Manning looks to finish in style

By By Will Bardwell / staff writer
Dec. 31, 2003
Ole Miss quarterback Eli Manning will play his final college football game in the Cotton Bowl on Friday in his last chance to add to his record-setting resume.
Manning needs 140 passing yards to become the fifth player in Southeastern Conference history to throw for 10,000 yards during his career. He would be the first Rebels quarterback to reach that mark.
The senior quarterback can tie former Georgia signal caller Eric Zeier for third on the league's completions list if he connects on 31 passes.
Barring an output of nearly 500 yards, he will remain the fifth-leading passer in the SEC record book.
Manning is the holder of 45 single game, season and career school records.
Mississippi again?
Oklahoma State will play its bowl game against a team from Mississippi for the second straight year. The Cowboys faced Southern Miss in the Houston Bowl in 2002, beating the Golden Eagles 33-23.
Rare visitors
Ole Miss will play in the Cotton Bowl for just the third time in its history on Friday, but its opponent is has visited Dallas even more infrequently. Oklahoma State has played in the Cotton Bowl once in 1945, when the Cowboys beat Texas Christian 34-0.
The Rebels also downed TCU in their first trip to the Cotton Bowl in 1956.