A Visit with Gator Bowl Committee Member, Ole Miss Alumnus William Milne as Rebels Prepare to take on Duke
JACKSONVILLE — I recently had the pleasure of speaking with my dear friend, Ole Miss alumnus and Gator Bowl Committee member, William Milne. William is a mortgage loan officer and a lifelong Jacksonville resident. It is important to note that Milne is not speaking on behalf of the Gator Bowl committee. All comments and opinions are his own.
Author Emily Holly with William Milne, Gator Bowl Committee member, when the two were students at Ole Miss, Class of 2005. (Photo courtesy of Emily Holly)
Native Floridian chooses Ole Miss
On how a native Floridian ended up at Ole Miss, Milne stated he grew up loving both UF and FSU, as his mom was Miss FSU as a student.
William Milne
“I have always wanted to go off and do my own thing, and I have always loved and appreciated Southern culture. Some very good friends of ours were Ole Miss fans with the dad having been a male cheerleader at Ole Miss when Archie was there. I was welcomed onto campus very nicely, and whether the football team is bad or good is irrelevant. Ole Miss always catches my heart and has been such a huge part of me ever since I arrived on campus.”
I asked Milne to tell me about his role on the Gator Bowl committee. Per Milne, not only is the Gator Bowl a football game; it is also a huge supporter of various charities and organizations in the Jacksonville area.
“We all roll up our sleeves and go to work,” he explained. “This is the official 80th Gator Bowl, and my specific role is to serve as an SEC team host. We plan to take the team out to Mayport and show them one of the big cruiser ships, play a few rounds at TopGolf, and just make their game experience as good as possible. Lots of the money that comes in for the game goes right back into the community through the Gator Bowl charities.”
A specific activity Milne is excited about is the annual steak and lobster welcome dinner.
Recommendations for Rebels in Jacksonville
Milne and his family have called Jacksonville home dating back to his grandparents in 1946. While Jacksonville is home, Milne refers to Mississippi as his second home. He has many recommendations for Ole Miss fans who may not have been to Jacksonville before.
“I highly recommend going to the nearby town of St. Augustine, which is Florida’s oldest city with lots of Spanish influence. I also recommend the zoo. From a religious perspective, there is a really popular mega-church called the Church of 1122, and for people who like to shop, check out St. John’s Town Center.”
William Milne, Gator Bowl Committee Member
Jacksonville has plenty of food and drink options. Milne’s favorites include the following:
- Outback Crab Shack
- Ragtime Tavern
- The Brick
- Hawkers Asian Street Food
Ole Miss in the Gator Bowl
Milne stated that while he is very excited to see Ole Miss in the Gator Bowl, he has to try to keep his emotions in check as a committee member. He described the selection process as being in a pool with other bowls of the mid to upper tiers. “We submit our preferences, and then the broadcast team and the SEC office ultimately make the final decision,” he noted.
I could not resist asking him for any predictions for the game.
“I know how I want it to play out. I certainly hope it goes a certain way. I believe Ole Miss’ chances are very good. I really think it will be a very entertaining game, and I certainly think Jaxson (Dart) will want to go out on a high note.”
William Milne
From all of us at The Rebel Walk, we are hoping for the same!
Emily Holly
Emily Evans Holly is a 2nd generation Ole Miss Rebel. She graduated in 2005 with a BBA in Marketing Communications and in 2006 with an MBA. While at Ole Miss, Emily was a Taylor Medalist, member of the Sally McDonnell Barksdale Honors College, Vice-President of Phi Mu, and a Rebel Recruiter. Emily was a sports and entertainment banker in Nashville before deciding to stay home with her daughter, Mattie. She resides in Brentwood, TN, with her husband and daughter. Emily is an avid fan of both Ole Miss and the New Orleans Saints.
