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Memphis, Ole Miss to renew series University
of Memphis Athletic Director Tom Bowen announces, in a joint press
release with Ole Miss Athletic Director Ross Bjork, that the two
institutions have signed a four-year contract to renew their football
series that ended in 2009. The new contract calls for the series to resume in 2014. “I
am very pleased to announce that the University of Memphis and the
University of Mississippi have agreed to a new football contract which
will begin in 2014 and run through the 2017 season,” Bowen said. “This
series is such a great fit for both teams, and given our close
proximity, it makes for a natural rivalry among fans from both schools.” The
Tigers and Rebels began playing football during the 1921 season and met
59 times before the previous contract ended following the 2009 season.
Ole Miss holds a decided 47-10-2 lead in the series that saw the first
six contests played in Oxford. In 1963, the
Tigers hosted the Rebels at Crump Stadium in Memphis and shocked the
college football world by tying No. 3 ranked Ole Miss, 0-0. Four years
later in 1967, Memphis gained its first-ever win in the series, 27-17,
at Liberty Bowl (Memphis) Memorial Stadium. “We
are excited to have Ole Miss back on the schedule,” Bowen said. “With
the addition of such football programs as Miami, Missouri, Duke and Ole
Miss, I believe that Tiger fans will begin to see that we are adamant
about upgrading our schedule”. The two athletic
directors have also agreed in principle to enter into formal
discussions pertaining to the continuation of the basketball series
between the institutions, as well as other sports.
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