Rebels Hitting the Road: Your Vandy Game Day Guide

Ole Miss will face Vanderbilt in Nashville August 29 at 8:15 p.m. on ESPN / Photo Courtesy of Vanderbilt Athletics

Are you ready? Ole Miss Football’s 2013 season is scheduled to kickoff Thursday night against the Vanderbilt Commodores. And that means a road trip to Nashville for thousands of fans.

For Rebels leaving Oxford, Google Maps recommends heading out MS-7N toward Holly Springs. Once in Nashville, keep city traffic closures in mind. According to the university website, the Natchez Trace and Jess Neely Drive will be blocked off for the game.

When you enter Commodore Land Thursday, make sure you take advantage of the free parking services provided on the Vanderbilt campus just off of 21st Avenue. According to the Vanderbilt sports website, the free parking is located 15-20 minutes away from the Vanderbilt Stadium so be prepared for a scenic walk through campus. If you’re willing to pay, you can find spots closer to the stadium for $10.

For those looking to connect with other Rebel faithful before kickoff, there are at least two great options. First, alumni from Chi Psi fraternity will be hosting an Ole Miss vs. Vandy Pre-Game Reception. The Chi Psi event will be held at Jeffrey Hall on Thursday from 10 a.m. until noon. Another option is the Ole Miss vs. Vanderbilt Season Opening Pre-Game Tailgate. However, if you haven’t already registered, you might be out of luck. According to the Ole Miss Alumni Association, this event is sold out.

The Ole Miss band will be strutting their stuff on Thursday, too. The Pride of the South will be sending an 80-member pep band to entertain Rebel fans during the showcase game. Jeremy Miller, a sophomore trumpet player, is looking forward to the trip.

“I love going to all of the away games; I went to all of them last year but LSU,” Miller said.

Miller, like a lot of Rebel fans, has high expectations before this first game.

“I love Ole Miss football and it’s very important for them to win the first game, but I want them to go to a premier bowl this year.”

Luckily for Miller, being a member of the band gets him into the game for free, but for the spontaneous Rebel who wants to pay his own way, a few tickets are still available on StubHub.

Kickoff to what is sure to be an exciting game is at 8:15 p.m. Safe travels and Hotty Toddy!

Story contributed by Ole Miss Journalism students Morgan White mswhite2@go.olemiss.edu, Austin Wilkes and Brandon Rook bcrook@go.olemiss.edu.