Tailgating: Hotty Toddy Style!

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If you’re a fan of football then you know there’s something special about the months of September, October, and November. Perhaps it’s the cool fall weather, the painted faces, or the cheering of your home team who has just scored a touchdown. In my case, it’s our cheer song “Hotty Toddy” that makes Ole Miss Football so different and so special from anywhere else. Take a look…

Every year, tailgating at Ole Miss is what I most look forward to, maybe even more so than the game. For me, it’s the fried food, big hair, and even bigger southern accents that scream “Hey Y’all!” from every corner of the Grove. To give you a better mental picture I believe Sports Illustrated in 2004 said it best,

“But In Oxford lies, as promised, the most magical place on all of God's green, football playing Earth: the Grove. A school of red and white and blue tents swimming in a shaded 10-acre forest of oak trees, floating in an ocean of good will and even better manners.... Where the gents sport coats and ties, toting their bourbon highballs in one hand and their highly decorative dates in the other. Chandeliers even hang from tents in September in Faulkner country.”

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Saturday Morning, My best friends and I were at the Grove by 9AM for the Ole Miss vs. Kentucky game. For almost a mile I toted my contribution to the tailgate, a chafing dish full of Nathan’s Famous Pretzel Dogs up a hill and around a corner... in heels. This is what most Mississippians do and think nothing of it. Well, I think they think something of it; they just probably share their thoughts with their doctor and/or chiropractor.

Nathan’s Famous Pretzel dogs were gone the first hour we were there. Everyone had two each and didn’t consider sharing. For me, it was the mustard that did me in; absolutely delicious. One of my favorite things about the Grove is the food. There are people who bring dishes to the Grove that are comparable to dishes you would commonly find at weddings and special occasions. For some it’s a recipe that’s been in their family for years, yet they can’t remember the recipe because everything is “to taste.” The recipe I have has been passed amongst friends for years, to the point that I’m not even sure where it originated. We call it Ole Miss Football dip, its casual, and it will make your mouth water. This is how I make it:

16 oz. Cream Cheese

16 oz. of Shredded Cheddar Cheese

1 bunch Green Onions- Finely chop and mix in enough that its even throughout the dip and/or to taste

2 tbsp. Butter

1 can of Chipped Beef- Put this in a food processor until the texture of the beef is broken up into a fine texture

4 tbsp. or Worcestershire Sauce- to taste, some may like more or less

2-3 tbsp. of Horseradish Sauce- same as above

1 sourdough bread loaf

Combine all of the ingredients above except the bread into a big bowl. Make sure everything mixes in evenly. Next, make the bread loaf a bread bowl by cutting out the center. Scoop the dip into the bread bowl and sprinkle with leftover shredded cheese. Place it in the oven on 350 for 20-25 minutes. Use the left over bread for the dip or use corn chips as an excellent alternative.

Ole Miss ended up winning over Kentucky 42-35… and it was a win for everyone. For a team that started off shaky this season, it was a nice boost of confidence that we all needed. Everyone always jokes that although Ole Miss may not win every game, they never lose a party… it’s certainly nice to have both once in a while! I always realize how much I miss my friends after a weekend spent in Mississippi because it’s where our friendships started… were we had the best laughs, and the best times. It’s always nice to go back, because someone how we always pick up right where we left off.

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