So I listened to the B&B show today and heard HD6 rank this 22-21 game as I believe the 9th biggest game in MSU football history. Guess I will have to disagree in that, for me, its EASILY top 5 and I personally would rank it #2 behind the 1980 Bama game. The implications of winning that game (where we defeated the other SEC West contender head to head) were bigger than any bowl game or really any other game I've ever personally witnessed for MSU football. Though we had to get by a bad OM team the next week, the 98 Ark game essentially put us in the SEC championship game, which if we had won the SEC title, would certainly currently be the biggest game in MSU history even ahead of the 1980 Bama game. This 1998 Arkansas game is the only time in my lifetime I've EVER seen MSU football pull out a game, and in nerve racking fashion, where MAJOR conference stakes for us were on the line. I mean, not one but TWO long fourth down conversions on the winning drive to kick the winning FG. I've never been so nervous during a game nor have I ever felt more emotionally drained after a game. No, it wasn't a gigantic crowd, but I can still remember the crowd noise and people up and stomping on the bleachers during the 4th quarter. Truly a special game.
1998 Arkansas game....
- Thread starter maroonmania
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It's up there for sure. I don't really see another game that's bigger, at least in modern history. Maybe when we finally beat Vaught back in 1964 or something. You may say Jackie beating Texas, because that was a statement game. 1992 Florida, 1994 Tennessee, 1996 Alabama....none of those had the same implications, as you said. Have to say 1999 Clemson was a big one, due to being our first bowl victory in forever. I guess 1998 Ole Miss too, just because it secured the SECW.
And I refuse to call a loss one of our biggest games, so the SEC Ch'ip doesn't qualify for this in my opinion, but rest assured it will be there.
I personally think beating Florida in Gainesville in 2010 was big, we hadn't done that since 1965. Also, beating Georgia in 2010 was the first time we'd beaten them since 1974.
My favorite game ever will always be 2000 Florida. The way we just worked them up and down the field all day long, you never really get to see that as a State fan.
And I refuse to call a loss one of our biggest games, so the SEC Ch'ip doesn't qualify for this in my opinion, but rest assured it will be there.
I personally think beating Florida in Gainesville in 2010 was big, we hadn't done that since 1965. Also, beating Georgia in 2010 was the first time we'd beaten them since 1974.
My favorite game ever will always be 2000 Florida. The way we just worked them up and down the field all day long, you never really get to see that as a State fan.
I'm too young to remember the Bama game from 1980. For me, this is THE game. You could lose any of the games on that list, and it wouldn't matter as much as this one. It's the difference between having been to Atlanta and having never been.
No doublt it was a special game. But I wouldn't put too much weight on the causality. I certainly wouldn't rank it above the actual SecCG. I find Tenn '94, Egg Bowl '99, UF '00 more compelling to include in my Top 5. Edit: or Bama '96
Just give an assist to the Clint Sterner Stumble.
Just give an assist to the Clint Sterner Stumble.
I agree with you. I was set to walk out of the stadium if we hadn't converted that fourth down conversion of the first try. It was truly an amazing win. Even with that win, we wouldn't have made it to the SEC Championship if the Arkansas QB hadn't fumbled the ball trying to run the clock out against Tennessee. The stars lined up just right for us in '98. Hope they will again in the near future.
Man, we'll just disagree then. What was riding on the outcome plus the drama in the way the game played out IS the reason the 98 Ark game means what it does. Getting the Bama monkey off our back in 96 was nice but we were 5-6 that year. The 99 Egg Bowl was great because of who we beat and how we beat them but Bama had already clinched the West. 94 TN game was a great game and win but TN isn't even a divisional rival and it was fairly early in the season. I could certainly understand putting the SEC CG ahead of the Ark game that got us there but I wouldn't put any of the others games you mentioned ahead of the game that essentially won the West.
It was the loudest I have ever heard a crowd at a MSU football game that was not a sell out. I would have to agree that this is a Top 5. The only experience I had that tops it was the 99 Egg Bowl because I had to endure several Ole Miss ******** for 3 quarters.
That 2000 Florida and Auburn game, to me, were the highs of my time as a MSU football fan. On those two days - I think we were a legitimate top 5 team.
Sometimes it takes that, heck LSU has a National Championship where they had TWO losses. I bet they don't feel bad about it though.
He specifically said though of a game that was not a sell out and I agree with him. And back then we only had a 41,000 seat stadium capacity. I would guess there were probably 36-37,000 there that day but it was a raucous crowd for sure.
By reading your description, I conclude that you did not attend these games. I attended all of the above except for Bama '96.
Bama won the SEC West in 1996 and was ranked 8th at game time. Tenn started the season against ranked teams: @UCLA, @UGA, ^#1 Florida. Don't act like Tenn was a pushover in '94. If we don't win the '99 Egg Bowl, we're still looking for our first season of double digit wins. TSUN was ranked #23 at the time. That game was the difference between the Peach Bowl and the Weed Wacker Bowl.
One win doesn't get a team to Atlanta. You can have your game, but please don't try to rewrite MSU history - especially if you didn't live through it. If you want to rewrite history, then say that losing to #1 Tenn the week before put UPig on an emotional letdown.
Here are a few OLD videos of some classic MSU victories:
1961 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IJ5s_PeuQis
1963 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=owGlYHYnVuk
1981 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AMg6s-hgd0s
1961 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IJ5s_PeuQis
1963 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=owGlYHYnVuk
1981 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AMg6s-hgd0s
Great show - I just started listening to BSR in the past few weeks after being turned onto it by a client in the 'Goula who is a co-host of the Daily Grind.
