Free Admission To Regions Bank Grove Bowl On Saturday

Photo by Steven Gagliano

Fans can get an early glimpse of the 2017 Ole Miss football team this Saturday at the Regions Bank Grove Bowl.

Admission is free for the Rebels’ annual spring game, which will kick off at 11 a.m. CT at Vaught-Hemingway Stadium. It will also be televised by SEC Network with a broadcast team of Joe Tessitore, Greg McElroy and Laura Rutledge.

Free parking will be available at the garage adjacent to The Pavilion, as well as the Tad Smith Coliseum and Ole Miss Track lots. Normal baseball parking lots will be reserved for those with baseball parking passes.

Fan Fest will open at 10 a.m. in front of The Pavilion.

Fans are encouraged to sit on the east side of Vaught-Hemingway Stadium, where concessions and restrooms will be available. Full details can be found at www.OleMissFB.com/Grove-Bowl. Access rosters, alerts and more by downloading the official app of Ole Miss Athletics.

The Regions Bank Grove Bowl format will feature the Ole Miss offense (wearing red) against the defense (wearing blue). The defense will be spotted a 27-0 lead as the offense tries to score enough to overtake them. The defense may increase its point total through turnovers that lead directly to scores, whether by returns for touchdowns (6 points + PAT) or returns into field-goal range (3 points if FG made). In the latter, the field goal will be kicked on the next play after the return.

Hugh Freeze’s squad started spring drills on February 28 and will conclude with Saturday’s main event. Both sides of the ball are under new leadership this year after the hires of offensive coordinator Phil Longo and defensive coordinator Wesley McGriff, as well as new assistants Jacob Peeler (wide receivers), Bradley Dale Peveto (linebackers, special teams) and Freddie Roach (defensive line).

Sophomore quarterback Shea Patterson leads a high-powered offense that includes a top-tier wide receiver corps of A.J. Brown, Van Jefferson, DaMarkus Lodge, D.K. Metcalf and Markell Pack, as well as veteran running back Jordan Wilkins and a seasoned and experienced offensive line.

All-SEC defensive end Marquis Haynes is back for his senior year to mentor a young, but developing defense. Freshman All-Americans Myles Hartsfield, Benito Jones and Jaylon Jones have a year under their belt and will help solidify the Landshark D that also features veteran linebacker DeMarquis Gates and tackle Breeland Speaks, among others.

Additional events during Regions Bank Grove Bowl weekend include Saturday’s sold-out Chucky Mullins Courage Award breakfast and a weekend SEC baseball series between Ole Miss and Alabama. First pitches are 6:30 p.m. on Friday and 3 p.m. on Saturday and Sunday. Buy tickets at www.OleMissTix.com. Men’s tennis also hosts matches against Arkansas (1 p.m. Friday) and Alcorn State (1 and 3 p.m. Sunday) with free admission.

Follow Ole Miss Football on Twitter (@OleMissFB), Facebook and Instagram. For more information, visit www.OleMissSports.com.

Courtesy of Ole Miss Sports