DALLAS — Ole Miss’ stunning 47-34 upset of seventh-ranked Texas Tech in the 73rd Cotton Bowl Classic title will rank highly in the minds of many Rebel fans.

Beating top-ranked Florida in Gainesville back in late September 31-30 is pretty close. Beating a Notre Dame club in 1977 that went on to win the national championship is up there as well. But as bowl games go, the 2009 Cotton Bowl is the Rebels’ most satisfying and surprising win since, perhaps, the 1970 Sugar Bowl when they beat an Arkansas club that just lost a No. 1-No.2 showdown with Texas the preceding December.

First-year Ole Miss coach Houston Nutt —  the architect behind a turnaround from 3-9 in 2007 to 9-4 and a Cotton Bowl victory over a Texas Tech team that six weeks ago was shooting for a spot in the Bowl Championship Series title game — said the victory will be unforgettable for him and his Rebels.

“The memories are just awesome, to be in the last historic game right here in this stadium. But I’m proud of my guys,” Nutt said. “They have tremendous character.

“We’re down 14-0 and we did the very thing we talked about not doing, we turned the ball over twice. And that’s not who you want to turn the ball over to, not that fastbreak team. Texas Tech is an excellent team.”

Texas Tech, however, could not stop offensive MVP Dexter McCluster when it counted. Ole Miss converted a first down on 8 of 14 third down attempts, largely due to the efforts of McCluster. McCluster converted six of the eight, taking short dump off passes from quarterback Jevan Snead or sprinting past the Tech defense on a draw. He finished with 97 yards rushing and one touchdown and had six catches for another 83 yards.

“My hat goes off to Ole Miss,” Texas Tech defensive coordinator Rufus McNeil said. “I thought McCluster was as good as advertised. Very quick, really good playmaker. I thought we got some pressure on (Jevan) Snead, which I was pleased with. The biggest disappointment was third down conversions for us.

“We had been one of the best third down defenses all year long, and we did not stop them on third down.”

“Like coach said, we didn’t get off the field on third downs, but we were excited to play here,” said Texas Tech safety Darcel McBath, who intercepted a Snead pass in the first quarter and returned it for a touchdown to put the Red Raiders up 14-0 nine minutes into the game. “I think we let off the gas, let some things slip through the cracks and got a little unfocused.”

Ole Miss came back with 14 straight points to tie the game early in the second quarter. After Tech went back in front, 21-14, Snead hit for the last of his three touchdown passes to Gerald Harris to knot the game at 21. He then led a late first-half drive that ended with a Joshua Shene field goal that put Ole Miss ahead to stay at 24-21. Snead and McCluster are two of the key players Nutt will have back next season as Ole Miss tries to duplicate its impressive mid-season run. Ole Miss won its last six games of the season, starting with a 23-21 win over Nutt’s former team, the Arkansas Razorbacks.

“The last six weeks, Jevan really came on. This is his first year to really play, if you get down to it,” Nutt said. “I think he’s done a remarkable job. This guy has been so accurate. Our receivers are fast and he has a very good deep ball. The LSU game, the Florida game, if you look at those big games, sometimes quarterbacks shy away, but Jevan didn’t let the pressure bother him.”

“I couldn’t have done it without these guys,” Snead said. He finished 18-of-29 for 292 yards, a season high with three touchdowns. “I feel fortunate to be on such a gifted team. I’m going to miss the ones who are leaving.”

Which leaves the question for Nutt on how he will replace eight senior starters, two of whom are first team All-Americans in left tackle Michael Oher and defensive tackle Peria Jerry. Nutt, however, said his primary focus for next year, is to find someone to fill the shoes of Michael Wallace, the speedy senior receiver.

“We’re losing some good players. Michael Wallace, he got by a lot of defensive backs this year. We’ve got to get a speed guy like that,” Nutt said.

“You also lose a Michael Oher that protects the left side, the most important side for a quarterback. You lose a Peria Jerry. You can’t draw those people up, they’re special.

“But what this win does for us, is that it does help with recruiting. We don’t have many scholarships left. And you know who you are out there.”

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Contact Jeff Byrd at jbyrd@vicksburgpost.com