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GARY BRIDGEMAN
arts & culture
BENEFITING GEORGIA CONFLICT CENTER
► flag football
Rebelling Against Georgia Fandom
AN OLE MISS GRAD’S TAKE ON THE DAWGS’ TRIP TO OXFORD
By Blake Aued news@flagpole.com
As an Ole Miss football fan, it’s been
simultaneously hilarious and infuriating
listening to Georgia fans vent about win
ning 10 games a year the past few seasons.
You think the Bulldogs have it bad because
they haven’t won an SEC championship
since 2005? My team has never gone to an
SEC championship game. But, as the saying
goes, we never lost a party. So I’d encourage
you to make the seven-hour trek to my alma
mater in Oxford, MS.
THE TEAM: Georgia owns this series 32-12
and has won the past 10 matchups. But
this ain’t the 3-9 Ed Orgeron team y’all beat
by 28 at Sanford in 2007. In spite of their
losses to Florida State and Alabama, the
Rebels can hold their own—at least for a
half.
to be, anyway, considering the university
recently got rid of the Colonel Reb mascot
and “Dixie” with a surprising lack of fuss
from the fanbase.
You may be wondering why the speed
limit on campus is 18 miles per hour. Archie
Manning’s number was 18, of course.
THE TOWN: As it has in Athens, a lot has
changed in Oxford since my early-aughts
heyday, but a few remnants of my misspent
youth remain. The Kudzu Kings—a fun
outlaw country band that includes ex-Wide-
spread Panic guitarist George McConnell—
are playing at Proud Larry’s Friday night.
Be warned: By law, bars in Oxford close
at 1 a.m. If you still feel like throwing down,
ask around about house parties, called “late
nights” in the local parlance. Then, to soak
The courthouse and double-decker bus are icons of Oxford, MS.
The Dawgs roll into Oxford high off
Jacob Eason’s miracle touchdown pass to
Isaiah McKenzie to beat Missouri, while Ole
Miss blew a 21-point lead against Alabama,
then nearly came back from 18 points down
in the closing minutes, and is no doubt
desperate for a win. Against the Rebs’ stout
front four, Eason will get hit more times
than a Prince Avenue pedestrian, but if the
Ole Miss defense gets gassed in the second
half like it did against FSU and Bama, Nick
Chubb might rack up an AthHalf’s worth of
yardage.
For Ole Miss, it’s all about No. 10: Chad
Kelly (Jim’s nephew), the best quarterback
in the SEC, who racked up 421 yards pass
ing last week and is the team’s leading
rusher, too. Also keep an eye on Kelly’s
favorite target, tight end Evan Engram, a
Powder Springs native.
THE TAILGATING: People love the Grove. In
spite of its mystique, it’s really not all that
different from tailgating on North Campus,
except the frat boys are wearing blue blaz
ers, and there are chandeliers in the tents.
If you’re OK with the Old South milieu,
everybody is super-nice and will be happy to
share their bourbon with you (in a red Solo
cup only). It’s probably not as bad as it used
up all the beer you drank, grab an Oxford
delicacy, chicken on a stick, at the Chevron
at the corner of Lamar and University.
City Grocery is considered one of the
best restaurants in the country, but LOL
if you think you’re going to get a table.
Try Ajax instead. Or head down to Taylor
Grocery about 15 minutes away for the
best catfish in the world. It’s BYOB, and
Lafayette County is dry on Sunday, so plan
ahead.
John T. Edge, head of Ole Miss’
Southern Foodways Alliance and a visiting
writer at UGA, was kind enough to offer a
few suggestions, too: “Canoodle in the alley
is great for lunch. Saint Leo is new and very
good Italian. Lamar Lounge for chili cheese
burgers beyond the scrum. Shelter on the
Square for breakfast migas.”
Since William Faulkner is to Oxford as
R.E.M. is to Athens, you won’t want to
miss a tour of his lovingly preserved home,
Rowan Oak, where you can gawk at his
typewriter and the outline of A Fable writ
ten on the wall. Square Books is another
must-see. Grab a cup of coffee upstairs and
sit out on the balcony for a spell. ©
Our regular football columnist, Cy Brown, will re
turn next week. Until then, Hotty Toddy!
SUNDAY, OCTOBER 2ND, 2016
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SEPTEMBER 21, 2016 -FLAGPOLE.COM 11