Taste of the Game: Ole Miss at Vanderbilt
OXFORD, Miss. — Rebel faithful, it’s time to hit the road and head up I-40 to Nashvegas to see if Ole Miss can get a much-needed win over the Commodores. While Vanderbilt isn’t allowing fans in the stadium due to COVID precautions, there are plenty of Rebels who are making the trip in support of our team.
Kickoff is set for 3:00 p.m. Saturday in Nashville, and for those who will be out and about, it looks like it’s going to be a cool one. So what better way to warm up than with good libations and gameday fixings.
When you go to the Music City, you can be sure there are going to be plenty of game day pickins’ from which to choose. If I can’t be in the stands, you can bet I will be nesting up on Gameday at one of my favorite sports eateries, The Crow’s Nest.
You may not always be sure of the outcome of the game, but at The Crow’s Nest, you can be sure the drinks and cocktails will flow, the food is savory, and there is plenty of space to cheer on your team. I love a place where I can watch all of the games at a time; that’s the best ticket to have.
So get that road trip playlist ready, and let’s take our party to the Nest!
Yummy, Yummy!
Whether you’re just in town for the game or if you’ve decided to make a weekend of it, be sure to check out the Daily Specials — they’re diverse and fit every palette and foodie appetite from Hot Wings to Italian.
You can start off with the Appetizer Plate (Tenders, Egg Rolls, Pizza Bites, CheesyBites) which has a little something for everyone and is a good way to ease into kickoff, especially if you’re indulging in Saturday libations.
Smoked turkey and club
For those of y’all who may not be staying the whole day, but who want something filling, go for the sammiches (no, that’s not a typo) or the wraps. You cannot go wrong with any of these choices.
If you’re looking for something fresh, but with a little kick, go for their Cali Club with house-smoked turkey and club fixings on their Fuego-toasted jalapeno cheese bread.
Each week when I pick a place for our ‘Taste of the Game,’ I want to make sure there are plenty of choices for all of y’all.
If you just want some good ol’ fashion bar and gameday food, turn your attention toward the burgers because you won’t be disappointed with a burger and beer from this joint.
Burger goodness!
You’ll find some choices like the Blitz Burger, Man Burger, Game Day Burger, or the Double Play — and that’s not even the whole list.
What attracts me most to a place like this is that it’s perfect for singles, couples, families, kids, and seniors. The Crows Nest offers all sorts of deals that provide great taste but don’t bust your budget.
If you decided to make a day of it at The Nest and you’re settled in and feeling fine, or you’re ready to commit to dinner, go for the baskets or the tacos. If you really have an appetite or are coming with all your rowdy friends, check out their Meat and 2 or 3 sides that will satisfy anyone’s craving. With meat choices that include pulled pork shoulder, BBQ chicken breast, grilled chicken breast, shaved roast beef, catfish, chicken salad, or hamburger steak.
If you stay around on Sunday, there’s a great Happy Hour from 5 pm – close.
Brunch
Oh, how could I forget their brunch option? It’s perfect for your pre-game on Saturday or your post-game pick me up on Sunday. On Saturday and Sundays, brunch is from 11:00 am-3:00 pm.
Go for the gold with the Waffle Sandwich. I mean, how can you resist a southern staple of made-to-order waffles with your choice of chicken (grilled or fried), bacon, sausage gravy (of course!) and smoked cheddar hashbrowns. If you need to make room for their signature mimosas then try the fresh Mason Jar parfait.
All I can really say is bring an empty stomach and your A-game appetite. Whether you are going in for a quick bite or planning to stay awhile, The Crows Nest is the perfect spot to nestle up on game day and still feel like you’e tailgating!
All Aboard! Bon Appetit and Beat Vandy!
Keep up to date with all The Crow’s Nest daily specials and more at http://crowsnestnashville.com
The Crows Nest
2221 Bandywood Dr, Nashville, TN 37215
(615) 783-0720
Hours
Mon-Thurs: 11AM-11PM
Friday: 11AM-12AM
Saturday 10AM-12AM
Sunday 10AM-11PM
Lee Ann Herring-Olvedo
Lee Ann serves as the Director of Recruiting for The Rebel Walk. She 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.
