Fri., Nov. 16, 10:10 a.m.
The Scruggs Law Firm
Oxford, Miss.
Richard Scruggs is a high-powered trial lawyer who has taken on Big Tobacco, asbestos manufacturers and insurance companies after Hurricane Katrina. He's a serious guy who does serious legal work involving uber-serious sums of money. We're meeting in his office, and he's talking about significant matters of jurisprudence. But I get the sense we're all a bit eager to switch subjects.
"Unfortunately, one of my partners is an LSU alum," Scruggs says. He's smiling now, switching to the razzing mode that comes so naturally to SEC fans.
Scruggs is a major supporter of his alma mater. He figures he's given more than $1 million to support Ole Miss sports. His name is on the school's music building. He'll loan out his private jet when the school wants to fly in a coaching prospect or a hotshot professor. He'll go to all the Ole Miss home games and a few away games, even when the team is struggling – like it is now.
We ask Scruggs what he would give up for an Ole Miss national championship, even an SEC title. Would he give up, say, a partner? "I've given that about two milliseconds of thought and the answer is hell, yes...particularly one from LSU."
But tonight Scruggs and that partner, joined by family and friends — LSU Tigers and Ole Miss Rebels — will gather and enjoy some Coors Light and Amber Abita, a bit of good-natured revelry before the rivalry really gets serious Saturday afternoon.
P.S. We ask Scruggs to explain that "Go to Hell Ole Miss" button that we saw June Guillory wearing in Baton Rouge. He says it's a polite way of saying something worse.
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