“Revenge may be wicked, but it’s natural.” –William Makepeace Thackeray
Now the football enthusiast in me says that your team should only focus on the team that is next on the schedule. But I would be untruthful if I were to tell you that this upcoming game against Memphis has not been in the back of my mind all season.
The three losses last year each brought their own type of disappointment. However, the game against Memphis left a particularly bitter taste in the mouth of most Ole Miss Rebels fans.
Last year the Rebels went to Memphis and lost 37-24. Although the Tigers came into the game undefeated and also off of a bye week, many felt the loss to them was inexplicable. Add the fact that we played this game without Laremy Tunsil, and Robert Nkemdiche was injured during the game, this loss was especially bothersome.
Well now it is a new year. The Tigers no longer have quarterback Paxton Lynch. However, they do have a new gunslinger in town. Former Junior College All-American and ex-Tennessee Volunteer Riley Ferguson is behind the center this year. He has led them to a 3-0 record so far this year.
Ferguson has passed for 843 yards with 11 touchdowns. He has lead Memphis to three fairly lopsided wins culminating with a 77-3 win over Bowling Green. But unfortunately for Mr. Ferguson, he is walking into a hornet’s nest. I guess the more apropos analogy would be “he is swimming toward a shark frenzy.”
The players may not speak on the matter, but they all remember the loss in Memphis. They all have a measure of revenge in their mind. The Rebels were embarrassed. Afterwards they were mocked. Then they were dismissed by the national media.
This is a game that normally would be easy to overlook in the middle of the SEC schedule. However, the Rebels will enjoy this game. Revenge is a strong motivator. This won’t be an easy task. Memphis won’t be a pushover. They have a good offense and a decent defense. But even in the Rebel’s losses this year, Chad Kelly and the offense has proven that they can put points on the board against better defenses than the Tigers will bring to town.
The Tigers will try to stay in the game for a while, but they can’t go toe to toe with the Ole Miss offense. Ole Miss 45 Memphis 27 
