Campus
The Ole Miss campus has been acclaimed by many as unique and has been described as a genuine slice of the South with its magnolia trees and plantation-like architecture.”The Ole Miss campus is beautiful — it looks just like an old-style plantation,” said Caleb Stephens, LSU psychology senior. “It feels like the South and really is the most Southern-looking campus in the SEC.”The Grove is the place to be for gameday activities. The 10-acre plot of land lies at the center of the University of Mississippi campus.Shaded by oak, elm and magnolia trees, The Grove has become the centralized area for tailgating and is typically packed with tents on game day.”People usually dress up really nice for tailgating,” said Austin Reynolds, University of Mississippi political science senior. “Groving is more about being seen and not wearing the same dress as someone else.”
Pregame
Tailgating, or “groving” as Rebels call it, typically begins around 8 a.m. and lasts until midnight.It may come as a surprise to LSU tailgaters, who normally tailgate in comfortable jeans and T-shirts, but Ole Miss tailgaters usually come out to The Grove in sport coats and ties and cocktail dresses.”The Rebels have a sophisticated way of tailgating that involves high heels, chandeliers, fine china and of course awesome Southern food,” said Stefanie Kellum, LSU library sciences grad student. “Their tailgating is known nationwide for its unique experience.”About two hours before game time, the Ole Miss football team parades through The Grove on the “Walk of Champions.” The walk has become a pregame ritual for Ole Miss and is not something to be missed, Kellum said.Kellum said most tailgaters stay in The Grove until about an hour before kickoff and then follow the band the short walk down to the stadium in what she called a “mass exodus of The Grove.”Also, during many of the season’s biggest football games, a celebrity will lead the stadium through the Hotty Toddy chant. Past appearances have been made by Katy Perry, the cast of “It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia,” Russell Crowe and Snoop Dogg. It has been reported this Saturday’s game will have an appearance by Sandra Bullock and members of the cast from the movie “The Blindside.”
Postgame and Night life
Following the game, those who don’t go back to tailgating in the Grove, usually go out to “The Square,” a plaza filled with bars, clubs and restaurants located off South 9th Street, just a short walk from campus.The Library is a popular bar along “The Square,” located at 120 S. 11th St., consisting of a sports bar, dance club and patio that attracts many college students and postgame celebrators.Also recommended by students is The Lyric, a large open-space music club, located at 1109 Van Buren Ave., for live music and dancing after the game.”On an SEC game weekend, The Square is one of the most surreal experiences you can find,” said Andrew Alderman, Ole Miss political science senior. “It gives people a taste of what life is like in Oxford during football season, but it is also the last place on earth an LSU fan wants to be if LSU wins on Saturday.”
Restaurants
For good eats while in Oxford, both Ole Miss and LSU students recommend:
Ajax, a burger joint located at 118 Courthouse Square, renown for its traditional Southern style cooking.Proud Larry’s, located at 211 S. Lamar Blvd., a family restaurant that serves a wide variety of foods including pizza, pasta, subs, salads and burgers, as well as a venue for live music. Taylor Grocery, located at 4 County Road, a brown bag restaurant known for its catfish.City Grocery, located at 152 Courthouse Square, an upscale restaurant known for its shrimp and grits.Prime, a steakhouse located right off of “The Square” at 1201 Jefferson Ave.Abner’s, located at 430 S. Lamar Blvd., described by Kellum as The Cane’s of Oxford, has chicken tenders, salads and wraps.
During the day and attractions
Kellum said Ole Miss fans are usually “the picture of Southern hospitality,” with Ole Miss fans normally welcoming opposing fans to their tailgates.But she recommends not to be obnoxious as that will normally “get you on the bad side of a large Grove of Rebels.”The Ole Miss campus boasts some very interesting attractions.The Lyceum is the oldest building on campus. Built in 1848, the building originally housed all the classrooms and faculty offices of the university.Today, it is home to the administrative offices, and the columned facade of the building has become the official symbol of the university along with the date of its establishment.There is also a large confederate graveyard next to the Ole Miss basketball stadium. The campus was used as a hospital during the Civil War, and both Confederate and Union soldiers were buried in the plot set aside for the graveyard.Just in walking distance from the edge of campus is Rowan Oak, the home of American author William Faulkner. Be sure to watch out for the 18 mph speed limit signs, dedicated to former football player Archie Manning.For those students who have a little bit of time to kill before or after the game, they should check out Graceland Too, a shrine to Elvis Presley converted out of a fan’s home, about 45 minutes north of Oxford in Holly Spring. “The amount of memorabilia, stories and stuff this guy has is crazy,” Stephens said. “It is a trip of a lifetime, and you leave wondering if [owner] Paul McCleod is really sane or not.”The university also houses the largest blues music archive in the United States, so music fans can check it out while they are there.——Contact Jake Clapp at [email protected]