UNIVERSITY OF MISSISSIPPI
OXFORD, MISSISSIPPI
AUGUST THROUGH NOVEMBER
WWW.OLEMISSFB.COM
Young men in bowties, Southern belles in cocktail dresses, and sterling silver platters are all part of a typical fall Saturday at The Grove in Oxford, Mississippi. If you really want to immerse yourself in a Southern football tradition, Ole Miss “Home of the Rebels” is the place to visit for a truly legendary tailgating experience.
Of course, we all take our college football seriously in the South, but most Southerners will agree that the tailgating atmosphere at The Grove is unlike any other. The Grove is actually ten acres of the Ole Miss campus shaded by beautiful oak, elm, and magnolia trees. On the day of a home game in Oxford, twenty-five thousand fans flock to The Grove for their pregame rituals of traditional Southern cuisine and “Hotty Toddy” chants. The whole area is covered in red, white, and blue tents, many of which are adorned with white table cloths, crystal chandeliers, and lace doilies.
At any other Southern football tailgate, sporting shorts and a team T-shirt might be acceptable, but that’s not so if you’re headed to The Grove. Everyone dresses to the nines, from sundresses and high heels to slacks and loafers. The elegant apparel is actually a sign of respect to the game and the tradition of the school. Even if the Rebels don’t come away with a victory, the fans’ popular saying will keep everyone’s sprits high: “We may not win the game, but we’ll always win the party.”