Ole Miss returns to Cotton Bowl

By By Will Bardwell / staff writer
Dec. 9, 2003
OXFORD Ole Miss has apparently been a lock for the Cotton Bowl for six months.
Fin Ewing, chairman of the Cotton Bowl Athletic Association, told reporters on Monday that he half-jokingly issued an invitation to the Rebels over the summer when he ate dinner with Archie and Peyton Manning.
Rebels head coach David Cutcliffe laughed. "I would've slept better," Cutcliffe said.
Now, both Ole Miss and the Cotton Bowl can rest easy. The Rebels' first appearance in the Dallas bowl game since 1962 ends a long quest to bring the Rebels back to one of college football's most respected bowl games.
The No. 16 Rebels and No. 21 Cowboys certainly will challenge each others' strengths. The Ole Miss offense is one of the SEC's best, while Oklahoma State's defense features two All-Big 12 selections defensive end Greg Richmond and defensive back Darrent Williams.
The Cowboys officially received their bid on Sunday, while the Rebels were extended an invitation on Wednesday.
Traditionally a New Year's Day bowl, the game will be played on Jan. 2 for just the 10th time in its 68-year history. It has also been moved up to a 1 p.m. start, a change from its morning kickoff in recent years.
Potential viewers in the Pacific Time Zone may not be the only ones enjoying late nights in the evenings leading up to the Rebels-Cowboys clash. Cotton Bowl officials said they have several activities planned for players. Both teams will attend an NBA game between the Dallas Mavericks and Memphis Grizzlies, and the squads will also compete in the "Beef Bowl" at Lowrey's Prime Rib.