The C.M. ‘Tad’ Smith Coliseum: A Legacy Bigger Than Its Walls
OXFORD, Miss. – A moment in time. An atmosphere loud and tight. A home to Rebel legends. A crown jewel of history. A place that embodies college basketball. The C.M. “Tad” Smith Coliseum, better known as the Tad Pad, will be torn down this summer, but its legacy goes far beyond the scope of the coliseum.
We asked Ole Miss Athletic Director Keith Carter — a former Ole Miss men’s basketball player — his thoughts on his old gym.
“Tad Smith was one of the best venues that I’d ever played in…I think me and my teammates, we just felt like it was the Taj Mahal.”
Ole Miss Athletic Director Keith Carter
Moments on the Court
Between 1966 and 2016, the Tad Pad hosted 700 regular-season Ole Miss basketball games over 51 seasons as the official venue for SEC college basketball. During this time, it produced household names in Oxford, including Johnny Neumann, Gerald Glass, Jennifer Gillom, Peggie Gillom-Granderson, Renee Ladner, Ansu Sesay, and Marshall Henderson.
The coliseum also hosted legendary visiting players, including Pete Maravich (LSU), Charles Barkley (Auburn), Shaquille O’Neal (LSU), and Candace Parker (Tennessee).
Jeff Roberson, an Ole Miss sports writer with 35 years of coverage, says the Tad Pad’s greatest game came on March 4, 1989: Ole Miss men’s basketball vs. LSU. A battle between Glass, who scored 53, and LSU’s Chris Jackson, with 55. The Rebels, led by Ed Murphy, won 113-112 in overtime after Glass’s winning free throw.
“This was probably the most memorable game ever in the Coliseum… Even though it might not have been for a championship, it was just like no game you can imagine.“
Jeff Roberson on the greatest game in the Tad Pad
It would be remiss not to mention former Ole Miss women’s basketball head coach Van Chancellor. He was the Rebels’ head coach for 19 seasons, compiling an impressive 439–154 record and 14 NCAA tournament appearances. According to an article written by Roberson for Ole Miss Athletics, in one game during his tenure, Chancellor and the Rebels were set to host Tennessee. However, there was an ice storm the previous day. Chancellor and his family’s vehicle slid off the road on the way to the game, but somebody stopped and gave them a lift to the Tad Pad. In true Chancellor fashion, the Rebels won 78-72.
One Final Game
Since Chris Beard, the current Ole Miss men’s head coach, arrived at Ole Miss, the Rebels have hosted three throwback games at the Tad Pad. The final game in the old coliseum took place on November 15, 2025, against the Cal State Bakersfield Roadrunners.
“You walk in, and the lights are on, and you’re playing a game in there. And it did. It brought back a lot of really cool memories from that building,” Carter explained.
Rebel fans filled the Tad Pad, though it had changed. Capacity was reduced for safety, and the building showed its age. But the game felt special—a final farewell to a beloved venue. The court looked as it did a decade ago. The team ran through the student section, down the steps, and onto the court. Streamers fell as cheerleaders and the marching band fueled the Rebels’ spirit.
“I said this when we got the job, there’s a lot of tradition here at Ole Miss, and part of our responsibility as the current caretakers of the program is to ignite all the past eras of basketball.“
Chris Beard prior to the final game played in the Tad Pad
Along with the pageantry, the team honored former men’s head coach Rod Barnes, who led the Rebels to the Sweet 16 in 2001. The crowd erupted for Barnes as he was recognized at the final game in his old stomping grounds.
“I’m just a humble guy from Satartia, Mississippi, who was given an opportunity. To have this honor… It means a lot. People who know me know I try to hide from the ‘celebrity’ side of things. I just feel blessed.”
Former Ole Miss head coach Rod Barnes
The Rebels recaptured the Tad Pad’s magic with an 82-60 win over the Roadrunners. As fans exited and workers cleaned up, the lights faded on the final game.
A Legacy Bigger than the Coliseum
“I just think back to Tad Smith. You came to the game, you got your Coke and your popcorn, you went to your seat, and you basically went to war with the team for two hours.“
Keith Carter
Sixty years of Ole Miss basketball, roaring Rebel fans, and memories that will outlive the walls. The C.M. “Tad” Smith Coliseum was never just a building. Over the summer, the Tad Pad will see its last days. Its legacy, on the other hand, will never be torn down.
“In some ways it was a special building, and in other ways it was just our building,” said Roberson.
Parks Burcham
Parks Burcham is a sophomore at the University of Mississippi. He is majoring in Journalism, emphasis in Sports Media, with a minor in Sports Management. He is originally from Booneville, Mississippi and graduated high school from Jumpertown Attendance Center.His favorite sports are basketball and football. He chose this path because he has always been extremely interested in the sports world. Parks enjoys all aspects of the game and hopes to do great work in this field.
