GLENDALE, Ariz. – Ole Miss football plays in what many fans consider the most important football game in program history in the Fiesta Bowl.
Many fans traveled to State Farm Stadium to watch No. 6 Ole Mademoiselle (13-1) faces No. 10 Miami (12-2) in the CFP semi-finals on January 8 (6:30 p.m. CT, ESPN).
Advertisement
Far from home in Oxford, Mississippi, the pregame celebrations looked different for the fans in attendance, but the familiar community atmosphere was still present.
“No matter where you go, if you see someone wearing Ole Miss clothing, they’re family,” said Ole Miss sophomore Mia Huiss. “Oxford is a special place, and it’s really fun to be a part of.”
Although some fans chose to go the more traditional route in the parking lot, many opted for a different experience than what they’re used to at the Grove. Groups of fans went organized tailgates hosted by the Fiesta Bowl, the National Football Foundation and the Ole Miss Alumni Association.
Rather than breaking out their own cookware to prepare a pre-game meal, fans were treated to a selection of dishes such as chicken tenders, fries, hot dogs and barbecue.
Advertisement
They traded their tents and lawn chairs for picnic tables, and entertainment included a bouncy house for the kids, cornhole and stage shows. Although the execution was different, the energy was still up to Ole Miss standards.
“I think it’s just the spirit of Ole Miss,” said Kirk Purdom, CEO of the Ole Miss Alumni Association. “…Everyone feels like family, and once you start going into these playoffs and going from site to site hoping to get to the next site, everyone gets to know each other better. …It’s a lot of fun to be here.”
Across the Great Lawn, in front of the NFF Hall of Fame tailgate, Ole Miss fans ate, drank and laughed with others, as they would on a typical Saturday at the Grove in Oxford.
People with different ties to the program and different reasons why they love Ole Miss all gathered in one place, just like they would in Mississippi, waiting for kickoff at Vaught-Hemingway Stadium.
Advertisement
Myra Spach, a season ticket holder whose son Patrick played basketball at Ole Miss from 2005-09, was excited to share the experience with her 11-year-old grandson, who had been promised a trip to every CFP game Ole Miss played.
It may not have been quite the pregame experience that Ole Miss fans are accustomed to, but the buzz in the air was the same as fans gathered in hopes of seeing the Rebels claim a spot in the game. national championship game in Miami on January 19 against Indiana or Oregon.
Ole Miss wide receiver Traylon Ray’s family joined in the tailgating fun, enjoying the food and tight-knit fan base.
“I think the fan base is what motivates the boys,” said Ray’s mother, Kenyetta Ray. “I think it’s going to be really important for them to come out and make themselves heard to give them that extra confidence boost.”
Advertisement
Tia Reid covers Jackson State sports for the Clarion Ledger. Email her at [email protected] and follow her on X @tiareid65.
This article was originally published on Mississippi Clarion Ledger: Ole Miss Football Fans’ Fiesta Bowl Moves Closer to the Grove
