13	MISS 38-27-6
November 22 1975	Jackson	Mississippi	13	Mississippi State	7	MISS 39-27-6
November 20 1976	Jackson	Mississippi	11	Mississippi State	28*	MISS 40-27-6
November 19 1977	Jackson	Mississippi	14	Mississippi State	18*	MISS 41-27-6
November 25 1978	Jackson	Mississippi	27	Mississippi State	7	MISS 42-27-6
November 24 1979	Jackson	Mississippi	14	Mississippi State	9	MISS 43-27-6
November 22 1980	Jackson	Mississippi State	19	Mississippi	14	MISS 43-28-6
November 21 1981	Jackson	Mississippi	21	Mississippi State	17	MISS 44-28-6
November 20 1982	Jackson	Mississippi State	27	Mississippi	10	MISS 44-29-6
November 19 1983	Jackson	Mississippi	24	Mississippi State	23	MISS 45-29-6
November 24 1984	Jackson	Mississippi	24	Mississippi State	3	MISS 46-29-6
November 23 1985	Jackson	Mississippi	45	Mississippi State	27	MISS 47-29-6
November 22 1986	Jackson	Mississippi	24	Mississippi State	3	MISS 48-29-6
November 21 1987	Jackson	Mississippi State	30	Mississippi	20	MISS 48-30-6
November 26 1988	Jackson	Mississippi	33	Mississippi State	6	MISS 49-30-6
November 25 1989	Jackson	Mississippi	21	Mississippi State	11	MISS 50-30-6
November 24 1990	Jackson	Mississippi	21	Mississippi State	9	MISS 51-30-6
November 23 1991	Starkville	Mississippi State	24	Mississippi	9	MISS 51-31-6
November 28 1992	Oxford	Mississippi	17	Mississippi State	10	MISS 52-31-6
November 27 1993	Starkville	Mississippi State	20	Mississippi	13	MISS 52-32-6
November 26 1994	Oxford	Mississippi State	21	Mississippi	17	MISS 52-33-6
November 25 1995	Starkville	Mississippi	13	Mississippi State	10	MISS 53-33-6
November 30 1996	Oxford	Mississippi State	17	Mississippi	0	MISS 53-34-6
November 29 1997	Starkville	Mississippi	15	Mississippi State	14	MISS 54-34-6
November 26 1998	Oxford	Mississippi State	28	Mississippi	6	MISS 54-35-6
November 25 1999	Starkville	Mississippi State	23	Mississippi	20	MISS 54-36-6
November 23 2000	Oxford	Mississippi	45	Mississippi State	30	MISS 55-36-6
November 22 2001	Starkville	Mississippi State	36	Mississippi	28	MISS 55-37-6
November 28 2002	Oxford	Mississippi	24	Mississippi State	12	MISS 56-37-6
November 27 2003	Starkville	Mississippi	31	Mississippi State	0	MISS 57-37-6
November 27 2004	Oxford	Mississippi	20	Mississippi State	3	MISS 58-37-6
November 26 2005	Starkville	Mississippi State	35	Mississippi	14	MISS 58-38-6
November 25 2006	Oxford	Mississippi	20	Mississippi State	17	MISS 59-38-6
November 23 2007	Starkville	Mississippi State	17	Mississippi	14	MISS 59-39-6
November 28 2008	Oxford	Mississippi State	at	Mississippi
November 28 2009	Starkville	Mississippi	at	Mississippi State