ESPN snubs Egg Bowl again

[webfoot]

ESPN snubs Egg Bowl again

By Ian R. Rapoport

STARKVILLE — For the second straight year, the Egg Bowl will not be played on Thanksgiving Day and won't be shown on ESPN.

Like last season, the Mississippi State-Ole Miss football game will be played on the Saturday afternoon following the Thursday holiday, MSU athletic director Larry Templeton said today.

For the 27 years prior to 1998, the rivalry game was played on Saturday. From 1998 to 2003, ESPN carried the Battle for the Golden Egg for a national audience, on Thanksgiving Day. But last season, the 20-3 Ole Miss win on a Saturday in Oxford was not televised.

There had been discussions with the network to return it to Thanksgiving Day — Nov. 24 — for the 2005 season.

But ESPN's college football program director Dave Brown picked West Virginia-Pittburgh instead, according to Templeton. The Egg Bowl is tentatively set for Nov. 26 at Scott Field. There is a possibility that the regional network Jefferson Pilot could pick up the game for its TV broadcast.

Templeton is disappointed ESPN isn't returning for the Egg Bowl.

"I think it's been great exposure for our state," Templeton said. "I hate to give it up. But a lot of other people wanted that window (of national television time)."

ESPN did tell Templeton that it won't rule out a Thanksgiving Day game in the future. "The window is open down the road for it going back to Thursday night," Templeton said.

[Greenhead22]

Would you expect for ESPN to take a game with a sorry Ole Miss team, foul mouth coach and drunk assistants???

Not only would that be bad exposure for their university but for the entire state.

[RebelYelp]

it couldn't possibly have anything to do with 10 wins in 3 seasons could it ??

[mottlet]

Would you expect for ESPN to take a game with a sorry Ole Miss team, foul mouth coach and drunk assistants???

Why wouldn't they? They didn't have problems with Jacko and Dontae "I got panties on my head" Walker. My guess is that ESPN snubbed the Egg because both teams sucked last year. But it could be that they're afraid State won't have any players left by Thanksgiving.

mottlet

[Greenhead22]

Last year's game not being televised was MSU's fault. However, this yr's game is UM's fault, as I was told by an old friend of mine that works for espn.

[RebelYelp]

that's why espn called our athletic department wanting us to move our game with memphrica so they could televise Coach O's first game...... ??

[Greenhead22]

No, they called to get the game switched so everyone throughout the nation would have the opportunity to watch memphis smack coach zero's team around.

[RebelYelp]

oh well, at least they're carrying the MooU spring game...... they figure they better do it now, otherwise they might not get a victory on tv this year for the dawgs

[Greenhead22]

The way they are playing during practice the refs will more than likely come out ahead.

[webbmaster]

Last year's game not being televised was MSU's fault. However, this yr's game is UM's fault, as I was told by an old friend of mine that works for espn.

You seem to have alot of "insider" connections.

Did your inside connection mention the fact that both teams bite and no one outside of MS cares about either team?

[Greenhead22]

Well, you forgot to mention that no one has cared about Bama, in-state nor out-of-state since the Stallings' years.

[webbmaster]

Well, you forgot to mention that no one has cared about Bama, in-state nor out-of-state since the Stallings' years.

You're right....

Bama is NEVER on TV.

[Greenhead22]

Bama gets put on tv by default, whether they suck or not.

[go24]

Weedwhacker, they bite big time, I'll give you that I don't even think I care to watch--the deer stand provides more excitement.

Coach Zero won't have any assistants by then and Croom won't have but ten players on the team.

[Greenhead22]

Well, you only need 12 players for ironman football.

11 to play both ways and 1 all-around kicker.