#TSUN and #MSU (Or: Why I Don't Unilaterally Hate All Mississippi State Fans)

At last nights disheartening loss to the Dogs in Starkville, there were at least 90 Rebels at The Hump, with about 60 of us concentrated exactly opposite from the student section. Of course we, being Rebels, were more than happy to raise merry hell in Starkvegas, screaming out the Hotty Toddy cheer every time it was quiet enough inside to hear us.

Understandably, every "Are You Ready" was immediately met with the roaring, hatred-laced disapproval of every State fan within earshot. We expected and welcomed this, because we know that every time we set foot in Starkpatch, there's a high chance of drawing the ire of every Bulldog in sight (except the mascot, who decided to grace us with his presence—no idea why).

We enjoy the rivalry, of course. It is clearly a time-honored tradition that Bulldogs and Rebels never get along. I shared a laugh with an elderly State fan who, following our Hotty Toddy cheers, would retort with "Flim Flam, Bim Bam, who the hell gives a damn!?" But it's all in the sport of competition.

This clearly drunk couple, however, made the experience slightly unbearable (but a whole lot more fun to watch).

We'll start in on the woman.

1: That haircut (as one of my female friends so eloquently explained to me) would only be requested by someone who is currently drunk. Ouch.

2: Classless. Sure, we trailed the entire game. Sure, we didn't play so well. It isn't necessary, however, to turn around after every play, call us bears (we're still Rebels, ma'am), and flip us off.

2 (continued): At one point, this woman screamed:

"I make more money than you!"

Ma'am, you are clearly approaching your forties, so it is expected that you generate an income that is substantially larger than a college student in their early 20s. And she seemed so proud of herself while hugging up on her man (seen to her right), whose hair could truthfully be violently detonated with the obscene amount of ozone-layer-destroying product he had slopped into it.

Speaking of this man:

1: He's too old to be irresponsibly hammered at a sporting event. Yes, this opinion comes from students at a school where, stereotypically, drinking heavily for sporting events is expected (read: required).

2: He was looking for a fight. His unstable feet struggled to turn him around every time he wanted to jeer at the "basketbears," in our faces. He wanted a fight with nearly 60 young, sprightly bodies. I have no idea why.

3: Seriously, in a blackout, light this man's hair. If you searched anywhere in Starkghanistan for hair product, you won't find any. Because of this man.

4: The high point of this man was him screaming:

"Go to hell, Ole Miss!"

Still in our faces, mind you. We "politely" reminded him that, "sir, this is Starkhole. We are, in fact, in hell. Unlike you, sir, we're just visitng."

Interestingly enough, after the game, we shared a laugh with the other State fans who apologized for the behavior of their drunken compatriots.

So, while still paying no mind to "The School Beneath Us," I can confidently say that we have a begrudged human respect for each other.