Just simply Google the word Mississippi and you'll get football headlines from news outlets around the country about Mississippi college football prowess. The coveted cover of Sports Illustrated says simply, "Mississippi Mayhem!" Their cover is a split photo featuring Ole Miss and Mississippi State. Rolling Stone magazine headline says, "College Football: The Mississippi Renaissance. It's not an oxymoron; Ole Miss and Mississippi State have the Magnolia State on the move." In an NCAA headline, they called it "shake-up" Saturday! An Idaho news headline said "Ole Miss and Mississippi State storm into the top five." "Mississippi is the center of the college football universe," is the headline on SB Nation. Are you kidding me? ESPN's GameDay is packing up from their time in Oxford and heading to Starkville! How insanely great this is.

On social media, words like WOW!, awesome, and amazing are used to describe the Mississippi State and Ole Miss games and a tied-for-3rd place national ranking. It's all everyone in our state is talking about! Other than hearing WOW! every time Ole Miss or Mississippi State comes up in conversation is the word believe.Whether it's chants of "we believe" or hearing Journey sing "Don't Stop Believing," you get swept into the moment when you hear that word – BELIEVE! Because we fans do believe, and it's an incredible feeling.

For me, these euphoric college football weekends and national rankings are more like Cinderella meets Rocky! It's the epic story of two Mississippi football teams and their thousands and thousands of fans who've waited lifetimes for a magical moment like this. Cinderella's good qualities and talent weren't recognized by her wicked mean step-mother or step-sisters. Only later would Cinderella shine for the world to see. And just like Ole Miss and Mississippi State, after working hard and fighting to get where they are now, the glass slipper fits like a fine pair of laced cleats! Both teams tied for 3rd place, both teams with fans hoarse from yelling or muscle cramps from shaking cowbells… we're watching history unfold. Cinderella says, "If you keep believing, the dreams that you wish will come true." Some of you may have a really tough time seeing the similarity of our two rough and tough football teams compared to Cinderella. Just remember that Cinderella is one of the greatest come-back stories of all time. And like Cinderella, we never give up.

But if you simply can't wrap your head around the Cinderella comparison, maybe the analogy should be more like Rocky! In the movie, he was the American guy who grew up in a tough Philadelphia neighborhood with a dream to do better and to be better. His can-do attitude pushed him to overcome the odds and fight for the heavyweight title. Who doesn't love an underdog? Everybody wanted Rocky to beat life's obstacles and win. Maybe our Ole Miss and Mississippi State football programs are like team-Rocky where we've been waiting for this respect and recognition forever, and we're fighting to win it. As Rocky said, "It ain't about how hard you hit. It's about how hard you can get hit, and keep moving forward; it's how much you can take and keep moving forward. That's how winning is done." Yeah, I think we can own that one. There's a little bit of Rocky Balboa in all of us and in these two football teams. It's in our work ethic on and off the field. We Mississippians believe that if you work hard enough and smart enough anything in the world is possible! A good, loud HAIL STATE and HOTTY TODDY helps motivate for that winning momentum!

There's absolutely nothing to compare this feeling to. No words come close to describing it… ecstatic, thrilling, crazy, insane, OMG, freaking-out, awesome,unbelievable, inspiring, and euphoric come close but just don't really capture this feeling. Having both these Mississippi teams ranked 3rd and ranked TOGETHER as 3rd in the nation, well just pinch me. Growing up in Starkville, we were wrapped in maroon at a very early age. But never could anyone have imagined that these two teams would put Mississippi in the national spotlight. We believe!

On Monday, Governor Phil Bryant announced that Saturday, October 4, 2014, is "Football Celebration Saturday." In the proclamation, it congratulates the players, coaches, and fans of the Mississippi State Bulldogs and the Ole Miss Rebels for their victories" and wishes them continued success on the field. There is nothing like some incredible football to bring a state together. I've even noticed a taming of the in-state rivalry that at times could shame even the Hatfields and McCoys with its name calling and innuendo. While most are just friendly jabs of discourse, there's been an unusual quietness between the warring football factions of State and Ole Miss fans. There's been a temporary truce in this rivalry.

Just as Cinderella's Godmother said, "Even miracles take a little time," we can all take solace in knowing THIS IS OUR TIME for our Mississippi miracle our Mississippi football mania our Mississippi football frenzy! And Rocky Balboa, that scrappy American fighter said, "Every champion was once a contender that refused to give up." We believe!

Personally, I think we should all be on vacation this week to celebrate! Is anybody really working anyway? Just listen to everyone talking about it, thinking about it, reading about it… football. We're not only consumed about it in our waking hours, but we're dreaming about it, too. Yesterday, I was talking with some folks in New York City. As soon as it was my turn to introduce myself over the phone, I said my name and I'm from Mississippi. One of the guys from New York said – Mississippi is dominating football! By the time we finished talking about college football and Mississippi State and Ole Miss, it was time to reschedule the call. At a press conference the other day, everyone there was high-fiving and talking about what else, football. It's official – Mississippi State and Ole Miss football are trending in our lives and the rest of the nation seems to be pulling for the underdog, too.

Magnolia Magic is what CBS news said about our state and our college football. Mississippi college football is in a state of extreme WOW! We love the Mississippi magic, the momentum, the memories, and the madness! Bring on more Mississippi State and Ole Miss football! We believe!

Guess what? I've got a fever and the only prescription is MORE COWBELL! – from the SNL skit with Will Ferrell, Chris Parnell, Jimmy Fallon, Chris Kattan, Horatio Sanz, and Christopher Walken. And Hotty Toddy gosh almighty who the Hell are we? Mississippi by damn! In full disclosure, I have a divided house. One son, Jake, is a through and through Mississippi State Bulldog. My other son, Denver, is a tried and true Ole Miss Rebel. But on this day, this week, and for most of this season, we're Rebel Dawgs! WE BELIEVE!

Tweet me how you feel aboutMississippi State and Ole Miss @TheDonnaEchols or drop me a comment line on this story. Go team Mississippi… #WeBelieveMississippi

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