Higher Education

I attended the University of Georgia from 1970 thru 1975! During this time I saw the Great Streak Week and a whole lot of partying - students displaying their best efforts to fill the time between classes. When football season rolled around, the partying went into high gear. Every fraternity had bands and beer. Sometimes we would have a big party on Friday night and then again on Saturday night after the Dawgs played in Sanford Stadium. This was about the time I was introduced to the art of Tailgating. Often my parents would come to a game with friends and would bring lots of food and drink (non-alcoholic). This would be our time to "visit" and afterwards we would head to the stadium and smuggle in our beverage of the day (alcoholic)! Of course ( as all UGA alumni know), tailgating has now been declared illegal at UGA by president Michael Adams. The University of Georgia will not tolerate those who smoke, dip, drink or chew or those who hang around with girls that do! Period! It is illegal to have fun on the University of Georgia campus! They are hell-bent on converting UGA to a Harvard-type, ivy-league school. ( I might point out that the CEO of soon to be defunct Bristol Labs is a Harvard graduate and is generally known, by all their employees, as the biggest dumb-ass who ever lived - so much for being a Harvard grad). The University of Georgia will not tolerate any behavior other than that which is politically correct. Those who drink will not be tolerated, because is is not PC to wander back to one's tailgage after a Dawg's victory while yelling, "How 'bout them Dawgs"!

This past week-end (September 30th, 2006), I attended a Tailgating Bonanza at Oxford, Mississippi. The event was the UGA - Ole Miss game. ESPN decided to make it a late game (9 pm) so the tailgating lasted about 9 hours for most of the attendees. If you have never been to the Grove on a football Saturday, then your life is not complete. If you live in the South, it is an absolute necessity that you attend one of these events at some point before you "check-out" of life's hotel. Tailgating and Fun are perfectly legal at Ole Miss - fans are encouraged to have fun and they did!

Here is some of what you missed!

Beautiful Southern girls! As my friend and mentor, Tom Lanier, explained to me ... "Miss Americas have to be red-shirted on this campus"! These ladies are not just dressed up but I'm talking DRESSED UP ... high heels and all.

Tents as far as the eye can see! Full of food and beverage and people! People having fun!

Kids (friends of my son) who say "Yes M'am and No M'am" and guys wearing blazers and bow-ties.

A school spirit that is second to none ( even though their team is struggling). These folks were a blast to be around.

I did notice a lot of Georgia people in the Grove and this made the crowd far too large for the area, but one has to remember that UGA folks are starved for our old way of life and we thank all the Ole Miss folks who let us participate.

My friend, Dr. Tom Bevill and his wife Mary Jane, who hosted (along with their son, Ben) the best tailgate in the Grove. We had plenty of grilled turkey, roasted pork tenderloin, fried chicken, ham and cheese sandwiches, desserts, liquid refreshments, seating and even a television to watch the action of other college football games. The Bevills even invited us over to his son's home in Oxford on Friday night and grilled steaks (with all the trimmings) for about forty people. The Bevills literally worked themselves to death to insure that all would have a good time. They even went to the Grove in the middle of the night Friday to set up the tents. They were the GREATEST hosts one could imagine! No wonder our son has adopted them as his second set of parents!

Our son, Mitch, is in his third year at Ole Miss and lives in a brand, spanking new fraternity house that rivals ANY fraternity house on any campus in America! He is so proud to be at Ole Miss and to be a brother in the ATO fraternity. He doesn't just walk around campus - he bounces! His face beems when he introduces his friends to his mother and me! Of all the sights of the week-end, the greatest was the sight of our son becoming a man. His mom and I were absolutely blown away by how much he has matured. It is amazing what two years of college can do for a young man!

I hope he never allows school to interfere with his education!

Seeing your child so full of the joy of living makes it all worth it!

Go Rebels!