@Frank Costanza RE: Egg Bowl Nastiness
I think you have to understand a bit about the state of mississippi. Firstly, outside of Ole Miss or Miss State football, you got nothing as a sports fan. You can be a Braves fan in baseball or something similar but it's not like the masses find their identity in that the way they do being a fan of their CFB team. I think identity is the key principle for what makes this so heated. When you feel your identity is being challenged or at stake, it's nearly impossible to not take things personally. There is a clear dicotomy in class stereotype for each fan base. Ole miss are the rich, stuck up, pretentious, doctors, lawyers, business professionals which the Grove experience exemplifies. Miss State are the ignorant, poor, red neck, low-class farmers. You could literally drive by Starkville or their stadium and miss it. All throughout history we can see conflict between various socioeconomic and racial classes. Both of those very much exist in this rivalry. Mississippi, as a state, is dirt poor, ass backwards in their policies, and one of the most disgustingly racist places in America. I believe they are 50 years behind the majority of the USA in many areas. It is rife with corruption. It starts at the very highest level of their government and trickles down all the way to lowest rung of the caste. We've gotten a few glimpses in recent years to the cheating that both programs have been involved in. I can assure you, that's a thimble's worth in an ocean of it. Only thing worse than losing is believing you lost because the other side cheated and it wasn't a fair fight. So I think that really has both a direct and indirect impact on the state, and the people. Lotta bitterness, for lotta good reasons. Another more pure football reason is that more often than not, this game was the only game of significance for either team. Miss St, in particular, has been so historically bad that there are many seasons where the quality of their year was only determined by their success in this game. Keep in mind they are already perceived to be second class citizens in the state by the more affluent Ole Miss contingent. If you are so singularly focused on the outcome of what happens in a 60 minute game and things go south, it's easy to see why tempers spiral out of control. Both rosters are primarily populated with players that grew up in the state, battling as high school players and being immersed in grandad's and dad's stories about why the other side sucks. It's personal. Back to my previous point, this was Ole Miss' whole season this year. Nothing else mattered and they got embarassed. We got another brawl as a result. I think the number one way to hurt someone is to do something or say something that challenges or damages their identity. If you'll allow me, whether or not you believe biblical stories, it will help illustrate a point. There is a story where satan and Jesus are in direct conflict. You look at the consistent theme of that exchange and satan is pressing one button. "If you are really the Son of God...". Challenging his identity. Let's say for example one of us that like to bet sports gets too wrapped up in betting. It becomes a part of who we are as opposed to just something we do. It becomes a part of our identity. Very dangerous. Then let's say some life circumstance changes and you can no longer bet anymore or maybe you still can bet but you go from being a big winner to a loser. If being a bettor is who you are, your life can crumble in a hurry. It feels as if part of the fiber of your being is stripped away. if that's where you find much of your self worth and approval for yourself or from others, either of those circumstances can be devastating. If it's not a part of your identity and it's just an activity that yoiu enjoy, you can grieve the loss of it for a bit and keep living a fulfilled life. Again, I think that too much identity is being found by both fan bases here and a result of that and the other aforementioned circumstances, it just has turned into a game that is really fueled by a lot of hatred and pain. My .02c.
