By Myra Bean
Former New Orleans Saints and Ole Miss Rebel Deuce McAllister was the guest at The Library in Oxford for the Allstate Sugar Bowl ticket giveaway Friday.
McAllister spoke to rebel fans and signed autographs.
He spoke in an interview about his role in the giveaway and what he has been doing since his retirement in 2008. He was No. 23 in the 2001 NFL draft and played nine seasons for the Saints.
“It’s an exciting time. I’m excited to be here and just grateful for the opportunity,” McAllister said.
Partnering with Allstate and Sugar Bowl, he gave away five pairs of Tickets to fans, including Danielle Bean of Courtland who won the first pair.
“I never win anything,” Bean said. “When they read out the number, I just said softly, ‘That’s me.’ I was so shocked.”
The Ole Miss Rebels will face Oklahoma State in the Sugar Bowl held in the New Orleans Superdome on Friday, January 1 at 7:30 CST on ESPN. It has been 45 years since Ole Miss has played in the Sugar Bowl.
The giveaway is a welcome to New Orleans and the excitement with that game, according to McAllister.
“It’s a way for Allstate to give back to the community and the Rebel Nation,” he said.
McAllister still lives in New Orleans and is still affiliated with the Saints.
“I do a lot with the program. When I saw that Ole Miss was coming to the Sugar Bowl, I have been excited ever since,” he said.
When McAllister was drafted in 2001 with the Saints, he said he was excited to go to New Orleans but upset that he had fallen to the 23rd pick.
“It’s definitely been a blessing so all my family and friends could come and see me play. I couldn’t have been more pleased,” he said.
Since his retirement, McAllister has been working with his Catch 22 Foundation to help youth with different things like hosting Christmas and Thanksgiving events and going to local zoos.
“My Catch22 foundation has always been a part of different communities, not only here in Oxford but throughout Mississippi and Louisiana,” McAllister said. “It’s really just giving back. I was just so fortunate to make it to the NFL so when I saw fit, I had the opportunity to create the Catch 22 foundation.”
As for being back Friday, he said it is always great when I can come back because this is where it started for him.
He played with Ole Miss from 1997-2000 and was a two-time Pro Bowler while with the Saints.