Ole Miss Students Claim Prime Real Estate in Right Field at Swayze

By IMC students Morgan Cumby, Whit Riddick and Sofia Cooper

A look at the student section in right field at Swayze. Photo by Morgan Cumby.

Home of the Ole Miss Baseball team, Swayze Field became a destination for chaos Tuesday afternoon as students dashed to right field with tents and chairs in hand to permanently reserve their spots for the upcoming season. With the season opener Friday, students have been eagerly waiting all week for this moment.

Aaron Baker, a sophomore, said he got to the field at 9 a.m. Tuesday to meet friends who had been waiting since 5 a.m. in order to be one of the first people in line to claim a place to see the Rebels each home game.

“It’s important to set up our spot for the entirety of the year,” Baker said. “While we were waiting, the line was 500 people maybe. But a lot of people just hung out.”

Although Swayze Field was constructed in 1988, it wasn’t until 1993 when the student section was allotted behind the right-field fence, according to the Ole Miss Athletics website. 

The ruckus caused many students to question what was happening. Junior Ava Leigh Bryan was walking to class when she noticed a crowd of people rush to right field and set up tents. 

“I was shocked because it looked like a crowd for a baseball game or a promo video. I had no idea what it was,” Bryan said. “It looked really fun when they were doing it.”

Catch the 2019 No. 10 ranked Ole Miss Rebels play Wright State Friday at 4 p.m.