First Ole Miss game

[BostonReb]

I'm an Ole Miss fan from Boston and am making my first trip to Oxford to see a game this Saturday against ULL. Very excited, coming with my brother-in-law from California, he's never been either. Does anyone have any suggestions for us pregame? I've heard and read all about The Grove, but any ideas on where we should go to check out some cool things? I'm really looking for any advice here, just looking to soak in the entire day.

Thanks!

[AlmostForgotten]

Are y'all tailgating or just floating around? I havent been since parking has been *reassigned. Not sure how that pans out... but,

The Grove is a great atmosphere, tailgating or just wandering through.

Walk of Champions is always a good tradition to catch. Followed by the band pregame pep rally, which you don't want to miss (all in the grove, of course). All of this happens 2 hours? before gametime.

After the game restaurants get packed quick, no matter if we are playing ULL or LSU. Just go ahead and prepare yourself mentally for traffic and lines. I usually just head to the square afterwards since all the retaurants and bars and souvenir shirt shops are right there in walking distance. But if you are to venture out, I'd recommend Old Taylor Grocery; awesome but may be packed.

That's just my 2 cents. Maybe others can add to it!

[BostonReb]

Thanks. I hope to tailgate. I really have no idea, was going to buy some beer and walk around, try to make some friends. Otherwise it would just be myself and my brother in law tailgating along which is lame and sad. The Walk of Champions I definitely want to catch, have heard great things about that. And yeah, I was expecting everything to be jammed after the game, so I'll be prepared for that.

Thanks for the info, very helpful.

[CrossroadsReb]

Thanks. I hope to tailgate. I really have no idea, was going to buy some beer and walk around, try to make some friends. Otherwise it would just be myself and my brother in law tailgating along which is lame and sad. The Walk of Champions I definitely want to catch, have heard great things about that. And yeah, I was expecting everything to be jammed after the game, so I'll be prepared for that.

Thanks for the info, very helpful.

This website might be helpful. Also, about the beer...don't have it in a can or bottle. Solo cups only, or it will be confiscated. My recommendation is to roam around the Grove and introduce yourself as a Rebel fan and first-time visitor, and food nor drink will be a problem for you...you'll be offered more than you can consume. Also, I'd recommend parking off campus and taking a shuttle. After the game, the Oxford square is within walking distance and has a plethora of dining/drinking choices.

http://www.olemisssports.com/sports/m-f ... -atoz.html

[BostonReb]

Ah, very, very helpful, I didn't realize it had to be in a cup. I wouldn't shown up expecting it to be like a Pats game with people just drinking straight from the bottle or can. Thank you for that advice.

[Titles 'R Us]

Restaurants around The Square you can try:

Boure (Boo-ray)--somewhat upscale but lots of students go there, too. Shrimp and grits, nice filet, mahi-mahi, huge house salads, Bananas Foster Bread Pudding, bar upstairs if you have to wait. Large screen TVs. No reservations taken.

McEwan's--again on the upscale side, but nice fish of the day, salads, bar with large screen TVs. Need reservations.

City Grocery--very upscale but a bit overpriced. Need reservations.

Proud Larry's--casual, ribs, etc.

Ajax--casual, student favorite.

Old Venice--casual, pizzas, pasta, etc.

Lenora's--just off The Square, somewhat upscale, good seafood, pork tenderloin, used to be a car dealership so you walk down a long ramp that was used to drive the cars in and out.

Bars galore everywhere.

[CrossroadsReb]

Ah, very, very helpful, I didn't realize it had to be in a cup. I wouldn't shown up expecting it to be like a Pats game with people just drinking straight from the bottle or can. Thank you for that advice.

Forgot to mention motel/hotel situations. Forget finding anything in Oxford. Batesville is about 25 miles away, as is Tupelo. My preference (and I'm assuming you're flying into Memphis) would be Tunica. Casinos, if you're interested, and (if you can work it in and you even play golf) Tunica National Golf Course is pretty nice. On that note, use websites like GolfNow and Golf18Network to get discounts. Enjoy your visit!!

