The term "Egg Bowl" refers to the annual college football game between Ole Miss (the University of Mississippi) and Mississippi State University. It is called the Egg Bowl because the trophy awarded to the winner is the "Golden Egg," which is a football-shaped award that looks more like an egg due to the design of footballs in the 1920s, when the tradition began. The name "Egg Bowl" became popular after a sportswriter used it in 1979, partly because both teams had poor seasons and were not eligible for other bowl games, so the rivalry trophy game took on extra significance.
Origin of the Name
- The "Golden Egg" trophy was introduced in 1927 to encourage sportsmanship after previous games ended in fan altercations.
- The trophy resembles an egg because the footballs of the era were rounder and more egg-shaped than modern ones.
- The name Egg Bowl was made official in 1979 by Tom Patterson, a journalist for The Clarion-Ledger, as a catchy nickname for the event.
Trophy Design
- The trophy is made of brass and mounted on a wooden base.
- Its egg-like look comes from the design of footballs used in the early 20th century.
- It symbolizes football supremacy in the state of Mississippi for the year.
Summary Table: Why "Egg Bowl"?
Reason| Details
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Trophy shape| Looks like an egg due to footballs' old design3
Name origin| Coined by journalist Tom Patterson in 197912
Promotes sportsmanship| Trophy started to reduce fan altercations2
The "Egg Bowl" name thus connects to tradition, rivalry, and the trophy's unique shape.
