Meet HT.com’s New Sports Reporter: Ole Miss Evie

HottyToddy.com would like to introduce our newest sports reporter, Evelyn VanPelt

Evie and daughter Katie
Photo credit of Evelyn VanPelt

Many may already be familiar with VanPelt on Twitter by her handle @OleMissEvie, or by her recently appointed title “Must Follow SEC Female Fans” by MakeItRainSports.com.

Before becoming a reporter at HottyToddy.com, Evie began writing for gridirongirl.org. Soon after creating her twitter account, she read a tweet from the site’s founder who was looking for someone to cover Ole Miss football. VanPelt jumped at the chance when she was asked, and found herself “blessed with the opportunity to  cover the Rebels for HottyToddy.com.”

“Without a doubt, the highlight for me, so far, was attending Ole Miss Media Day a few weeks ago, and speaking with many of the players and going to practices,” VanPelt said. “I enjoyed meeting the players, and I’m impressed with each of them — not only as athletes, but as young men representing the University of Mississippi. I look forward to covering them this season.”

VanPelt was born in Texas and graduated from Texas A&M with a degree in English, but she is no stranger to Mississippi, Oxford and Ole Miss. With relatives in Hinds County, Miss., VanPelt’s daughter obtained three degrees from Ole Miss culminating with a Doctor of Pharmacy in 2012.

For VanPelt, her passion for the game of football began as a young girl.  Evie’s father, a graduate of Texas A&M, held season tickets at Kyle Field.  Her mom was not the biggest football fan so she gave her ticket to Evie.

“My daddy took his football quite seriously, so there was no way I wanted to attend without a thorough knowledge of what was happening on the field,” VanPelt said.

From her dad, she developed a lifelong love for the game and learned all she could about the sport.

Evie’s love for the University of Mississippi began when her daughter Katie came to school at Ole Miss to play volleyball. With VanPelt’s close ties to both A&M and Ole Miss, she has first-hand knowledge of how rich in tradition and supportive each of the fan bases are.

“There is just that special something about Ole Miss,” she says.  “I have a sincere, abiding appreciation for the family atmosphere at the University of Mississippi.”

Over the course of her daughter’s nine years and three degrees at Ole Miss, she was treated in such a warm, caring manner; as were all of her family members any time they visited Oxford.

“I will always be grateful for what Ole Miss gave my daughter and my family,” Evie said. “I’m so proud she is a Rebel, and I’m thrilled to be one too!”

— Adam Brown, HottyToddy.com Sports Editor adam.brown@hottytoddy.com