Best College Football Tailgate: The Grove at Ole Miss

When discussing the finer points of Tailgating SEC Style, the conversation soon turns to The Grove. As I’ve written for the past two years, The Grove at Ole Miss isn’t just one of the best college football tailgates in the SEC, it’s the best college football tailgate in the country. Bar none. 

What Makes Ole Miss The Best College Football Tailgate? Location

Why is Ole Miss the best college football tailgating in the world? Location, tradition, style and hospitality top the list. The Sporting News once referred to The Grove as “the holy grail of tailgating.” I can’t assemble a more appropriate phrase to describe college football’s finest pre-game party so I wholeheartedly support their assessment.

RELATED: Tailgating SEC Style 2018: The Grove, Zebra Tent at Ole Miss Is Tailgate Heaven

What exactly is “The Grove?” It’s a lovely and spacious 10-acre green space in the middle of campus that also includes a neighboring green space called “The Circle.” It also serves as the “front yard” of the campus’s Student Union building. In essence, you couldn’t design a better location if you started from scratch.

Tradition

The tailgating tradition at Ole Miss began informally in the 1950s. Fans gathered in The Grove for the two to three home football games (other home games were played in Jackson, MS), pull a picnic basket from the back of a farm truck or station wagon and enjoy a home-made lunch before kickoff. It’s basically the same today, but with a whole lot of added style!

Automobiles were eventually banned from The Grove in the early 1990s when several trees suffered root damage from cars and trucks parking too close. Today this iconic location is quickly transformed from a pristine green space to a tailgating gated-community in a matter of hours, beginning at 7:30 p.m. on Friday evenings before home games. 

On top of location, tradition, comes a generous serving of southern hospitality. It’s not that other SEC schools don’t exhibit the same gentil graciousness outsiders call “Southern Hospitality.” Fans and tailgaters at every SEC school are incredibly kind and genuine. I have made some incredible friends over the last few years at every tailgate I’ve attended. Suffice it to say, Ole Miss fans simply take style and hospitality to another level. 

Style Rules The Day

Outsiders sometimes make fun of the unique style and fashion Ole Miss fans bring to The Grove. Yet, you will be hard-pressed to find more stylish attire at any college football tailgate outside of Harvard Yard; which I’m not convinced rises above The Grove in any style category. 

Fans and students alike wear fashionable clothes to conform to the weather and Ole Miss color choice, which was red this particular game day.

Weather-wise, this second Saturday in September was par for the course; sunny and hot. A quick check of one of the weather apps on my iPhone predicted a high of 93 degrees with a mid-afternoon heat index hitting 105. You won’t catch me complaining because I long for such days during the miserable months of January and February. And hey, Ole Miss fans are accustomed to the South’s high humidity. 

The ‘Holy Grail’ of Tailgating Tents: The Zebra Tent

For the past several years I’ve heard Ole Miss fans reference The Zebra Tent. I even walked past it on a couple of occasions before writing this series. It’s hard to miss given that in a sea of red and blue tents, the black and white color scheme usually located six or seven tent spaces from the infamous Walk of Champions entrance. It’s where you will find Jane and Lance Foster and the other half-dozen or so couples that gather each gameday to prepare for the onslaught of fans stopping by to say “hotty toddy” and enjoy a plethora of food and drink.

Interestingly,  Jane grew up a fan of another SEC school located within the borders of Mississippi (unofficial Grove rules prohibit the mention of this maroon and white rival). Yet it wasn’t long after marrying Lance, that Jane “converted,” much like a bride or groom do when they move their membership from the First Baptist Church to the First Methodist Church. Southerners understand this concept.

RELATED: Graduate Hotel Oxford Adds Favor to College Towns, Ole Miss

Besides the colorful exterior decor, the first thing you notice about The Zebra Tent is the extravagant food sitting atop multiple decorated tables. Martin Mesecke, a recovering financial professional, oversees the menu for each game, which always has a theme dictated by the day’s opponent. Given the Razorbacks were in town, a pork barbecue slider was the featured food.

