By By Will Bardwell/staff writer
October 19, 2003
OXFORD Ole Miss victories over Alabama have come as infrequently as anything ever has throughout the Rebels' history. When the Crimson Tide has fallen to Ole Miss, though, a Manning has often been responsible.
With the Rebels' 43-28 win over the Tide on Saturday, senior quarterback Eli Manning joined his father, Archie, as the only two Ole Miss quarterbacks to record two wins over Alabama.
Before Archie Manning took over as signal-caller for Ole Miss in 1968, the Rebels had defeated Alabama only twice in 1894 and 1910.
Since the elder Manning recorded his second win over the Crimson Tide, a 48-23 victory in 1970, Ole Miss has played Alabama 23 times and won only four times. Eli Manning has led the Rebels to two of those victories.
Scoreless streak snapped
Crimson Tide running back Shaud Williams had a 32-yard touchdown run in the second quarter in one of Alabama's few shining moments on Saturday. The touchdown was the first time the Rebels defense has yielded points in seven quarters. Before Williams' run gave Alabama the first points that had been scored against Ole Miss since the second quarter of the Rebels' game against Florida on Oct. 4.
Movin' on up
Rebels quarterback Eli Manning continued to inch up the SEC's career yardage list with his 230-yard performance against the Crimson Tide. Manning's 8,646 career passing yards makes him the 8th-most proficient passer in conference history, as he passed Kentucky's Tim Couch (8,435) and South Carolina's Steve Tannehill (8,555) on Saturday.
Next up for Manning on the SEC career passing list are former LSU quarterback Tommy Hodson (9,115) and former Florida signal-caller Rex Grossman (9,164).
Bama blocks
Chris James' blocked punt in the third quarter was his third of the season, which ties an Alabama record held by five other players.
After the block, James scooped up the loose ball and returned it for a touchdown that trimmed Ole Miss' lead to 38-16. Brian Bostick's ensuing extra point attempt was also blocked the third time he has had a point-after attempt snuffed this year.
A family affair
With the Indianapolis Colts enjoying a bye week, former Tennessee quarterback Peyton Manning was in Oxford to see his younger brother, Eli, knock off the Crimson Tide.
The Manning family is a combined 7-3 against Alabama after Saturday's Ole Miss win. Peyton was 3-1 against the Tide during his four years with the Volunteers, and both Archie and Eli have 2-1 records against Alabama.
Eli's father and older brother watched the end of the game from the Ole Miss sidelines, and after the game, the three posed for a family portrait for Langston Rogers, the Rebels' sports information director.
In his post-game press conference, the Rebels' quarterback kidded Rogers for his photographic brainstorm.
Taken aback, Rogers responded, "It'll be in the media guide next year."
High pressure
Ole Miss tied a season high with three quarterback sacks on Saturday. The Rebels also took away three sacks in a 59-14 win over Louisiana-Monroe on Sept. 13.
The Rebels defense took away their first safety of the year against the Crimson Tide as well, coming in the final minutes of the fourth quarter. It was the first safety picked up by Ole Miss since last year's game against Arkansas.