Students’ Move to North Endzone Provides Pros and Cons

View of the former North Endzone in the Vaught-Hemingway Stadium.

With the success of Ole Miss’ football program over the previous four years, it has resulted in changes for seating for many people.

Last season Ole Miss opened up a premium seating section on the first few rows of the South Endzone, below the student section. This year the students will be moving to the North Endzone. The North Endzone is currently under construction for renovation. It will feature 2000 more seats for students.

Jacob Duke is a sophomore at Ole Miss and considers himself a big football fan. Duke made every home game last year.

“With Ole Miss’ gaining more popularity the student section was already overcrowded,” Duke said. “Adding 2,000 more seats will definitely be a plus.

Forward Together: Vaught-Hemingway Stadium Expansion Fly-Through from Ole Miss Rebels on Vimeo.

The move has its pros and cons for the students. The North Endzone is much closer to the Grove for students, but it is also directly in the sun which could result in heat issues during the early portion of the seasons. Ole Miss Rebels will play their first two home games against Wofford and Alabama at 3:00 p.m. and 2:30 p.m. respectively.

“Having the sun in our faces won’t be fun especially early on,” Duke said. “I don’t think it will hurt attendance of students though. The fan base is pretty dedicated in going to games.”

The students, however, are much closer to the Grove this year, which provides a benefit to students that set up tailgates.

Kyle Aurell, a senior parks and recreation management major, sets up his tent every home game and acknowledges the benefits of moving to the North Endzone.

“When you go to the game and you have to walk all the way from the grove to the north end zone and then back to the grove after the game, it can wear on you,” Aurell said. “I think it’ll be nice to have a shorter walk before and after the game. Maybe that could encourage more people to leave the Grove and come to the game and support the Rebs.”

Another issue that the students this year will have is that they won’t be right by the team as they run onto the field before the game. The student section has become notorious in leading the video board in “Lock The Vaught” before the game. The students lock arms and sway from side to side as Ole Miss enters the field, just as the team does.

“The students won’t be (directly above the tunnel) to cheer on the Rebels as they run out of the tunnel,” Duke said. “That’s something I’ll personally miss.”

New UM freshmen practice ‘Locking the Vaught’ at the Class of 2016 Kick-Off Picnic Sunday evening in the Grove. Photo by Nathan Latil – Ole Miss Communications

Collin Brister is a staff writer for HottyToddy.com. He can be reached at collin.brister@hottytoddy.com.

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