Nothin' like a Hotty Toddy party to kick off Saturday

Originally Published: October 12, 2007

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By Mary Buckheit
ESPN.com
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Gettin' In the Grove at Ole Miss

OXFORD, Miss. -- Beneath the patchwork and the paisley; behind the seersucker, Skoal and Sperry Top-Siders -- it's another world in The Grove.

Literally, until you've seen it, you can't imagine what goes on at Ole Miss for a game day.

In the center of campus at a place called The Grove, fans gather in a crock pot filled with football and formal. I'd call it a tailgate, but I'm not sure that accurately describes the catered tabletops with candelabras under tents toting chandeliers and Direct TV dishes.

While I'm still not sure I can define hoddy toddy, I'm certain I saw it last Saturday. It smelled like cologne, and bourbon, and brownies, and barbeque. It had names like Langston, and Kyle, and Caroline. It looked a little like golf and tennis and sailing. But it was really just football at the University of Mississippi.

Are you ready? Ralph Lauren eat your heart out.

The University of Mississippi is big on unofficial emblems. Shoot, the entire institution operates under an alias. So, Colonel Reb isn't the official mascot, "Dixie" isn't the official anthem, and while folks in Florida and Georgia might have officially cornered the market on big outdoor cocktail parties, Ole Miss unofficially has nabbed the best.

Mary Buckheit/ESPN.com

It's never too hot for Hotty Toddy Party in Mississippi.

I'm pretty sure that Polo is the unofficial apparel sponsor of Ole Miss. While it might look like we crashed a wedding on the Vineyard, this is actual a snapshot of the standard attire for football game-going frat brothers. Business casual couldn't cut it around here. And neither would a buzz cut. Perfectly pressed khakis, loafers, button downs, ties and blue blazers aren't some extraordinary paradigm, they're the norm for the gentlemen of Ole Miss and their full-feathered comb-overs.

Ralph Braseth

Rebels fans take a formal approach to football.

Not to be outdone, the fairer sex also breaks out their Sunday best on Saturdays in Oxford. For the ladies, nothing but a cocktail dress and heels will do.

Mary Buckheit/ESPN.com

Female fans show they're just as well-heeled as the boys.

Spilling over about 10 acres of campus real estate, shaded by oak trees lies the legendary grassy patch. Coeds, catering servants, kids and alumni sporting class rings the size of tea candles gather under tents in The Grove for the festivities, many arriving before 6 a.m. On its way to the stadium a few hours before kickoff, the football team makes its way under the arch and into the sea of grovers. During the party, the arch makes for great fun and photo ops that assure you are partying like a champion.

Mary Buckheit/ESPN.com

Before each game, fans and players alike walk through the "Walk of Champions" arc, which was donated by Ole Miss' only undefeated team, the 1962 Rebels.

As a New Englander transplanted to Southern California, I had a lot to learn in Mississippi . Lucky for me, the little niblets of the Dixie Dance Company were kind enough to teach me the Hoddy Toddy cheer. Are you ready (for the G-rated version)? "Hotty Toddy, Gosh almighty, Who are we? Hey! Flim Flam, Bim Bam, Ole Miss, Yes Ma'am!"

Ralph Braseth

Fandom in the SEC starts at a very early age.

Only the food spread can steal the spotlight from the fashion show. They serve up anything you can imagine in The Grove … most under chandeliers, on table cloths with silver-plated servers, lots of lace and designer doilies. But in a sea of hors d'oeuvres and highbrows, barbeque still has authority and this tricked out grill was a thing of beauty.

Mary Buckheit/ESPN.com

No Southern football Saturday would be complete without a healthy dose of barbeque.

I don't Grove and tell.

Mary Buckheit/ESPN.com

Southern hospitality reigns in the Grove, but that doesn't mean they're sharing all of their secrets.

Mary Buckheit is a Page 2 columnist. She can be reached at marybuckheit@hotmail.com.

Southern Living: A Weekend in the SEC

Tradition, competition, emotion and hospitality define the SEC experience. To get a first-hand account, ESPN.com visited all eight SEC home games on the first weekend of October. From Columbia to Tuscaloosa, the sights, sounds and smells were a treasure to behold. Index

Forde: Savory Southern sojourn
Ride along on an inside trip with Mike Slive as the unlikely boss of the best and bawdiest league traveled around the movable feast of an SEC weekend. Story

Curry: Life in the SEC
Bill Curry has coached and played in the SEC, and he understands the passion of its fans, the genius of its coaches and why there's nothing like it. Story

Alabama: View from above
It's a mantra any good Crimson Tide fan will recite: "At a lot of places, they just play football. At Alabama, we live it." Chris Low

Arkansas: Calling all Hogs
There are few things in life that can bring a diverse state or a divorced couple together, but Arkansas football proves every Saturday that it has that power. Liz Merrill

Auburn: Rocking and Rollin'
what happens in the center of town when students and alumni gather at Toomer's Corner after an Auburn win is a truly unique celebration. Zoom Gallery

LSU: To be like Mike
Mike the Tiger's historic first day on the job drew plenty of anticipation and excitement. Eric Adelson

Ole Miss: Get your Grove on
Beneath the patchwork and the paisley; behind the seersucker, Skoal and Sperry Top-Siders -- it's another world in The Grove. Mary Buckheit

Mississippi State: Cristil clear delivery
While the fortunes of Mississippi State football have ebbed and flowed over the past 55 years, the simple, even cadence of Jack Cristil has been the one constant. David Albright

South Carolina: Lights, Camera, Action
It's likely one of the easiest part of the job, but doing a weekly TV show pays off in the end for South Carolina coach Steve Spurrier. Mark Schlabach

Tennessee: Checkerboard Picasso
The Tennessee checkered end zones are one of the most recognizable scenes in sports. Meet the man who is responsible for the transformations at Neyland Stadium. Ron Higgins

SportsNation
• Poll: Who are the SEC's all-time best?
• Ranker: Which team is the best in SEC history?
• Chat: Higgins and Low, noon ET