Ole Miss Football

OXFORD, Miss. - As Head Coach David Cutcliffe leads the Ole Miss football team to victory, thousands of enthusiastic Rebel fans are expected to be on hand to show their support.

Best advice: Arrive early.
Because of construction walls to shield work on buildings and because of chain fences to protect new landscaping and sprinkler systems, University officials estimate there will be 400 fewer parking spaces available in the core of the campus for home games.

"The University is experiencing unparalleled momentum with new academic programs, extensive construction, renovation and landscaping, and tremendous private and public support," said Dr. Andy Mullins, executive assistant to the chancellor. "With progress and growth often comes temporary inconvenience. We are asking that all fans help by allowing ample travel and parking time in their schedules and by being patient once on campus."

Parking will be allowed this year on the band practice field behind the School of Education, access can be gained from Old Taylor Road. Also, the 240-vehicle gravel parking lot established last year on the right side of Old Taylor Road, just off Highway 6, will again be available. Additional parking space can be found along the street running by the new intramural fields. The area can be accessed by exiting Highway 6 at Coliseum Drive, taking a left by the indoor sports complex and taking another left by the Coy Waller Laboratory Complex, or by turning off Jackson Avenue by Hunan Chinese Restaurant, across the street from the Park Place Inn and Suites (formerly the Ramada Inn).

New arrangements: Recreational vehicles will not be allowed on campus until after noon on Fridays of football weekends because of the need for commuting students' parking spaces. The only people exempt from this new rule are RV owners who have already rented space across from the Oxford-University Baseball Stadium, they will be allowed on campus before noon.

Enjoy The New Grove Pavilion

Hederman Family Joins Classes of '98 and '99 to Provide Resources

A family of University of Mississippi supporters has recognized the importance of The Grove by contributing resources to build a new pavilion, replacing the old stage. (Isn't The Grove absolutely the most glorious place to be on golden Saturday afternoons in the fall!) The 11-acre park in the heart of the Oxford campus is used by people of all ages as a reunion site, meeting place, classroom, park, playground, outdoor wedding chapel, auditorium, and more.

The Class of 1998 initiated a drive to attract funding for a larger structure equipped with electronics for lighting and sound to replace The Grove stage. An architectural design for a covered pavilion emerged, as well as plans to enhance landscaping and drainage of The Grove's natural amphitheater. The Class of 1999 continued fund raising, but with a price tag of more than $400,000, the pavilion and landscaping appeared to be a long-range project.

That is until Mrs. T.M. Hederman Jr. of Jackson, Hap Hederman of Jackson, and Mrs. Richard Hussey of Memphis became partners with the students to make the dream a reality. The Hedermans' gift honors Martha Dean Hederman (Ole Miss Class of 1942) and memorializes Tom M. Hederman III (Class of 1962) and Richard W. Hussey.

"The Grove is the heart and soul of Ole Miss," Hap Hederman said. "All of us have special memories of the activities and times we enjoyed there as students and now enjoy as alumni. This project also appealed to our family because it is important to Chancellor Robert Khayat. We wanted to be involved to honor and show our appreciation for him because he has inspired and brought enthusiasm back to the entire Ole Miss community."

Hederman continued, "The chancellor has put together a team that is taking Ole Miss to the forefront of higher education, and we very much appreciate the commitment and the energy he has dedicated to our University."

The Grove has played an important role in the life of the University since the late 1880s. "I've visited college campuses all over the United States and have never seen anything comparable to our Grove, with its rolling land, trees, grass, and location in the heart of the campus," Chancellor Khayat said. "The Grove is unique, it wraps its arms around you, holds you, and gives you peace and security. The Hederman family understands how dear The Grove is to people's hearts."

Support The Grove

Because of the role The Grove plays in the life of the University, the Ole Miss Alumni Association began The Grove Society last fall, asking those who enjoy this 11-acre park to help ensure its upkeep.

