Headed to Oxford Soon? Learn the Lingo!
Have you ever heard someone say Hotty Toddy and wonder what they meant? There are several words and phrases with specific meaning to Oxford and Ole Miss. Here are just a few of the well-known phrases used in the Ole Miss and Oxford community!
Velvet Ditch
This saying dates back to the 1950’s, this is a phrase used to describe Oxford. It means that Oxford is a place that is “easy to fall into and hard to crawl out of.” People fall in love with every aspect of Ole Miss, from the university's beautiful campus, to the vibrant downtown square, or with the atmosphere of everyone who is a part of the community. Most people are quick to fall in love and never leave, hence the term velvet ditch. This coined term has made its way onto t-shirts in multiple stores, and it was featured in an article from the Huffington Post.
Hotty Toddy
This is a way to say hello to a fellow Ole Miss fan no matter where you are. It can also mean “goodbye,” “good luck,” “good game,” “we’re better than y’all,” or “I hope y’all lose.” If you are wearing Ole Miss, most people will scream Hotty Toddy and you respond with the same thing back. It is cool to find fans all over the nation by saying this one phrase we all have in common. Ole Miss Fans are definitely not shy about being an Ole Miss Rebel!
662 & 38655
These numbers represent the three digit area code and five digit zip code associated with Oxford. College kids and locals love representing our town by wearing shirts and hats donned with these digits.
The Grove
During the week, this is a beautiful grassy area in the center of the Ole Miss campus where students can hangout and study. On football weekends, The Grove is transformed to a place where Ole Miss fans tailgate before, during, and after football games. Tents cover the 10
acre grass area. Setup starts late Friday night, and you’d better be ready to claim your spot! This isn’t your normal tailgating situation. The Grove at Ole Miss has been ranked #1 for the best college tailgating in the country. It’s a must do experience...add it to the bucket list!
The Square
This is Oxford’s renowned downtown area. There are boutiques, hotels, restaurants, bars, and more. It is the heart of the town. Whether you’re a parent wanting to take your child to get some frozen yogurt or a college student looking to explore the energetic nightlife with your friends, you can find everything you need while on the Square!
Chicken on a Stick
This is a popular post bar late night snack available at The Chevron gas station on the corner of Lamar Blvd and University Ave, just south of the Square. It's essentially a big delicious chicken tender on a stick; and it is heaven. It sounds crazy, but most weekend nights, there will be a line wrapped around the building just to get their chicken.
The Walk of Champions
This is a brick entrance walkway that goes through the middle of The Grove. Every Saturday of home football games, the players and coaches walk through the Grove along this walkway and fans will line up to cheer them on as they make their way to the stadium.
Lock the Vaught
The Ole Miss football stadium, Vaught Hemingway Stadium, is named after coach Johnny Vaught and Judge William Hemingway. At the beginning of each home game, all the students lock arms with the people beside them and sway back and forth as the football team runs out. This is what everyone calls “Lock the Vaught.”
Swayze Beer Showers
Swayze is the name of the Ole Miss baseball field. When one of the Ole Miss baseball players hits a home run, the entire student section, that is located in the outfield, throws their beers in the air as a form of celebration.
Chucky Mullins
Chucky Mullins wore the number 38 jersey for the Rebels in the late ‘80s, and he was known by his teammates as a genuine and courageous guy with a heart for the game and for others. During the 1989 Homecoming game against Vanderbilt, he was hit and left paralyzed below the neck. He continued to fight against his circumstances and later came back to school to finish his degree. He passed away in1991 from a pulmonary embolism at the age of 21. Ole Miss has honored Mullins by retiring his jersey and establishing the “Chucky Mullins Memorial Courage Award.” This award is given to the player who best embodies Chucky Mullins’ character, and the selected player wears jersey number 38 for the football season.