Another popular feature of The Zebra tent is their infamous Champagne fountain. The continuous flow of sparkling wine graced with a touch of orange juice keeps the atmosphere festive as the day wears on, and the temperature rises. Kickoff for this game was 6:30 p.m., so fans had ample time to partake in all. Peak time in The Grove begins about four hours before game time. When the Rebel football team makes the way to Vaught Hemingway Stadium along the Walk of Champions trail, The Grove can swell to almost 100,000 people, nearly four times the population of Oxford.

The Grove is a Family Affair

Multiple generations of families have continued the Ole Miss tailgating tradition. Next to the Zebra tent is the Cole’s from Atlanta, GA. Louis, his wife Joanie, have three children, one of whom has is about to graduate and two others who undoubtedly continue the family tradition for decades to come.

For the first few hours, The Grove is populated primarily by parents, alumni and young children. Right before the Rebel walk, an influx of college-aged kids flood the area, a couple of dozen who made their way to Cole’s two large tents.

My son happens to be a sophomore at the University of Arkansas yet was unable to make the trip since is KA (Kappa Alpha Order) chapter was starting Rush Week. However, a couple of his fraternity brothers made the trip from Fayetteville, arriving a couple of hours before kickoff and I enjoyed showing them around. Given the games final score, visiting The Grove was probably the highlight of their day.

RELATED: Tailgating SEC Style: Arkansas Razorbacks

The hospitality of Ole Miss fans extends far beyond what you would expect. But… a piece of advice to all visiting fans…please don’t execute your schools cheer in or around a tent you are visiting. First, it’s rude and breaks every rule Emily Post would have penned on tailgate etiquette. Next, never bite the hand that feeds you, or in this case, allows you to partake of their buffet table or receive a beverage from their coolers. That goes double for cowbells…

Jane and her crew outdid themselves once more. The food was incredible, and the atmosphere electric. And even if you are wearing the visiting school’s colors, you’ll be hard-pressed to find another tailgate atmosphere in the free world that makes you feel at home whether your team wins or loses. Yet another reason why The Grove is the best college football tailgate.

Tips On Visiting Oxford & The Grove

Oxford, Mississippi is a quaint, yet small town of about 20,000 residents. If you are traveling over 200 miles to attend a game, I would recommend you arrive a day early so you can soak in the sights of this beautiful community. 

Besides enjoying a leisurely stroll around this stunning campus, take in the stores and restaurants around the town’s scenic square. Square Books is the epitome of Southern literature and is without question, the best independent bookstore in the South. And since fashion and food are two of Oxford’s finest attributes, you’ll want to wander into Hinton & Hinton, which showcases some of the South’s most stylish clothing for men and women.

A new addition to the town square area is Spring Street Cigars. This Tupelo, MS-based store recently opened an Oxford location next to The Chancellor’s House and carries an amazing selection of fine cigars and gentlemen’s smoking accessories. Ask for Todd or Bow-Tie Teddy and they’ll take great care of you.

Restaurants

Oxford is also home to multiple James Beard nominees like John Currence, who owns City Grocery, Snack Bar, Big Bad Breakfast, and Boure’. Saint Leo, another one of my favorite Oxford restaurants is on the square and within walking distance of Boure’ and City Grocery. If country cookin’ is what your taste buds desire, then Ajax Diner is one of the best “meat and three’s” South of the Mason Dixon. 

Hotels

Airbnb is obviously an option given the number of properties available in any area. The Graduate Oxford and The Chancellor’s House are both within easy walking distance of the town square. However, if you’re trying to book for an upcoming game in Oxford, my advice is to book as far in advance as possible. Expect to pay a handsome rate for the convenience of these properties.

It’s easy to see why The Grove at Ole Miss is one of the best college football tailgates you’ll ever experience. Enjoy your time in Oxford and take in the local sites such as William Faulker’s home.