PONTOTOC, Miss. (WTVA) -- Saturday marked the first Bulldog versus Rebel tailgate in downtown Pontotoc next to the county courthouse.
And as most in north Mississippiknow, there is no shortage of competitors even between families and friends.
But what is a tailgate without food cooked on a grill?
Saturday's contest was for big-time bragging rights.
"We had smoked bologna, smoked chicken wings, we've got ribs and smoked shrimp and grits and smoked crab-stuffed mushrooms on the grill," said Elizabeth Gable of Pontotoc, a Bulldog fan.
"We try to break it all up. Hey, we'll even put a stick of bologna on there, hollow it out and put some jalapeno cheese [inside, then] wrap it up with some barbecue sauce. I'm telling you, it's hard to beat," said Bo Baxter of Pontotoc, who is a Rebels fan.
This may not have been the Egg Bowl, but there was a bit of the atmosphere as Rebels took on Bulldogs for a culinary fight to the finish.
"We had a great turnout. Look at all these Ole Miss and Mississippi State fans here. We've had a great day and we hope we can continue this. We've got some great stuff on the grill," said Rich McGraw, a Bulldog fan.
Later, judging began for the food and tailgate setup, which appeared to be a tough chore, but somebody had to do it.
At the end of the day, it was just a day of fun for everyone in Pontotoc on the square.
At least today, Rebels and Bulldogs could get together and have a good time.
"We're doing fine. We're joining forces, State and Ole Miss," said Fred Wicker of Pontotoc, a Rebel who shared a story next to a woman wearing a Mississippi State Bulldogs shirt. "A man named Armstrong told me a while ago he saw me at State more than Ole Miss. I told him, 'You've never been to Ole Miss. No wonder."
Regardless of who won Saturday evening, the rivalry between State and Ole Miss continues.
Pontotoc Mayor Jeff Stafford says he was pleased with the turnout at the event and says he plans to make it a yearly tradition.
