Rebel players, coaches and staff reach 100 percent vaccination rate

OXFORD, Miss. — As the Rebels begin fall camp today, there’s one bit of news that has already emerged — 100% of the Ole Miss team on the practice field Sunday, including coaches and staff members, has been vaccinated for COVID. 

Just a few weeks ago, the Rebels fell far short of the 85-percent vaccination threshold SEC Commissioner Greg Sankey announced would be the magic number for teams to avoid the COVID-19 testings this fall.

At SEC Media Days last month, Sankey said all SEC teams that reach the required 85% threshold will not have to undergo the COVID-19 protocol and regular testing this fall, whereas those teams under 85% will be tested.

Sankey also announced there will be no re-scheduling of games this fall due to the virus, meaning teams would be forced to forfeit a game if too many players tested positive.

“It’s pretty amazing and great motivation for our fans and the state,” Kiffin told ESPN’s Chris Low of his team’s compliance. 

Ole Miss opens the 2021 season on Mon., Sept. 6 in Atlanta, playing the Louisville Cardinals in the Chick-fil-A Kickoff Game. Kickoff is set for 7 p.m. CT and the game will be nationally televised on ESPN.

Evelyn Van Pelt

Evelyn has covered sports for over two decades, beginning her journalism career as a sports writer for a newspaper in Austin, Texas. She attended Texas A&M and majored in English. Evelyn’s love for Ole Miss began when her daughter Katie attended the university on a volleyball scholarship. Evelyn created the Rebel Walk in 2013 and has served as publisher and managing editor since its inception.