Taste of the Game: Homecoming Happiness at Ajax Diner as the Rebels host Auburn
OXFORD, Miss. — It’s Homecoming weekend at Ole Miss!
It’s always good to come home, especially after the Rebels experienced a tough one on the road last weekend in Fayetteville. No matter how long you’ve been away from Oxford, there is just something magical the moment you step back on The Square.
In our “Taste of the Game” feature, we never struggle to find places on the road to recommend to our traveling crew for their gameday fixings. But, because of all the many amazing places from which to choose, it’s not quite so easy to pick a place to showcase when back in Oxford.
In honor of Homecoming weekend, I think it’s only fitting I start with one of the first places I fell in love with when I had my first real pre-college trip to Ole Miss.
It was the summer I turned 16, or was it 17? My mother was visiting New Orleans, but of course I wanted to be in Oxford. So after a few hours drive, she checked me in at The Inn at Ole Miss and I began my first on-my-own adventure to discover all the things that make this college town so unique.
I would’ve never imagined when I walked in the door to Ajax Diner that day — rocking an Ole Miss ball cap with a Yale shirt, shorts, and my grey New Balances — that this would be just one of many adventures at one of Oxford’s best little comfort food joints.
We all have our stories of Ajax Diner. Who doesn’t, especially after Randy Yates and the fine folks have found ways to comfort our souls with their menu for over 22 years. There is nothing fancy or overzealous about the place itself, but what makes it memorable are all the little details and quirkiness in decor.
Today’s food coma brought to you by: Ajax Diner 🤤🍽 pic.twitter.com/76xttYGRGg
— VisitOxfordMS (@VisitOxfordMS) September 17, 2020
There is nothing like waiting in line for a bit, knowing you will be greeted by a friendly face, good food, and, in my case, a cold Shiner Bock while you’re watching a game or listening to all the conversations going on at once.
Now that I have got y’all with the nostalgia — and likely some cravings — let’s get down to it!
If you are looking for something hearty and a taste of the sweet sunny south, you never can go wrong with any of their plates on the menu. If you haven’t tried the Turkey and Dressing Plate with the jalapeno cornbread, folks you need to, stat. If I could teleport that dish here to me in Texas, I would. It never gets old or any less delicious. Do yourself a favor and add some of their sides because you will be in heaven.
The crew at Ajax can whip up some of the best meatloaf, dumplings, and Southern fried catfish on any of those plates, and if you can’t finish it, then trust me you will want to save some for later. It is even better the next time around!
No one should leave Oxford without honoring Ronzo! So if you’re looking for something light and fresh but still bold, then order up the Ronzo Salad and take a seat on one of those barstools and strike up a conversation with a stranger and make Ronzo proud!
And if you’re down South, you simply cannot miss your chance to have a pretty damn good PoBoy. There’s a PoBoy for all your moods and they’re pretty big in size so you might just want to go for half and save one for after the post-game cravings. You can also never miss the mark with the Andouille PoBoy or the classic Roast Beef & Gravy PoBoy.
After all that, if you have room be sure to indulge in some sweet and savory banana pudding or chess pie. Wash it down with a sweet tea or cold brew!
Photo credit: Lauren Wood
This little diner is more than just good eats; it’s a bed of comfort and a place where for a while you can just forget about all the woes of the day.
For me, I have grown up in this place to a degree. I have laughed, gotten rowdy, been on dates, fell in love, and best of all shared it with my family and friends. I am pretty sure that’s why my kids crave turkey and dressing — they were indulging in it before they even knew it.
Sixteen years later there is no place like Oxford, and there is no place like down-home cooking from Ajax, especially after a long road trip. So whether you are dining in or ordering curbside, go grab some delectable gameday comfort food and watch our Rebel Revival this weekend! Happy Homecoming and All Aboard!
Bon Appetit!
For more info on Dine-In or Ordering Curbside visit:
www.ajaxdiner.com
Ajax Diner
118 Courthouse Square,
Oxford, MS 38655
(662) 232-8880
info@ajaxdiner.co
Hours
Mon- Thurs:
11:30 AM-2PM
4:30PM- 9PM
Fri & Sat
11AM-9PM
Lee Ann Herring-Olvedo
Herring-Olvedo sees college football the way championship programs do—from inside the personnel room. Every evaluation, every roster move, every recruiting battle tells a bigger story about identity, culture, and how a program is built to win in December, not just July.
With more than 15 years covering the SEC and the national recruiting landscape, Herring-Olvedo has built a reputation as one of the sport’s most respected personnel-driven voices—blending film evaluation, roster construction, and long-term program vision through a true front-office lens. Her coverage of powerhouse brands like Ole Miss Rebels and Kentucky Wildcatshas consistently gone beyond headlines, focusing instead on the blueprint behind winning programs: development, fit, culture, and recruiting strategy.
That foundation was formed early at Brown University, where she worked in player personnel and recruiting while competing as a student-athlete. Inside those recruiting operations rooms, she learned how elite organizations are truly built—through relentless evaluation, relationship building, projection, and trust in the board. Those experiences shaped the way she studies the game today: part scout, part storyteller, part architect.
Her analysis and reporting have appeared across major platforms including ESPN, NFL coverage spaces, USA Today Sports, and Saturday Down South. She also brought her personnel-minded approach to the airwaves as an on-air analyst for the Wake Up 502 College Football Show on Big X Sports Radio 96.1, where she became known for combining film-room detail with a wider understanding of roster identity and program trajectory.
In 2025, covering the rise of Houston Cougars football under Willie Fritz reignited the part of the sport that first drew her into football—the culture, the edge, the belief that a roster can reshape an entire city. That inspiration led to the launch of Coogs 365 Sports, a platform built to cover Houston athletics through a true scouting and recruiting lens while connecting the emotion of the game to the heartbeat of H-Town.
Now, Herring-Olvedo returns to The Rebel Walk where with an even deeper perspective shaped by years inside recruiting circles, national SEC coverage, and hands-on evaluation experience. Her return brings a familiar voice back to Ole Miss coverage—but with an evolved lens rooted in roster architecture, player development, and the modern realities of building championship-caliber football in the NIL and portal era.
For Herring-Olvedo, recruiting has never been about stars beside a name. It is about identifying competitors, projecting growth, and building a locker room capable of sustaining success. Her philosophy mirrors the best front offices in football: stack traits, trust culture, and never stop building.