[BostonReb]

Thanks both Titles 'R Us and CrossroadsReb.

Titles 'R Us, very helpful with the food options. I've been looking at Yelp and I do want to try the Ajax Diner, the menu looks good and it gets good reviews. City Grocery, and a place you didn't mention, but I saw a place called Big Bad Breakfast, which looks to be affiliated with City Grocery (?) somehow, look really good. And a slew of bars sounds great at night.

CrossroadsReb, thanks for those suggestions. We have a place in Batesville booked so covered on that. And funny you mention golf, part of the trip is the game, and part is our inaugural buddy's golf trip. So we'll be hopefully going somewhere new every year, and this year we're going to MS. We're playing the Ole Miss Golf Course and Mallard Pointe on Friday, then Sunday playing Quail Ridge in Memphis. Really looking forward to seeing some southern golf courses. I imagine they'll play a lot different than the New England ones.

[lewindha]

Thanks both Titles 'R Us and CrossroadsReb.

Titles 'R Us, very helpful with the food options. I've been looking at Yelp and I do want to try the Ajax Diner, the menu looks good and it gets good reviews. City Grocery, and a place you didn't mention, but I saw a place called Big Bad Breakfast, which looks to be affiliated with City Grocery (?) somehow, look really good. And a slew of bars sounds great at night.

CrossroadsReb, thanks for those suggestions. We have a place in Batesville booked so covered on that. And funny you mention golf, part of the trip is the game, and part is our inaugural buddy's golf trip. So we'll be hopefully going somewhere new every year, and this year we're going to MS. We're playing the Ole Miss Golf Course and Mallard Pointe on Friday, then Sunday playing Quail Ridge in Memphis. Really looking forward to seeing some southern golf courses. I imagine they'll play a lot different than the New England ones.

Big Bad is owned by John Currence, who also owns City Grocery. He also owns Boure now, I believe. All are great options. Boure is your best bet of getting in I think. Big Bad will be hard to get in, but worth the wait if you've got the time. Sunday morning may be your best bet for that.

I couldn't live with myself if I didn't tell you to try to hit Pizza Den while you're in Oxford. Get the Stromboli and thank me later. I've been going to Oxford since the age of 2. I've been going to Pizza Den that long. My aunt and uncle took me there while they were in school and I ate there at least once a week while I was in school. Word is they may close down soon, so I'd give it a shot if I were you. They are off of Jackson Avenue(other side of town from the Square). I promise, you won't regret it. Turn by the Applebee's on Jackson and you'll see it down on your left.

Mallard used to be in great shape when I was school (98-04). I played there two years ago and it wasn't in the best of shape. Still decent, though, and fun little course.

Just introduce yourself to folks in the Grove, they'll treat you like family. Especially if you're there to root for the Rebs. Let us know what you thought after the weekend. We take a lot of pride in the hospitality in Oxford.

[GtownRebel]

I do play golf a lot and I would choose Tunica National over Mallard Pointe and Quail Run. It is worth it.

[BostonReb]

Great, thanks both.

GtownRebel, I will call and see if I can get on at Tunica instead of Mallard Pointe. Looks like I might be able to do that. We're playing the Ole Miss GC in the morning and our second round is in the afternoon, which we'll do following a lunch in Oxford at one of the great suggestions given in previous posts, so we might be able to do that.

Lewindha, thank you for that great summary. I think we'll be able to sneak in pizza. I wasn't planning on it because I live in Boston, where Italian food reigns, but if it's that good and probably pretty unique, I think it's worth checking out. I will definitely update this post next week after my trip. I am so excited, it's hard to contain myself. I've been wanting to go to Oxford and see a game for so many years, so to have it only a few days away is very exciting. I feel much like the first time I went to Fenway, all the anticipation. Looking forward to the whole experience, The Grove, the game, the town, the golf. Can't wait.

[Hagar]

Great, thanks both.

