Rebels Enjoy ESPN GameDay in the Grove
OXFORD, Miss. — Ole Miss fans gathered in The Grove Saturday to enjoy food and friendships while celebrating the Ole Miss football team and preparing for the matchup against Texas A&M later that evening.
Rebels also welcomed the ESPN GameDay crew to Oxford and watched as head coach Lane Kiffin became the first sitting head coach to serve as the celebrity guest picker.
“It’s always nice coming back to The Grove each fall to see faces new and old,” said Charlie Perkins.
“It’s like a family reunion every home game Saturday. There is no better tailgating venue in the country than The Grove at Ole Miss.”
Charlie Perkins, former Ole Miss football player and owner of the “Aftermath” tent
As The Rebel Walk’s roving reporter, I had the pleasure of visiting with so many Ole Miss fans this weekend. Here are some of the Rebels who were kind enough to let us snap some pics.
When head coach Lane Kiffin was spotted on GameDay sitting amongst Rebels and enjoying the day, he was doing so next to my friend Kathy Molpus in her tent, “The Red and Blue Crew.”
“The game day atmosphere was electric! It reminded me so much of the last time ESPN game day was there. Our tent was in a prime location, and we had the nice surprise of Lane Kiffin being a guest.“
Kathy Molpus, “The Red and Blue Crew”
Lane Kiffin dropped by and spent some time in Kathy Molpus’ tent, The Red and Blue Crew. (Photo: Josh McCoy, Ole Miss)
“When I set out six years ago to find folks for this tent, I didn’t want just all diehard multi-generational Ole Miss fans,” Kathy explained. “I recruited from 10 states and people from all walks of life and other school alumni. It’s been so much fun.”
Thank you to Kathy, Charlie, and all the fun folks who let us take their pictures and visit with them on a beautiful day in The Grove.
Look for more from this roving reporter at the Vanderbilt game. You can follow me on twitter here and let me know where I can find you next Saturday.
Hotty Toddy!
Patti Parks Rooney
Patti Parks Rooney is just past the age of fifty, hails from the Mississippi Delta and likes, in no particular order: a tin roof, Taylor Swift, George Strait, Lana Del Ray and Miles Davis, Diet Chick-fil-A Lemonade and Coke Zero, writing poetry, gardening, her godchild, shoes, history, Kimi Raikonnen and Formula One racing, art, beaches, really good pinot noir, the number sixteen, Yellowstone, Ozark and Arrested Development, friends that can utilize a grill, trips that require air travel, bond fires in summer or fall, and, of course, The Grove and Ole Miss football.
You will not find a 'Live, Laugh and Love' sign in her home. She says it’s nothing personal. You will, however, find the tv on the SEC channel most all times.
She currently resides in Oxford, is mom to Hollywood, her cat of 15 years, and works in the mental health field.
PS - She understands you can never underestimate the significance of Bill Walsh’s West Coast offense in professional football.
