The gates are open. The Grove is packed for tailgaters. Cries of “Hotty Toddy!” ring across the campus. There’s only one thing this means- Ole Miss football is back.

Ole Miss film room: Monday- 6 Days before the game

“I want you to watch this route again” Coach Naki explains to his core of defensive backs. “See how the receiver feigns a post with a slight half step. This is a signature move of [Chris] Scott, one of their primary targets. I actually asked Elijah [Moore] to pull this off so you would be able to see it first. Coach Northstar is going to go over the coverages with you tomorrow. Watch some more film if you want to right now, I’ve got recruits to call.”



Ole Miss practice field: Wednesday, 4 days before the game

Wednesday practices are always the most grueling in Coach Naki’s schedule. The longest night of practice opens at 7 PM with laps- then Carioca drills, suicides, monkey rolls, and other conditioning, before finishing with Mat drills, and the infamous “gauntlet”. Hardly any game practice gets done- Tuesday practice is conditioning day.

“The purpose of Tuesday is to build them up,” Coach Naki said to our interview team. “It’s a test of the heart, especially the gauntlet. Besides helping build up the endurance of these fellas… it brings out the people who really want to be here- and those who are just phoning it in. These drills bring the team together as well.” “These boys are just lucky I don’t have access to a beach as I did in Fairfield”

Coach Naki’s Home: Friday Night, 19 hours to kickoff

“Alright, fellas” Coach Naki began to a crowd of his coaching staff. The first pregame burger night of the season had begun- coach Naki assembled his coaches around a fire, that he was making food over. “If you want to make a good burger over a fire” coach Naki told our production team, who was also welcome to enjoy the meal “You need to build the fire with good, well-seasoned hardwoods, like oak, ash, or hard maple.” The pregame burger night is a tradition coach Naki started when he was a high school coach in Connecticut, that he carried with him when he took a job in the college world. After going over some final preparations, that we at The Season are legally not allowed to record, Coach Naki addressed his staff one more time. “Fellas, there’s an old Chinese proverb that says the following: ‘An army of a thousand is easy to find, but, ah, how difficult to find a general.’ Our army is ready for tomorrow, fellas. But to win, we’re gonna need our staff to step up, and be those generals. I wouldn’t have brought you here if I didn’t believe in you, fellas.”

Cincinnati @ Ole Miss

The Rebel Nation filled out the Grove for the first game of the season. A sea of could be seen from above, even as clouds rolled through. As Coach Naki took the walk of champions, the battle cry of the South rang out around him.

“Hotty Toddy

Gosh Almighty!

Who the Hell are we hey!

Flim Flam!

Bim Bam!

Ole Miss by damn!”



Oxford, MS- While the weather during the hours before the game was clear, albeit with some wind, by an hour before kickoff, the rain had begun. By the time the coin was flipped, it was heavy. Despite the elements, the Rebel Nation still rocked Vaught-Hemmingway. The stadium roared to a fever pitch as the Rebels, clad in their signature Navy helmets and uniforms would charge out of the gates.

On the first play of the game, KD Hill would find his way into the backfield and force a loss of one. Despite the strong start, the Bearcats would slowly march their way upfield to the Rebels’ 30-yard line, before facing a 4th and 2. The Bearcats would hand it off to Ethan Wright, who would use the rain to his advantage, as the Rebs couldn’t get a hold on him. Cincy would take a 7-0 lead. On the second play of the Rebels drive, Jerrion Ealy would answer with a 67 yard run off tackle. The two teams would exchange blows until the middle of the second quarter when Cincy would run it all the way to the red zone.

“The Bearcats line up in the pistol… drops back, and hands it off, Hill is in the backfield… and the ball if free! Hill knocked the ball out on the hit! It’s Donta Evans with it for the Rebels! He’s in the open field! Nobody is going to catch him, all the way to the end zone, and the Rebels take their first lead of the season!”- Tom Hart, FSPN2 Commentator

Evan’s fumble six would turn the tide, as the Rebels took a 21-14 lead into the half. Luke Logan would miss a 47-yard field goal after it got caught in the wind. “That was just unlucky,” the kicker told Ole Miss Media.

Cincinnati wouldn’t sniff the end zone again, and Elijah Moore would score another touchdown for Ole Miss. Northstar’s Landsharks would hold the line, as the Rebels punched in two more touchdowns. The Rebels would pick up a win in the rain.

Final:

Cincinnati: 14, Ole Miss: 35

“I am extremely proud of you, fellas” Coach Naki would tell his soaked team after the half. “We picked up a blowout victory over a good team in a strong conference. It wasn’t just a few players who did it either, it was a full team effort. We’re gonna need a strong effort from everyone every day, and today, we got it.”

Post-game presser:

Hey, there partner JG Wentworth from the Daily Settlement. First question, is Naki good?

I would like to say that I am decently good at my job, I mean, we just won by three scores.

Are you confident in the ability your team showed today?

We were almost perfect today. We scored on every possession except the one at the end of the half and even nabbed a pick-six.

NEXT TIME, ON “THE SEASON”

Ole Miss hosts Oregon State next week at Vaught-Hemmingway, in a special Miltary Appreciation Night, complete with red helmets and uniforms.