We Are Ole Miss!
Ole Miss has been developing traditions since the university was founded in 1848. Some of which have faded, and some of which Ole Miss fans have kept alive over the years. Ole Miss is home to nearly 24,000 students and thousands of other Rebel fans. These Ole Miss fans make game day in Oxford the greatest in all of college football.
1. The Grove
The 10-acre grove at Ole Miss is the BEST place for tailgating. The fun begins with "trashcan Friday" when The Grove is decorated in red and blue trash cans. Students LOVE trashcan Friday because it means game day is so close!! The excitement of game day continues into Friday night with the rush of people to reserve their tent space, all the way to game time, and even after the game (no matter if we win or lose. As people always say, we may lose the game, but we will never lose the party.)
Tailgating in The Grove is like your typical tailgate in that there is plenty of food, drinks, and socializing. However, it's rare to see an Ole Miss fan (especially the ladies) show up to a game in shorts and a t-shirt repping team colors (we save that for the warmer days in the spring at Swayze field cheering on our baseball boys.) You are expected to dress up when you come tailgating in The Grove. Beauty over pain people...beauty over pain!!
2. Walk of Champions
Part of The Grove experience is being able to watch The Walk of Champions. The actual "Walk of Champions" arch was given to the University by the only Ole Miss football team in history to finish with a perfect record, win the SEC title, and be named National Champions: the Rebel football team of 1962.
The actual walk itself consists of the players walking from the beginning of the arch all the way to Vaught Hemingway Stadium before the game. Rebel fans crowd the edges of their pathway to cheer them on as they head to prep for the game.
3. Hotty Toddy
If it is game day and someone says, "Are You Ready," you better respond with, "HYDR!" The Hotty Toddy chant has long been a tradition:
"Are You Ready?
Hell Yeah, Damn Right
Hotty Toddy, Gosh Almighty,
Who the hell are we? HEY,
Flim Flam, Bim Bam,
Ole Miss by Damn"
This chant is definitely committed to the memory of each and every Ole Miss fan. There is no better feeling than being in The Grove or in Vaught Hemingway Stadium and hearing Rebel Nation shout this chant with so much pride for the Ole Miss Rebels!!
4. Lock The Vaught
At the beginning of every football game in Vaught Hemingway Stadium, "locking the Vaught" is a tradition. As loud music blasts on the stadium's speakers, every single Rebel fan and player interlocks arms with the person beside them swaying side to side until the players storm onto the field. This tradition gets all Ole Miss fans excited and hype for the game that is so close to beginning!!
5. The Student Section
Ole Miss has one of THE BEST student sections in college football. All students are CRAZY for the Rebels, starting from freshman year and on!! At one of the first home games every year, Ole Miss hosts the Freshmen Rebel Run, where freshmen run across the field before the game begins. This fairly new tradition is a great way to welcome new students to the Ole Miss family!
In recent years, Ole Miss has even started a new tradition of the players and spirit squads singing the alma mater with the students at the end of every game.
Don't let this article fool you: there are so many more GREAT things about Ole Miss and being an Ole Miss fan. But let's be honest, it would take forever to cover all of that. These are just a few of my favorite traditions at Ole Miss!! Hotty Toddy!! And Go Rebels!!
