Dear Chad,
Well, here it is: the end of the road. We all knew it would come, but nobody imagined it would end quite like this. After a long and crazy journey, there is only one thing left to say: thank you.
Growing up, I heard tales of Ole Miss’ storied past. Archie Manning. Chucky Mullins. The Sugar Bowl. Each story fueled my love and passion for Ole Miss football. However, with each passing season, those tales became more and more of a myth.
Then, just as it seemed all hope was lost, Ole Miss made the bold decision to hire Hugh Freeze. After just three seasons, Freeze did what seemed to be the impossible. He turned Ole Miss back into a national contender, and, with the help of Bo Wallace, led us to a New Year’s bowl.
Still, it seemed something was missing. After losing the Peach Bowl, there was a common belief that we would never get over the hump. That’s until you came along. From the first game, we all knew this was something special. See, it was not your arm strength or your speed that made the experience special. It was the pure passion you played with. You gave Ole Miss everything you had, and you truly poured your heart into this great program. For that, we thank you.
When one thinks about Ole Miss, they think about Archie, Eli, Chucky, the Grove, and now, Chad Kelly. Your name will forever echo within the walls of Vaught-Hemingway. Kids will grow up hearing stories about you going to Tuscaloosa and slaying the mighty Bama. You are now forever an Ole Miss legend, and legends never die.
Although it is not easy, it’s time to say goodbye. So, with love in our hearts, and a tear in our eyes, we say thank you. Hotty Toddy. Gosh Almighty. Go Rebs.
Sincerely,
The Rebel Faithful
Cole Crenshaw is an intern for HottyToddy.com. He can be reached tccrensh@go.olemiss.edu.
