Ole Miss Tailgating Traditions: “The Zebra Tent”

The Tailgating Traditions of the Zebra Tent!
An Interview With Jane Foster by Steve Vassallo
Enjoy the third in our series of Tailgating Traditions articles sponsored by Ole Miss Tailgating where you can even order Raising Cane’s® and Chick-fil-A® for your Grove Tent! (Click the Ole Miss Tailgating logo below to see the menu and order!)

From left to right: Erin Noble, Suzanne Camp and Jane Foster are the tent participants who create each game’s theme in the Zebra tent. The theme for the Wofford Game last weekend was “Breakfast at Tiffany’s.” The theme for the upcoming Alabama game is going to be “Circus with Dumbo.” (OK we get it!)

HottyToddy.com: Jane, your “Zebra” tent is well known throughout the Grove and beyond. How did this come about?

Jane Foster: We decided to do something different so our friends could find
us. So we asked our artist friend Noel Web to paint the tent in a fun way. She
decided to do Zebra.

HottyToddy.com: When did your tailgating experience commence?

Jane Foster: 14 years ago

HottyToddy.com: Who are the families that are regular participants?

Jane Foster: Lantz and Jane Foster, Suzanne and Ron Camp, Mike Slaughter, Anne Blair, Teresa Hubbard, Katrina Harris, Brad and Michelle and Brad Hill, Wilson Harreld, Jo Lynn Michael, Martin and Barbara Mesecke, Ken and Madeline Morris, David and Deanna Berry, Michael and Wendy Tate, John and Erin Noble, Jan Collins,
Robert and Angie Ochoa, Bill and Karen Mosby.

HottyToddy.com: Why did you select the location that you did? Please specify
where it is.

Jane Foster: We are on the walk of champions six tents on the left coming
from the union. Because we love to be on the Walk to see the team.

HottyToddy.com: What is your history with Ole Miss as well as the
other principals?

Jane Foster: My husband and many of the members and their children went to
Ole Miss. I actually went to MSU but fell in love with the Grove and the
over the top tailgating experience.

HottyToddy.com: Women in particular especially are fond of the “Zebra”
because of its furnishings and individual game themes. Your thoughts?

Jane Foster: Most women love creativity… Most of us love to find a new
twist on entertaining. We try to change it up.

HottyToddy.com: You have had numerous celebrities visit the tent. Would you
mind naming a few for our readers?

Jane Foster: We have tailgated with Tim Tebow’s family and make a wish
children, Greg Isles, James Meridith, Brian McFadden, Cliff Stout, Ray Perkins, Sam Ponder, and quit a few former rebels who are in the NFL now.

HottyToddy.com: Describe the most humorous incident that comes to mind?

Jane Foster: Probably the New York City Fireman that had a bachelor
party at the Zebra Tent. Their reactions to all the pretty girls kept us entertained.

HottyToddy.com: Your permanent residence (and the other regulars) is where?

Jane Foster: I live in Canton Ms, but we have members from Madison and
Oxford , Texas, Arkansas and Missouri.

HottyToddy.com: Do any of you have second homes in Oxford?

Jane Foster: Most all do.

HottyToddy.com: Your view on the rules and regulations for setting up
in the Grove?

Jane Foster: They make the rules and we follow them. I would love to be able to have the band play at the tent again but I understand why they changed it.

HottyToddy.com: If Ole Miss were to change anything about the Grove
experience, what would you recommend?

Jane Foster: The loading and unloading could be more organized.

HottyToddy.com: How early in the week do you start preparing for the
Saturday event?

Jane Foster: We meet a few months before football season and make a plan. We
start working on the decorations a few weeks out. Our Friday nights are full till midnight preparing and we start setting up at 6:00 that morning.

HottyToddy.com: What is your zenith enjoyment from all of this work?

Jane Foster: Making so many memories with close friends and visitors. The
friendships we have built at the tent have spilled over into everyday life.

See the photos below from the Zebra Tent’s grand theme “Breakfast at Tiffany’s,” the theme for the Wofford Game last weekend. The theme for the upcoming Alabama game is going to be “Circus with Dumbo.” (OK, Dumbo is an elephant, right?)

See our previous editions of Ole Miss Tailgating Traditions sponsored by Ole Miss Tailgating:

Week 1: Ole Miss Tailgating Traditions: The Looser Family 

Week 2: Ole Miss Tailgating Traditions: “The Real Thing” Tent

Steve Vassallo is a HottyToddy.com contributor. Steve writes on Ole Miss athletics, Oxford business, politics and other subjects. He is an Ole Miss grad and former radio announcer for the basketball team. Currently, Steve is a highly successful leader in the real estate business who lives in Oxford with his wife Rosie. You can contact Steve at sovassallo@gmail.com or call him at 985-852-7745.

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