Defense rules for Rebels in 2010 AT&T Cotton Bowl Classic

Ole Miss coach Houston Nutt didn't leave any doubt where most of the credit goes for the 21-7 win Oklahoma State in the 2010 AT&T Cotton Bowl Classic. In his opening statement in the postgame press conference, Nutt gave much praise to the defense and coordinator Tyrone Nix.

"Our defense, our defense, our defense was just outstanding," Nutt said. "Tyrone had a tremendous game plan, but out kids played with a lot of heart."

Nutt also acknowledged the Rebels' wins in consecutive AT&T Cotton Bowl Classics.

"I'm really proud of our team," Nutt said. "It's hard to win back-to-back bowl games, it really is."

Not only is this back-to-game Cotton Bowl wins for the Rebels, it's the second time Ole Miss has beaten Oklahoma State in the Classic. Ole Miss beat OSU, 31-28, in the 2004 Classic. The coaches back then were David Cutcliffe for Ole Miss and Les Miles for Oklahoma State. Cutcliffe is now the coach at Duke and Miles is at LSU.

The quarterbacks in that game have gone on to great things. Ole Miss' Eli Manning won a Super Bowl with the New York Giants. Oklahoma State's Josh Fields, after giving up football for baseball, is now with the Kansas City Royals after being traded from the Chicago White Sox.

Five years from now, what will Ole Miss' Jevan Snead and OSU's Zac Robinson be doing?

- Keith Whitmire