Orsini's Blog

[expony18]

do you know craig jobe? and did ur "friends" set up tents or were they out partying all night and their parents set up tents

My friends set up their own tents - some of them go the night before during the first set-up time, and some of them set up the day of games.

crazy SEC kids

[CalallenStang]

my question to you is: since when is Ole Miss a "top 25 program?" Last I knew, Ole Miss is a perennial 40-50 program that cracks the top 25 only for one or two weeks in years that they have a star player (Eli Manning, etc.).

The actual tailgating scene has NOTHING to do with whether or not a program is "top 25."

I referred to Ole Miss as #1 for tailgating, not as a top 25 program overall. If we are talking about improving tailgating and general attendance at Blvd./games, then I think you should look to the top at tailgating for ideas/policies.

I agree that if we want to improve tailgating, we need to look at the Grove. They have it figured out. I have yet to figure out how tailgating, however, corresponds to the people actually inside the stadium. It's been shown by SMU that a lively tailgating scene does not = game attendance. Our focus should be on getting the tailgaters into the stadium...something which we have not yet figured out for whatever reason.

One of the things that will get tailgaters into the stadium is a team that they perceive is worth watching. By increasing our athletic funding, we can a) spend more on marketing and get more people onto the Hilltop for games (and tailgates), and b) continue to invest in facilities and personnel that will contribute to the rise of our athletic programs to top-25, top-50, or top-whatever-you-think-is-realistic status.

To make myself clear: I do agree that we need to look toward the Grove as a model for tailgating in the long run. I don't think that the athletic department should have raised prices so much in one year, but that the increase should have been gradual. However, I do think that money has a larger overall effect on the greatness of a program (if top 25 "program" is our goal) than tailgating does. I'm not sure if we have any better place to get money from right now...we certainly cannot raise ticket prices.

Since you have firsthand knowledge of how the Grove works, I would appreciate hearing some of your ideas as to how SMU can continue to improve our tailgating scene in the years to come.

[Blunt Pony]

lawschool pony - tailgating is free at Ole Miss as you said - however,reserved parking over 4 blocks away is $1000 per season - here reserved tailgating is $480 a season with adjacent parking free - tailgating on the Blvd without a reserved spot is free ( parking 1 block away at Meadows Museum $120 per season ) -

Yes, you CAN join the Grove Society and have parking reserved, but having a spot for a tent is COMPLETELY FREE - NO CHARGES. As for unloading, the Grove is open for unloading of tents, chairs, food, etc. each morning a set number of hours before gametime, UNLIKE the Blvd.

As for paying for parking, I went to 4 seasons of Ole Miss football games as a student (lived off campus for 3) and NEVER ONCE had to pay for parking, and had no problems finding parking either. Since going back as alumni, I have NEVER paid for parking at Ole Miss games, there is plenty of it, and my friends who set up tents pay NOTHING for their tailgating spaces.

This school has to make money somehow and this is one of the things that people will pay for, unlike donations and season tickets. These things do not pay for themselves and what is the harm in the athletic program making some money. Essentially, the program is finding a way to make some money off of guys like JT who admit that they attend the boulevard but not the game. We have it easy at this school. We get season tickets for the price of a nice dinner for 4 in Dallas. Free parking is not an issue unless you weigh 800 pounds and cannot walk a half mile. I can reorder season tickets on the 50 every year without increasing my Mustang Club donation. Enjoy it while it lasts, but I for one hope that we start increasing our prices to all events because it will mean we are improving the quality of the experience.

[expony18]

I for one hope that we start increasing our prices to all events because it will mean we are improving the quality of the experience.

just drink more before you go

[Special_Delivery_Smu_Fans]

In case some of you have not seen "The Grove" at Ole Miss here are some video clips of the Ole Miss tailgate that President Turner is trying to replicate at SMU....thus far I'd say we are on our way to having one of the best tailgates in the country.

Click links below:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=97FK5GUoFS0

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pDGfq2tsSng

[Buckethead]

Thanks for posting the link to the Grove. I got to got see it in person when we play them about 12 years ago. I also enjoy the links to the Ole Miss Band, I love hearing Dixie. It was my high school fight song.

[fivemon]

to hear people complain about the prises for tailgate prices really upsets me, has anyone even noticed that students pay more for tailgate spots and have been paying a substantially more amount over the last few years. the students didn't even see a large rise in prices as compared to last year and yet they are still paying more than alumni isn't there something wrong with that?

[davidsmu94]

do you know craig jobe? and did ur "friends" set up tents or were they out partying all night and their parents set up tents

My friends set up their own tents - some of them go the night before during the first set-up time, and some of them set up the day of games.

crazy SEC kids

Dude, that picture really gives me the creeps

[expony18]

its staying... OBEY MY DOG

[smupony94]

its staying... OBEY MY DOG

I hope you add pics from Blades of Glory soon