By contributing $1,000, an individual, family, or company can become a founding member of The Grove Society and receive a reserved, one-year parking pass for the Lamar Law Center parking lot during football season. For the first year of membership, this level of Grove Society membership includes an engraved brick for a planned walkway. Membership is renewable annually at $1,000 to maintain the reserved parking. In addition, The Grove Society is offering a general membership for $100, which provides a vehicle decal denoting membership.

The sidewalk of engraved bricks will complement the Walk of Champions arch in The Grove - the site of the Ole Miss Rebels' traditional walk on football Saturdays. Engraved bricks are available to anyone at a cost of $250, and the net proceeds from the sale of bricks will be earmarked for student scholarships, as well as for academic enrichment.

Maintenance and security for The Grove costs $80,000-$100,000 annually. "In higher education today, it is unusual for a university to be blessed with the amount of green space we enjoy, and it really sets the mood of this campus," Ole Miss Chancellor Robert Khayat said. "Any gathering place needs to be treasured. Stewardship of The Grove is not the responsibility of just the University but the responsibility of all who love and use it."

For more information, call Bonita Terry-Malone in Alumni Affairs at (662) 915-7375 or e-mail: bonita@olemiss.edu.

Handicapped Parking

There are 66 handicapped parking spaces located near Vaught-Hemingway Stadium. When a driver of a vehicle with official handicapped license plate or placard approaches the street barricades, University Police officers will allow that vehicle through to the stadium area. If the parking spaces are full in the immediate stadium area, the handicapped person can remain at the stadium while the driver finds a parking space in another area on campus. Some assistance for the handicapped will be provided in parking lots adjacent to the stadium.

Flow, Traffic, Flow!

If you are a faithful Ole Miss fan, you've probably been on the Oxford campus so often your vehicle could navigate University Avenue without your guidance!

Just as a refresher, though, let's talk traffic patterns for before and after football games.

Traffic on Grove Loop - which runs in front of Farley Hall, Lamar Law Center, and Triplett Alumni Center?will flow one way (southeast), making room for one lane of traffic and an unloading zone for The Grove. There will be no right turn on the Grove Loop when traveling west on University Avenue. The other unloading zone for The Grove is located on University Avenue, with The Grove opening Saturdays at 7 a.m.

There will be no admittance of vehicles on All-American Drive between the intersection of All-American Drive and Poole Drive to the intersection of All-American Drive and University Avenue unless a driver is in possession of a parking pass or has a handicapped license plate or placard. University Police Department Chief Mike Stewart also reminds football fans that one-way traffic flows east on University Avenue (toward downtown Oxford) for 30-45 minutes after games. Traffic also flows one way on Coliseum Drive leaving campus onto Highway 6.

Love The Grove, Love The Fans

The Grove experience at Ole Miss is truly one of the most extraordinary college football traditions in the South and the nation. The legendary Saturdays are packed with family and lifetime friends who gather to embrace each other and our beloved Ole Miss.

And when the football players and coaches walk through the cheering Rebel faithful on their way to Vaught-Hemingway Stadium, the air is electrifying.

To care for fans and The Grove, with its ever-increasing popularity, these tips are offered:

Observe The Grove's opening time of 7 a.m. for Saturday football games and the 15-minute time limit in unloading zones.
Remember only University-sponsored events may be held in "reserved" places in The Grove. Examples are High School/Community College Day (October 9) and Public Officials Day (November 6). Other space can be claimed on a first-come basis.
Occupy only the space you need, being considerate of others.
Avoid using ropes or ribbons to reserve an area.
Do not drive stakes into the ground, which is dangerous due to electric and water lines that run under The Grove.
Remember that no solicitation is allowed in The Grove.
If you must have a large grill, place it on the perimeter of The Grove. To avoid safety hazards for children and others, pay close attention to all grills.
Use garbage bags to help keep The Grove clean. Free bags will be available in front of the Triplett Alumni Center.
Do not leave valuables unattended. University Police Department officers constantly patrol the area but cannot be responsible for hundreds of picnic sites.
Show patience, courtesy, and respect to all security personnel.

The University of Mississippi Athletics

Enjoy The New Grove Pavilion

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