With the 2024 presidential election promising to be just as divisive as the last, The Daily Mississippian set out to unite the Ole Miss population under one common candidate — a Rebel athletic legend, current or former, who would be well-suited for the role of president.
Surely Ole Miss could agree upon one of their own heroes to nominate for the White House, right?
Not quite.
Samuel Quon, a sophomore accounting major from Olive Branch, Miss., proposed Tony Fein — a Rebel linebacker from the 2007-2008 seasons who coined the Landshark celebration.
“(Fein) was a war veteran in Iraq before coming to Ole Miss, which is incredibly heroic and showcases his courage, dedication and commitment to our country,” Quon said. “The fact his Landshark celebration has stuck and become such an integral symbol of our team and university is a testament to his impact.”
Quon pointed out that the Rebels improved their win total from three to nine between Fein’s first and second seasons, demonstrating the linebacker’s positive impact on the program.
“Obviously he’s not the sole reason for our success (in the 2008 season), but he was a leader on the defense and still played a crucial role,” Quon said.
Kamryn Billie, a freshman psychology major from Clinton, Miss., thought that Quon’s military past would assist him in the role.
“(Fein) served in Iraq,” Billie said. “He has a veteran background.”
For Graham Speed, a senior accounting major from Jackson, Miss., a stint in the military was trumped by a long career of success on the gridiron, both in college and the NFL. Speed’s nominee was quarterback Eli Manning.
“I think Eli Manning’s a pretty smart guy,” Speed said. “If he can lead a football team to the Super Bowl, (he can) lead a country to success.”
Indeed, Manning led the New York Giants to Super Bowl victories on two occasions, in 2008 and 2012. He also served as a team captain in 2012. The two-time world champion does not lack the quality of leadership.
As far as Jaxson Dart goes as a presidential candidate, Speed worried that the young quarterback’s inexperience would prove to be too costly.
“I think (Dart) has a ways to go,” Speed said. “He’s a young guy (and) probably not as mature as would be ideal, but I think he has potential, so we’ll see.”
Raven Tunstall, a sophomore pre-dental student from Byhalia, Miss., did not seem to think age was an issue in a presidential candidate. She suggested former Rebel and current Seattle Seahawks wide receiver D.K. Metcalf for his name recognition among the Ole Miss fanbase.
“I feel like a majority of people know his name and would vote for him,” Tunstall said.
Beyond acknowledging his wide popularity, though, Turnstall expressed doubt that Metcalf possesses the skills necessary for the role — yet perhaps this would not be an issue.
“I don’t think he would be good by himself,” Tunstall said. “But luckily, we have a system where he would have a vice president, and I think (the vice president) would keep (Metcalf) under control.”
Who would this vice president be? Tunstall did not even hesitate to answer.
“Aaron Rodgers,” she said. “I’m a Green Bay Packers fan.”
There are, of course, questions regarding Rodgers’ fitness for any sort of leadership role. After his falling-out with the management in Green Bay a few years ago and the recent allegations that he had a hand in the firing of New York Jets’ Head Coach Robert Saleh, an attempted overthrow of President Metcalf would not necessarily be out of the question.
Jonathan Lewis, a freshman elementary education major from Ridgeland, Miss., agreed that Metcalf would be a good fit, albeit for different reasons than Turnstall provided.
“He’s athletic,” Lewis said. “He can jump really high (and) run fast. I feel like he has the leadership skills to be president.”
If Congress ever decides to implement an NFL Combine-style skills challenge for presidential candidates — replete with a 40-yard dash and vertical jump — then Metcalf looks to be set up well.
Donald Trump and Kamala Harris, on the other hand, might be in trouble.
But maybe athleticism is not the best metric for presidential suitability. Matt Shover, a graduate student from Barry, Ill., and his father, Rick Shover, agree that former Ole Miss running back and current Ohio State Buckeye Quinshon Judkins would not be a wise choice for the role.
“(Judkins) doesn’t have the loyalty,” Matt Shover said. “If he would have stuck it out with Ole Miss, I’d say Quinshon, probably.”
However, the father and son could not come to terms on which Ole Miss legend would be best as president. Rick Shover suggested Archie Manning, but Matt Shover was dubious of the Manning patriarch’s suitability for the White House.
“He’s too old,” Matt Shover said. “Seventy-five is too old.”
“Archie’s not too old,” Rick Shover said. “I saw him the other night on ESPN. He’s sharp as a tack.”
Matt Shover’s vote went to Eli Manning, which his father did not agree with.
“Eli?” Rick Shover said. “That guy’s a goofball.”
