History Of The Egg Bowl 1927 The Golden Egg was first proposed by members of Sigma Iota, an Ole Miss honorary society. As thoughts of last year's game, Sigma Iota proposed that a trophy be awarded in a dignified ceremony designed to calm excited fans. One proposal that was rejected was to send the goal posts to the winning side each year. A&M approved the suggestion of an award, and Ole Miss, two weeks before the game, officially added its approval. The trophy, to be called "The Golden Egg", would be a regulation-size gold-plated football mounted on a pedestal. Cost approximately $250 would be shared by both schools. Ole Miss students held a tag day to raise funds. The joint resolution of the two student bodies declared they agreed on the trophy "in order to effect a better understanding in athletic relations, to foster clean sportsmanship, and to promote a lasting tradition..." A brand-new series between the University of Mississippi and Mississippi A&M College began on Thanksgiving Day, 1927, The first Battle of the Golden Egg. Of course, it was the Ole Miss-A&M slugfest, played before a crowd of 14,000 for the first possession of the gold football which was to become symbolic of supremacy in this annual feud-battle. It was actually the 25th meeting of the two combatants. And for the second time in four years it was Push versus Pass, a heavier line versus a lighter passing attack. And once again the Pushers prevailed, except this time the pushing team was Ole Miss. The score was 20-12. Purser Hewitt of the Clarion-Ledger described it best: "On the sidelines a band garbed in red and blue played 'Give 'em Hell, Mississippi' and on the gridiron a team wearing the same colors did that very thing..." Unlike last year's brawl ending, the 1927 game closed with a highly dignified ceremony, the first presentation of the Golden Egg. As previously agreed in the inception of the egg, the schools first sang their alma maters, Ole Miss, as winner, sang first. The captains of the two teams, presidents of the two student bodies and the heads of the two schools met in the center of the field. B.M. Walker, president of A&M, presented the trophy to Alfred Hume, chancellor of the University, who turned it over to Ole Miss captain Applewhite. The Mississippian, Ole Miss student newspaper, reported "sincere handshaking" among players of both teams. And, "Throughout the day not a single demonstration of violence was committed..." Captain Applewhite proudly holding the Golden Egg, was carried from the field on the shoulders of "a score of students." The Egg is one of the most treasured possessions of either school. It is engraved with the score of each year's game and stands in a place of honor. When a tie occured, the previous year's winner kept it for the first half of the year, then it went to the other school.
Great stuff!!! Written like uncle Ramus or an ol southern short story writer or Mark Twain or someone! Love it. ---------------------- Thanks for the real story
