Video: Egg Bowl Rivalry Grows Between Fans this Football Season

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GOLDEN TRIANGLE, Miss. (WCBI) — It’s the most anticipated weekend for Mississippi college football. The annual Egg Bowl face off between Ole Miss and Mississippi State takes place Saturday in Oxford.

Each year, the rivalry between the teams has grown to be more intense between the devoted fans.

It’s a Mississippi football tradition that has been taking place for more than 100 years, the battle for the Golden Egg trophy.

“This is when the true blood really come out, it really shows if you’re a true, die-hard State fan, it’s going to come out this week,” said Mississippi State fan, Julia Foster.

For many State and Ole Miss fans, this game is the highlight of the football season and it determines what team gets bragging rights for the next year.

With both Mississippi teams ranked in the top 20 this season, the heat between the fans has grown.

“When it comes to rivalry week, State and Ole Miss, there is nothing like it,” said Foster.

“Of course both teams have done very well, and so I think it’s more intense now,” said Ole Miss fan, Gail Stevens.

Gail Stevens is the mother of the late Park Stevens, who played on the offensive line for Ole Miss football. Stevens passed away last summer, but the family still cheers on their Rebels.

She says although team rivalry is a good thing, it’s important for fans to stay civil with each other.

“They’re playing a game that they love and I think that’s the thing that bothers me the most is when I see fans, from any team, personally attack a player, a kid, that’s somebody’s baby out there you’re talking about, but that’s the main thing for me is that the fans keep it in check,” said Stevens.

The week leading up to the Egg Bowl is often referred to as “hate week” and fans agree that some take the hate too far, from making campus threats to attacking each other on social media.

“It’s not worth that, it’s not worth that, so just have fun, enjoy the moments, enjoy the competition, enjoy the rivalry, with all the other stuff, just leave it alone,” said MSU fan, Darrin Foster.

Ole Miss currently leads the winning series for the Egg Bowl.

You can catch that game on WCBI tomorrow at 2:30 pm.