I admit, I was a little disappointed listening this morning when there was no mention of Rising Sun when you and Bob were discussing Sean Connery movies. One of my favorite scenes in a Connery movie - "and don't you 17 with me!"...
I admit, I was a little disappointed listening this morning when there was no mention of Rising Sun when you and Bob were discussing Sean Connery movies. One of my favorite scenes in a Connery movie - "and don't you 17 with me!"...
Well I WAS at all the games you mentioned aside from UT '94. And I disagree with you. The question is which game is the biggest win. In other words, which had the biggest ramifications? You can make an argument for 1980 Bama, because we beat the Bear. But even though the 99 Egg Bowl was awesome, the ramifications were minimal. Today, who cares if we went to the Weed Wacker or the Peach? Next to no one. But who cares that we've won the West and played in the SEC Championship game? I certainly do.
Now if you want to talk about most fun wins, that's another story. 2000 Florida & 1999 Egg Bowl were really fun to witness. But it's absolutely not "re-writing MSU history" to say that the '98 Arkansas game was one of our biggest wins.
We played for an SEC West title and won. How much bigger can it get in our history? I guess #1 has to be the 1941 Mississippi game since that was for the SEC title and we won. And I'll give you 1980 Bama when we ended their 26 game winning streak. But that's about it.
Man, I lost you on that rant. Pretty simple, we had a head-to-head game with Arkansas at essentially the end of the season to decide the West and a trip to Atlanta for the SEC title game and we won in dramatic fashion. That to me is what sets the game apart. And for the record, not that it makes a hill of beans difference in how significant the game was for MSU, I was AT the game for 94 TN and 99 Egg Bowl. Was not at the 96 Bama game or the SEC CG due to conflicts. And to add to that nowhere did I even insinuate that TN was a pushover and getting a Peach Bowl trip in 99 was nice but its hardly equivalent to an SEC West title or the SEC CG.
I agree with you. The 98 Arkansas win was the 2nd biggest win in program history. We have hardware on campus as a result of that game. You can say the other games leading up to that were as important but regardless.......Arkansas was very good that year. We had to beat them to be in complete control of our destiny. We did.
Obviously people don't remember the 92 Bama, 94 Bama and 00 Arkansas game. We win any of those three and we are in the drivers seat for Atlanta. We didnt and it sucked! Especially the 94 Bama when they had a SECCG insert in the game program. Especially the 00 Arkansas game when they sucked and the weather was terrible.
Stick to top 10 pizzas Heavy Dog 6.
Obviously people don't remember the 92 Bama, 94 Bama and 00 Arkansas game. We win any of those three and we are in the drivers seat for Atlanta. We didnt and it sucked! Especially the 94 Bama when they had a SECCG insert in the game program. Especially the 00 Arkansas game when they sucked and the weather was terrible.
Stick to top 10 pizzas Heavy Dog 6.
And it still ticks me off that we don't have banners hanging somewhere in or near the stadium for 41 and 98.
Hardware on Campus
If you want to see hardware, check out the trophy that is the direct result of winning the Independence Bowl.
Don't forget about 99 Bama.** But beating Bama in 96 was inconsequential because we were not competing for the SEC west crown.** Besides, it's pointless if you beat a team 3 straight years.** Luckily we didn't beat Bama in 99 because then we'd have to argue which game was more important: 99 Bama or 99 Egg Bowl.**
If you want to see hardware, check out the trophy that is the direct result of winning the Independence Bowl.
Oh, so sorry. That's how you define "biggest win": the ramifications of the game. Then you must agree that the Egg Bowl that year was a bigger win since it clinched the SECCG birth - on the road! I mean, something like beating Bama 96 only means that we beat them three straight years.**
You defeat your own argument when you place Bama 80 as your #1. Edit: or anyone who makes the argument.
Sorry about the rant. I should have drawn you a picture or a flow chart.** TN was not explicitly called a pushover but it was early in the season. Great. We've established that no matter the difficulty of the opponent or improbability of winning or outcome of future seasons, the only thing that matters FOR YOU is a trip to Atlanta.
Oh, by the way, it's actually an SEC West co-title. Maybe an SEC WEST title or SEC CG title will help put your delusion back in perspective. Until then, keep up the crusade.
TSUN was pretty terrible that year (6-4). Just the week before, they almost beat #15 UGA in Athens. See here. I hope that I don't need to remind you that it is the Egg Bowl and how tough it is to win on the road.
I also didn't think that TSUN would win the 97 Egg Bowl in Starkville and keep us out of a bowl. Gutsy call to go for two. And just a fun fact, Tommy Two-Timer jumped ship after the 98 Egg Bowl.
Loudest AND quietest. I didnt say a word after the game. Just walked to my truck and drove to Meridian.
Just take some blood pressure medication, you sound like you are getting awfully riled over something that really is mostly subjective opinion to each individual fan anyway.
This was my first game. I wasn't really a State fan, but I took a recruiting trip (for band) to the game. By the end of it I was storming the field with the rest of the students.
We beat the #1 team in the country. The only time in history we've done that. Oh yea, they were the 2 time defending national champions, and 3 time defending SEC champions. They hadn't been defeated in over 2 YEARS! And, it was our rival 90 miles to the East. This game may actually be one of the biggest victories of ALL-TIME, not just MSU history.
You are a blithering idiot.
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