Hotty Toddy! A Fan’s Guide to Ole Miss Rebels Football Game Day

Who the hell are we? Ole Miss Rebels football fans let their school spirit be heard on game days in Oxford, Mississippi. Within the largest football stadium in the Magnolia State, players and fans alike come together to honor the Rebels’ three-time national championship legacy while pushing the team forward with rich traditions and an electric in-game atmosphere. After securing your Ole Miss Rebels tickets and Vaught-Hemingway Stadium tickets, prepare to unlock The Vaught with its biggest traditions, as well as tips for tailgating and more, below.

Pre-Game Traditions

There’s no better place to be on an Ole Miss game day than at The Grove, where several of the Rebels’ most important traditions begin. About two hours before kickoff, players and fans come together for the Walk of Champions, which takes place on a brick-lined trail of the same name. Since 1998, the team has taken the route from the Ole Miss Student Union to Vaught-Hemingway Stadium while passing under the Walk of Champions arch honoring the 1962 “perfect season” squad. Stay on The Grove until there’s an hour and 15 minutes left before the game to hear the marching band’s rendition of Pride of the South Grove Show.

Gates open two hours prior to kickoff, which leaves plenty of time to find your seat before the Pride of the South Pregame Show starts about 40 minutes ahead of the game. The performance is followed by pregame staples, such as the player’s Lock the Vaught entrance and the stadium-wide Hotty Toddy chant (more on those below).

Ole Miss Tailgating Tips

For on-campus Ole Miss football tailgating, look no further than The Grove, the 10-acre park central to University of Mississippi. Often hailed as the “Holy Grail of Tailgating,” The Grove hosts guests from Friday at 7:30 p.m. until three hours after the game ends or midnight, whichever comes first. Aside from pre-designated reserved areas for university groups, tailgating spaces on The Grove are open to the public on a first-come, first-served basis. Additional tailgates can be found adjacent to The Grove on The Corner.

Three hours ahead of kickoff, Coca-Cola FanFest begins east of The Vaught outside of the Sandy and John Black Pavilion. Featuring food and drink vendors, giveaways, meet-and-greet opportunities and more, FanFest offers free activities for all ages. The prime location also puts fans in a perfect position to take part in the players’ Walk of Champions.

Meanwhile, premium and VIP tailgating options are available to book via REVELxp. All reservation areas are adjacent to Vaught-Hemingway Stadium in the Plaza of Champions, Pavilion Row or The Grove. Reserved tailgate spaces generally open at 7:00 a.m. on game day.

When packing for an Ole Miss football game, style might be the most important factor to consider. Unlike many other schools, Ole Miss fans tend to dress fancy for home games, wearing semi-formal attire from dresses, collared shirts and dress pants to sport coats and ball gowns befitting an upscale, social gathering. For extra spirit points, get creative by incorporating the theme night colors into your classy outfit.

Aside from the right clothes, other Ole Miss tailgating essentials include local food favorites like barbecue, sausage balls, beer-battered fish, fried chicken, pimento cheese and Mississippi mud pie. Most importantly, don’t be in a hurry when driving anywhere on-campus; all speed limits signs are set to 18 miles per hour in honor of College Football Hall of Famer and former No. 18 quarterback for Ole Miss, Archie Manning.

Inside Vaught-Hemingway Stadium

With so many pregame celebrations and in-game traditions, Rebels fans are entitled to say “Gosh Almighty” before the game even begins. Regardless, get ready for game day at Ole Miss by looking over some of the biggest in-game traditions and reviewing the entry rules and bag policy at the Ole Miss Rebels football stadium.

Hotty Toddy

Perhaps the tradition most closely tied to Ole Miss, “Hotty Toddy” has become a shorthand between Rebels fans as well as being one of their most distinctive cheers. Occurring before every kickoff, the cheer is also queued up throughout a game with the question “Are you ready?”

Locking The Vaught

Linking arms as they take the field, Ole Miss football players “Lock The Vaught” as part of their on-field entrance. Started in 2008, the tradition spread to a stadium-wide lockdown by 2011, with fans now mirroring the players and swaying with arms hooked together.

The Pride of the South

Established in 1928, the University of Mississippi’s marching band, dubbed The Pride of the South, is ever-present on an Ole Miss football game day. Starting with the preview show at The Grove tailgate, the band performs again at the in-stadium pregame show as well as the halftime show.

Club Red Student Section

Located in the north endzone at The Vaught, the Ole Miss Rebels student section sets the volume bar high for the rest of the game.

Alma Mater

Sing for the “spot that ever calls” at the end of every home game, as The Pride of the South leads fans and players in the performance of the Ole Miss alma mater.

Post-Game Activities

After the final whistle, most fans will meet “on the Square,” or Oxford Square. Popular spots for drinks and lively post-game crowds include The Library, Rooster’s Blues House, Proud Larry’s, Funkys Pizza & Daiquiri Bar and The Blind Pig Pub. In the same neighborhood, dining options range from sit-down restaurants such as Round Table on the Square, City Grocery and Bouré to quick and easy classics like Ajax Diner and South Depot Taco Shop. Lastly, make your night complete with dessert from The Oxford Creamery on North Lamar Boulevard.

Ole Miss Rebels Game Day Schedule

Catch every moment of a Rebels game day by checking out Ole Miss’ regular season football schedule.