I hated those uniforms circa 2001.

I’m certain I’m in the minority, and I’d have to see just how much they want to charge and how they would administer the “rights” to spots, but in general principle, I am for it. I tailgate with a group and I know we would happily pay a little extra if it really could improve the experience.

I grew up in Oxford and remember when they used to let people park their cars in the Grove. I have watched it go from a family picnic atmosphere where families played with their kids to the Tent City it is now, with no place to walk between layouts and few places, if any, for kids to play.

A significant part of this has to do with the university’s growth itself — when I went to school we had fewer than 8,500 students on campus — but I think that only underscores the need for a new system.

Here’s the view from where I sit: During big games, the Grove has become a downright trashy, overcrowded and unfriendly place, filled punctuated with boorish fans on both sides who are rarely, if ever, held accountable for their conduct.

It shouldn’t be that way, and I would pay a premium if I knew it meant some serious changes could be made. Just my $.02.

It has become increasingly difficult to really enjoy the experience of the Grove over the past few seasons; increased numbers, jostling for position, people moving other’s possessions, etc. Not sure if this is necessarily the correct way to go about it, b/c unless the university is the one setting the tents up for the buyers, how do you adequately admister it? It will be interesting to see how they go about this, b/c once it is introduced, it is probably going to stick.

I can see both sides of this argument, and I am honestly torn. I don’t want to change these things and have to pay to set up a tent, but I can also see the benefit of some organization and if the fee is not to high it might be worth it.

However, what I do not understand is how they are going to organize this so it is anything but a cluster****. When are people going to pay? In advance? Sure, some would be down for that. On site? You going to have people line up to get their spots on Friday? Seems unrealistic. Are they going to hire a bunch of security to keep the swarm of people from just going out there anyway? Seems expensive and not worth it.

Too many questions and potential for disaster.

I see the pros of it but I’m sure since We Are… Ole Miss, the school will find some monumental way to screw it up.

If they want to sell the best spaces like they do with the best seats in the stadium (i.e. the people who have paid in the most money to the Loyalty Foundation for the longest time get the best seats) then I don’t have as much of a problem with it as I do with them just opening it up to anyone who’s willing to shell out money for the spots alone. Obviously people who are not Ole Miss fans won’t put the time and money into paying UMAA like people who are true fans would. I know this technically “rewards” people with more money who can afford to spend thousands of dollars to keep their seats on the 50 yard-line and punishes people like me who are only able to make it up once a season or so and just buy single-game tickets (don’t get me started on that issue). I just don’t want to see a situation with our best tailgating spots that happened with tickets this season. i.e. Huge blocks of tickets get bought up by people who have never even been to Oxford who then turn around and sell them online at a premium for games like Alabama and LSU to the highest bidder. I can think of nothing worse than the scenario someone was talking about where tacky LSU fans buy a spot from a commercial service and you’re stuck next to trash-talking Bammers one week, conrdog smelling Cajuns the next, then two weeks later it’s being tortured by cowbells.

I’m almost positive LSU has a “loyalty” system in place for people who want to get into the RV lot right next to Tiger Stadium. Why someone would pay money to spend the day inhaling diesel fumes I have no clue but that’s their dog and pony show, not mine. At any rate, you’ll never see “foreigners” in that lot and it’s (from what I’ve been told) the prime tailgating spot on campus.

The people from my hometown have been in the same spot for at least 20 years and I would have no clue where to find them if they weren’t there. I’m sure they would all be willing to go in for a spot because there are a lot of us who tailgate there. But for a single family who’s been in the same spot for years I’d think it would be a lot more of a financial burden. So I can see both sides of it.

I’m with Role Player… too many questions and potential for disaster.

But I’ve been looking for a Rebels in the Pros segment for weeks. I can think of one man I’d like to beat if I don’t get it (see what I did there?).

I’ll just do my own summary.

Patrick Willis (SF) continued to dismantle everyone in his path with 6 tackles against the Eagles.
Derrick Burgess (NE) had 6 tackles with a sack against Buffalo.
Ashlee Palmer (BUF) had a pair of tackles against New England.
Eli Manning (if you need this, get off the internet now) destroyed Washington tonight with 3 TDs, 0 INTs, and 268 yards.

I wouldn’t want to step on OMtB’s toes, but I would definitely pick Mike Wallace (Pittsburgh) for old balls Rebel of the Week. He got some serious love for his two huge catches (79 yards, 2 TDs) to put down the Packers in dramatic fashion. If you don’t already know about this, you must not have seen anything on ESPN in the past two days.