Friday Features: Revival of a Rivalry
By Maurice Patton
When
Mississippi College travels to
Delta State this weekend to renew the Heritage Bell Classic rivalry between the two schools, the contest may not live up to its history.
Not this time, anyway.
Although MC comes in at 1-8 overall, 0-6 in its return to the Gulf South Conference and in the midst of its second four-game losing streak of the season, the Choctaws are looking to make the clash as heated as it once was – as soon as possible.
“It was kinda like Ole Miss-Mississippi State, Auburn-Alabama, on a smaller scale,” first-year MC coach John Bland said. “During the heyday when they were doing well and the rivalry was strong, it was as good as any of them.
“These boys, the Delta State boys, they don’t know anything about it. They haven’t played each other. The hype is going to be created from the fans that have been around, the coaches that have been around like (MC defensive backs coach) Ricky Herzog. Those folks will feel it more than the players. But it will be rekindled, and it’ll probably happen in a hurry, starting Saturday.”
Mississippi College returned to NCAA Division II competition this year and rejoined the GSC after an 18-year absence. The Choctaws won the first-ever meeting between the two schools, 33-0 at home in 1935.
Saturday will mark the first time the two football programs have met since 1995, when the Statesmen won a 14-0 homefield decision to take a 17-15-2 lead in the series.
The two programs have combined to account for nine GSC championships – six claimed by Delta.
“Obviously this used to be a fierce, fierce rivalry,” second-year Delta coach Todd Cooley said. “We’re about two hours from them. I think it’s good, not only for Delta State but for MC that we’re starting it back up. It’s good for our conference, good for our state.”
On paper, Delta looks to be a good choice to pad that series lead. As they get set to observe homecoming, the Statesmen are 8-1 overall, 5-1 in the GSC and ranked No. 13 nationally heading into the regular-season finale for both teams.
“We’ve played pretty well to this point,” Cooley said. “We’re proud of where we are.
“This is big for our community. We’ve got a lot of former players coming back – because it’s homecoming, but also because it’s MC. It’s just a good, spirited rivalry, and it’s good that we’ve got it coming back. Hopefully it’ll benefit both schools.”
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