Ole Miss Football Tailgaters may Lead the Nation
The Lyceum
The Rebels take the field
The Grove is one of America's most famous tailgating sites
The coaches walk their teams through the Grove prior to the game
Faulkner thought the girls were pretty here too!
People originally drove their cars into the grove and tailgated, but in the 90's pre-game partying in this large, shady "park" in the middle of the Ole Miss campus became so popular, that there was no longer enough space and cars were banned from the grove. Now people set up tents, and on game days the tops of the tents turn the grove into a sea of red, white, and blue. Lots of tents have special names that are displayed on a banner and hung. You can see one of these tents in the background of the picture. The tents are set up and have food, drinks and tables. People get up very early to set up there tent and get a spot in the grove. Some even set them up late the night before, while others make fraternity pledges wake up in the wee hours of the morning to guarantee them a prime tent spot.
Some people go all out to make their tent a home away from home. They have generators, with heaters in the winter, and fans in the summer. Some even bring their grills and cook. Others have TVs and radios and prefer to stay in their tents instead of going to the stadium if it's really hot or maybe if they don't have a ticket. You can hear the grove exploding with cheers when the rebels score a touchdown. The grove is also the party scene after the game, especially if it's a night game. During times when the grove is in full swing, every so often, someone will start out yelling "Hotty Toddy" the famous Ole Miss chant, which undoubtedly spreads rapidly into a roaring chorus as much of the other fans in the grove join in unison. Most people will tell you that the most amazing thing about the grove, however, is the incredible spirit and feeling of warmth and southern hospitality. Lots of grove-ers are more than happy to share their home-cooked food or give you a cold beer to celebrate the wonderful tradition of Ole Miss football, and as the famous Ole Miss saying goes, "We may have lost a game, but we've never lost a party." - Laura Houston
