How were tickets distributed when the Egg Bowl was in Jackson?

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was it 50/50 like the Iron Bowl in Birmingham was through the 1987 season?

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Yes

Yes.

The game was played in Jackson from 1973-1990. The teams alternated whose was H and V. The H side was the the press box side and the East side was the V. After the expansion in 1980, the stadium sold seats in the end zone bowl. You would usually have a mixture of State - OM fans there and depending on who was having the better season would dictate who had the most fans in a given year.

Coach Sherrill made the decision to bring the game back to campus and it was played at Scott Field in 1991 and has alternated with each campus ever since then. That was a great move IMO. I loved going to Jackson and saw some great football games there but it’s usefulness had passed by. Campus at each school is much more beautiful and each has a stadium that runs circles around the one in Jackson.

Additionally, Highway access, hotel availability, restaurants/bars in Starkvegas/Oxford can handle the crowds that come in the present day (obviously the pandemic has affected that hopefully only temporarily).

So overall, I am glad it is on campus.

They have even moved the MS state HS football championship games to the college campuses (they rotate between State, OM and USM) though this year because of the virus they are making a one year return to Memorial Stadium in Jackson.

Though like I said have some great (1980 - State - Bama) and not so great (1983 Egg Bowl-Immaculate Deflection) memories from Jackson.

Playing those games in Jackson held back stadium development in Mississippi at both schools. It wasn't just the Egg Bowl that was played there. For most years, the "big games" were played in Jackson and the campuses hosted the smaller games. 1996 was the last time we did that. Thank goodness.

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For most years, the "big games" were played in Jackson and the campuses hosted the smaller games.

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Yep. Vaught-Hemingway didn't get lights until 1990. Any big night game was in Jackson. I think Scott Field got lights in the early-mid 80's. Maybe 1986?

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regret not ever having gone to an LSU game in Jackson. Almost did in '86. Had a buddy who was a Vol fan and UT played Ole Miss in the old WTBS game at 11:30 and then LSU played State that night. Forgot why but we talked ourselves out of it. Should have gone as both UT and LSU won.

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Remember both games like it was yesterday. Ole Miss had actually beat LSU a week or two earlier, and all they had to do was win and they'd win(as long as they beat State the next week) their first SEC title since 1963 and a trip to the Sugar Bowl. The Vols were like 3-5 and Ole Miss was 6-2-1. Ole Miss was up 10-9 going to the 4th but blew it and lost 22-10. The Vols won their last two games to get to the Liberty Bowl where they beat Minnesota.
State started off 6-1, but then lost big to Auburn and Bama to sit at 6-3. LSU had beaten #6 Bama the week before and after the earlier loss by Ole Miss could wrap up the SEC with a win over State since it was their last SEC game of the year finishing up with Notre Dame and Tulane. State still had a small chance to win the SEC if they beat LSU and Ole Miss and got some more help. After their loss earlier in the day Ole Miss found themselves having to pull for State to have a chance at the Sugar Bowl. It didn't matter, LSU clinched the Sugar Bowl with a 47-0 trouncing of the Dawgs which was unusual for that time as State had won 9 of the previous 11 over the Tigers. Dang I enjoyed those years.

Yes and No.

For many years Highway access to Oxford / Starkvegas was old two lane roads, very little in the way of hotels existed, both towns were sleepy like Mayberry. Great communities but not much development. The four lane highway program in 1987 helped to change that, the towns started growing and by the early 1990’s, the stadium in Jackson was old and outdated.

Prior to the mid-eighties the timing was just not right for Stadium development. It was just one of things that has evolved. Bama and even Auburn played many games in BHM for decades before they evolved to campus for all their games.

From about 1950-1990, playing in Jackson for the big games just made $en$e. But over the last 30 years, the growth and development of the two cities/campuses/stadiums etc has been great to see.

Each has some great amenities, entertainment that give people more to do than just come for the game.

Ease of access is huge now for both. Starkvegas has 3 four lane highways crisscrossing it and Oxford is just off I55 and Highway 6 is four lane. So logistically it is much easier for fans to get to each campus today.

I heard rumors years (2012 or 2013) ago that Jackson State is going to - or has hopes to - build an on campus stadium.

Any movement on that? I don't travel to Jackson very often for work anymore, so I am not really in the loop on it.

Had a very interesting conversation with a guy who was on some committee at MSU when State made their decision to stop playing in Jackson. I believe I remember him saying that the stadium would nickel and dime the school for everything they could, to include making both Ole Miss and State pay for "light fees" and "gate unlocking fees" during the DH days.

We were having lunch in Fondren and I asked him what type of renovations the Vet would need to have him want to see an MSU game there again.

He said he never had any interest in seeing MSU play a game there again under any circumstances.

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was it 50/50 like the Iron Bowl in Birmingham

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Lol