University of Mississippi - Ole Miss Yearbook (Oxford, MS)

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STORY BY SAMANTHA CASE ILLUSTRATION BY ASHLEY DEES Fourteen hundred red and blue trashcans dot the a 13-acre section of the University of Mississippi campus. Hundreds of football-thirsty fans rush from every direction towards The Grove to claim the perfect plot for their tent. It ' s just another fall Friday in Oxford, and much is under way to prepare for the over 100-year-old tradition of tailgating in the legendary Grove. No, it ' s not football season; it ' s Grove season. What makes the tailgating in The Grove worthy of being named the No. 2 sporting event in the world by ESPN? Maybe it ' s the football- shaped cupcakes or the plasma screen televisions or the chandeliers Between the tent, chairs, food, hanging above the elaborate spreads. But, what has really earned Organizing a tent Can be The Grove this esteemed L - extremely Stressfu I ranking is the rich . t • n- ,. . J , . Liza oimmons tradition and camaraderie shared by the Ole Miss fan family. makes them feel like we are taking time and effort to support the Rebels. Also, I really like to be super fashionable. On game day, what was just a plot of grass the day before becomes the site of the main event. Beginning in the North end of the Grove and ending at the edge of Vaught- Hemingway Stadium on All- American Drive, these tent plots are everywhere. Next comes the Grove menu. From fried chicken to barbecue and from delectable trays of fruit and cheese to coolers full of refreshing beverages. The Grove sees all sorts of delectable goodies on game day, making the denizens mouths water as they pass by. To an outsider who ' s been brainwashed by the stereotypical rumors of The Grove elaborate fans and decorations, this all may seem a little much just for tailgating. Against the stereotype of This close family is made up of thousands of fans who the snotty attitude, southern hospitality is epitomized in The Senior, Psychology have traveled from every corner of the country, even from places as far away as Illinois, Maryland, Texas or North Carolina. Although from many different places leading drastically different lives, the fans of Ole Miss come together to share one thing; to partake in something greater than themselves; and to carry on the tradition of tailgating in The Grove. The fans of the University of Mississippi never fail to impress. It is all about style, and the students and fans of Ole Miss know how to arrive looking the part. Upon seeing the beautiful ladies in stilettos and the perfect dress and the Grove. Any one of our classy and friendly fans will graciously welcome anyone in to their tent with open arms to their amenities and into the Ole Miss family. Between the tent, chairs, food, drinks, television and flowers, organizing a tent can be extremely stressful, Liza Simmons, senior psychology major from Columbia, said. The best idea is to split up jobs between friends and family, so you ' re not completely overwhelmed Friday night. Groving season does come with many preparations, including carrying coolers, tents and chairs from that parking place all the way across campus, but most agree these are well handsome gentlemen in sear-sucker pants and a polo, there is worth the trouble to participate in The Grove experience, no mistaking that you have arrived in the greatest place in the Each fan plays an important role in the story of The Grove South to cheer on the football team. tailgating tradition. And, each Saturday, whether the football I like to dress up in The Grove because I think that it team wins or loses, the social spectacular that is The Grove shows respect for the team, Sunny Eicholtz, senior never slows down, hospitality management major from Louisville, Ky., said. It Tlie Ole Miss | 025

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: : wm tr ife ' S , . .•V %- CULTU ,rc ,rf T ; ' 1.lii - Nil Australian Megan Mackander and Eva Eferink of the Netherlands came to Ole Miss looking for a new experience, what they found became so much more than they could have ever imagined. «s • V STORY BY ALINE CARAMBAT PHOTOGRAPHY BY Mi ' CHEL JARJOURA a MH m n ■ A ■ ISIIB mum 4lk i ' WFTVM iv T and Mackander have been exploring the „... s iri order t et themselves acclimated to -this American university.