Friday, November 29, 2002
The Rebels' junior quarterback says he's in no hurry to leave for the NFL.
OXFORD, Miss. (AP) -- Mississippi State coach Jackie Sherrill sounds like he wants to be around for next year's Egg Bowl.
So does Mississippi quarterback Eli Manning.
Manning hit Chris Collins with two touchdown passes to lead Ole Miss to a 24-12 victory over Mississippi State on Thursday night in the Egg Bowl.
Manning, a junior, is a highly rated NFL prospect. He's given no indication that he is itching to get a headstart on a pro career.
"I'd like to win an SEC championship. I'd like to win more than six or seven games. I have more I want to accomplish here. I'm happy here," he said.
Still, he said he would not make a decision on his senior season until after the bowl game.
Ole Miss (6-6, 3-5 Southeastern Conference) snapped a five-game losing streak and took back the Golden Egg trophy that's gone to the winner of the game for the last 75 years. The Bulldogs won last year's Egg Bowl.
The Rebels also became bowl eligible. They are likely headed to the Independence Bowl or Music City Bowl.
"We went through a lot of pain these last five weeks," Ole Miss cornerback Von Hutchins said. "But we stayed confident and we put it on the line tonight and showed."
Bad season
The 99th meeting between the rivals was a dreary ending to the worst season in Sherrill's 12-year tenure at Mississippi State (3-9, 0-8).
The Bulldogs were winless in the SEC for the first time since 1988 and lost their last five games. For Sherrill, it's the first nine-loss season of his 25-year career.
There has been speculation that Sherrill's job is in jeopardy, but Mississippi State athletic director Larry Templeton said after the game he had no plans to meet with his coach this weekend.
Sherrill, who turned 59 Thursday, said he intends to return.
"I'm the kind of guy, when you put a knot on my head, I'm going to try to repay that knot," Sherrill said.
Templeton gave Sherrill a vote of confidence this month.
Leaders
Manning was 16-for-29 for 207 yards with two interceptions and a touchdown run. Collins caught four passes for 130 yards.
Kevin Fant was 23-for-42 for 340 yards with a touchdown and three interceptions for Mississippi State. Brent Smith kicked two field goals.
Ray Ray Bivines had a career-high six catches for 115 yards, and his 22-yard TD grab with 12:54 left cut Mississippi's lead to 17-12. The Bulldogs failed on the 2-point try.
But Mississippi State, the most turnover-prone team in the SEC, helped set up Ole Miss' game-sealing touchdown with its 37th giveaway of the season.
Travis Johnson, beaten by Bivines on the touchdown, intercepted Fant's pass at the Bulldogs 26 and returned it to the 4 with about six minutes left.
Manning sneaked in from the 1 three plays later to make it 24-12.
"Turnovers hurt us bad," Bivines said. "They've been hurting us all year."