Ole Miss, Mississippi State can thank Orlando Sentinel columnist

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I have but two words for the thousands and thousands of football fans at Ole Miss and Mississippi State who have been tweeting, texting, calling, bawling, e-mailing and even snail-mailing in recent days regarding a column I wrote back in the summer:

You're welcome.

Ol' Bulletin Board Bianchi here will be expecting an invitation soon to be the grand marshal and throw out the first yolk at the annual Egg Bowl Parade.

Without me serving as your inspiration, your instigation, your provocation and your motivation, you'd still be back in Oxford and Starkville lamenting the fact that Netflix doesn't have Seasons 5 and 6 of "Hee-Haw" included in its on-demand catalog. Without me harassing and haranguing you, you'd still be the perennial Southeastern Conference pin cushions and punching bags you've always been.

Instead, Mississippi-mania is spreading through the nation like Tupelo-born Elvis-mania did decades ago as the Magnolia State rightfully celebrates its place atop the college football world. Mississippi State, a program which won its first and only SEC title back in 1941, is the No. 1 team in the latest Associated Press poll while Ole Miss, which last won an SEC title in 1963, is ranked No. 3.

Question: Do you really think this unprecedented success is occurring just by happenstance?

Think again.

It's happening because of a column I wrote back in the summer that created an outpouring of conversation and consternation from Pascagoula to Yazoo City. It was in June when saber-rattling SEC Commissioner Mike Slive was threatening to break away from the rest of college football if the Power Five leagues didn't get the autonomy to create their own set of rules and regulations.

"They sound like the South during the Civil War," UCF coach George O'Leary told me at the time. "If they don't get their way, they're going to secede and start their own country."

In my column, I went on to write:


"… If the Power Five leagues truly want to break off into their own division then they first need to jettison the dead weight and add more deserving schools like UCF before setting sail for the brave new world of college football.

Example: The SEC should dump Ole Miss and Mississippi State and invite in UCF and USF to take their place. It's crazy that the Mississippi schools get to be part of the most powerful league in college football in a day and age when the sport is all about cable television subscribers, recruiting base and growth potential.

Why wouldn't the SEC or Big 12 want to dominate the I-4 corridor that runs through the center of one of the most populated, recruiting-rich states in the country? Combined, the Tampa and Orlando TV markets are the fourth-largest in the country whereas the TV markets of Oxford and Starkville don't even show up on the list. Mississippi's largest city – Jackson – is nation's 94th-largest market.

Let's face it, the only reason Ole Miss and Mississippi State are part of SEC today is that they happened to be at the right place at the right time 100 years ago when the conference was formed while UCF and USF weren't. If the big boys of the Power Five truly want to start their own division then how about first getting rid of the irrelevant schools in their own conferences?"

After that column appeared in the Orlando Sentinel, the backlash from Mississippians was immediate and inflamed.

Profane e-mails. Nasty tweets. Message board malice.

And, now four months later, we have two undefeated football programs that were justly called out by Bulletin Board Bianchi for being eternal also-rans.

Somebody had to do it; somebody had to speak the truth and tell one-Mississippi, two-Mississippi to get up or get out of the SEC.

Former Mississippi State coach Jackie Sherrill once had a bull castrated at a practice to motivate his team before a game against Texas. And, now, the entire State of Mississippi wants to castrate ol' Bulletin Board here.

That's OK, all you Bulldogs and Rebels; I am willing to sacrifice my manhood for the greater good. I accept your misguided anger. As the great Mississippian William Faulkner once wrote, "Between grief and nothing, I will take grief."

Just remember: When Mississippi State coach Dan Mullen or Ole Miss coach Hugh Freeze really need to get their players fired up before a big game, they pull out my column, stick it on the bulletin board and implore their players to, "Go win one for the ripper!"

But enough of this.

I don't need to justify my columns and the victories they have ignited.

With apologies to Col. Nathan R. Jessup in "A Few Good Men":

"I have neither the time nor inclination to explain myself to football fans who cheer and root for the winning inspiration that I provide, and then question the manner in which I provide it! I would rather you just said 'thank you,' and went on your way to Dallas for an all-Mississippi national championship game."

mbianchi@tribune.com. Follow him on Twitter @BianchiWrites. Listen to his radio show every weekday from 6 to 9 a.m. on 740 AM.

WTF was that shite

Please remove link to article. I don't want anyone to help that fricking troll get paid.

And on the seventh day, Mike Bianchi rested after looking over all he had created. What a piece of dookie this man is!

I would like to introduce a bat to his face

Dude is just trying to drive clicks to his site. That passes for journalism these days...