GtownRebel, I will call and see if I can get on at Tunica instead of Mallard Pointe. Looks like I might be able to do that. We're playing the Ole Miss GC in the morning and our second round is in the afternoon, which we'll do following a lunch in Oxford at one of the great suggestions given in previous posts, so we might be able to do that.

Lewindha, thank you for that great summary. I think we'll be able to sneak in pizza. I wasn't planning on it because I live in Boston, where Italian food reigns, but if it's that good and probably pretty unique, I think it's worth checking out. I will definitely update this post next week after my trip. I am so excited, it's hard to contain myself. I've been wanting to go to Oxford and see a game for so many years, so to have it only a few days away is very exciting. I feel much like the first time I went to Fenway, all the anticipation. Looking forward to the whole experience, The Grove, the game, the town, the golf. Can't wait.

Dont go to pizza den for the pizza... go for the muffellas and the stromboli... these are famously great.

[BIG CLINT]

A-jax for lunch and get the "Big Easy" just trust me on this one.

[CrossroadsReb]

Thanks both Titles 'R Us and CrossroadsReb.

Titles 'R Us, very helpful with the food options. I've been looking at Yelp and I do want to try the Ajax Diner, the menu looks good and it gets good reviews. City Grocery, and a place you didn't mention, but I saw a place called Big Bad Breakfast, which looks to be affiliated with City Grocery (?) somehow, look really good. And a slew of bars sounds great at night.

CrossroadsReb, thanks for those suggestions. We have a place in Batesville booked so covered on that. And funny you mention golf, part of the trip is the game, and part is our inaugural buddy's golf trip. So we'll be hopefully going somewhere new every year, and this year we're going to MS. We're playing the Ole Miss Golf Course and Mallard Pointe on Friday, then Sunday playing Quail Ridge in Memphis. Really looking forward to seeing some southern golf courses. I imagine they'll play a lot different than the New England ones.

BostonReb, I've played all 3 of those courses. I may be mistaken, but Mallard Pointe has been closed (may have reopened) to do some redesign. VERY tight course. Quail Ridge disappointed me the last 2 times I've played in that the greens were in terrible condition. Now, my biggest criticism goes to my home school course, the UM course. It's in pretty good shape, and is a challenging course. However, as an alum and long-time Rebel fan, I was quite disappointed to find out that they only give visiting alums a THREE DOLLAR DISCOUNT[/b]. On top of that, I was absolutely floored by the fact that the cart fee is independent of the green fee AND is separate for each golfer in the cart. In other words, I paid a green fee, my partner paid a green fee AND we EACH paid a $16 cart fee to share the same cart. That is why I recommended Tunica National...using the GolfNow or Golf18Network websites, I played it for a total of $27. Anyway, that's my opinion of those courses...hope you have a heck of a visit to our fair state!

[CrossroadsReb]

Thanks both Titles 'R Us and CrossroadsReb.

Titles 'R Us, very helpful with the food options. I've been looking at Yelp and I do want to try the Ajax Diner, the menu looks good and it gets good reviews. City Grocery, and a place you didn't mention, but I saw a place called Big Bad Breakfast, which looks to be affiliated with City Grocery (?) somehow, look really good. And a slew of bars sounds great at night.

CrossroadsReb, thanks for those suggestions. We have a place in Batesville booked so covered on that. And funny you mention golf, part of the trip is the game, and part is our inaugural buddy's golf trip. So we'll be hopefully going somewhere new every year, and this year we're going to MS. We're playing the Ole Miss Golf Course and Mallard Pointe on Friday, then Sunday playing Quail Ridge in Memphis. Really looking forward to seeing some southern golf courses. I imagine they'll play a lot different than the New England ones.

One more thing... or two. Alternate courses that are nearby. Big Oaks in Tupelo (by the Mall at Barnes Crossing...lots of eating places) is only $20 after 2:00 on weekday afternoons and is in really good shape...LOTS of water!! Also, a little longer trip, but within an hour and twenty minutes, River Birch in Amory, MS. I play there regularly. Use the GolfNow website and you can get select tee times (usually 11:00 or 12:00) for about $15. Golf18Network is $25 after 2:30