| Eli Manning was born in January of 1981 and from | | | | decision is not as obvious as it may initially appear. |
| an early age had a lot of pressure applied to him | | | | Individuals not familiar with the circumstances |
| in terms of expectations to excel at football like | | | | surrounding the decision Eli made to play for the |
| other members of his family did. The father of Eli | | | | Ole Miss Rebels may erroneously think that the |
| Manning was a successful quarterback at the | | | | young signal caller intentionally strayed from being |
| University of Mississippi (commonly referred to as | | | | further cast in the shadow of his brother by |
| Ole Miss) before being a star quarterback for the | | | | deciding to go to a different college. A fear of |
| New Orleans Saints. Peyton Manning, the older | | | | being further compared to his older brother was |
| brother of Eli, is nearly five years older than Eli. | | | | not a concern for Eli who in fact wanted to walk |
| The age differential between Peyton and Eli | | | | step in step right in the tracks that his brother |
| created high expectations for the younger Eli. | | | | had laid out en route to having a successful |
| Eli played his high school football in his hometown | | | | college career before going on to be the number |
| of New Orleans at Isidore Newman School. Eli and | | | | one overall pick in the NFL Draft. |
| Peyton both attended and played football at the | | | | The decision Eli made to attend Ole Miss was |
| same school. Because Isidore Newman School | | | | significantly influenced by the fact that the |
| encompasses every grade from kindergarten | | | | offensive coordinator who helped Peyton fine |
| through the twelfth grade Eli and Peyton went to | | | | tune his game had just been hired by Ole Miss to |
| school together even though they are separated | | | | be the new head coach around the time that Eli |
| by five grades in age. As a seventh grader Eli | | | | was making his college decision. Essentially Eli |
| watched as his older brother won the Gatorade | | | | decided to go play for David Cutcliffe at Ole Miss |
| National Player of the Year Award and while Eli | | | | because regardless of uniforms, school colors, or |
| was unquestionably happy for his older brother | | | | legacies Eli simply wanted to make the decision |
| there is no doubt that the outstanding | | | | that gave him the greatest likelihood of future |
| performances on the football field by Peyton | | | | success. |
| simply raised the expectations for young Eli. | | | | The decision Eli made turned out to be a wise |
| As expected Eli excelled as a high school | | | | one. As a senior the 6'4" right handed quarterback |
| quarterback and when it came time to choose a | | | | received numerous accolades including the Maxwell |
| college to play football at the young star with the | | | | Award and SEC Player of Year honors. On April |
| proven gene pool had to decide if he would follow | | | | 24, 2004 Eli Manning was selected by the San |
| in the footsteps of his father by attending Ole | | | | Diego Chargers with the number one overall pick |
| Miss, go the route that his brother took in | | | | (and traded to the Giants shortly thereafter). Eli |
| choosing to play for the University of Tennessee, | | | | managed to match the seemingly impossible high |
| or if he would pursue neither of those options and | | | | marks that his brother set when he won the |
| instead make his own path. Ultimately Eli decided | | | | Maxwell Award in 1997 and was taken with the |
| to attend Ole Miss but the rationale behind that | | | | number one overall pick in the 1998 NFL Draft. |
