Ole Miss Football Head Coach Lane Kiffin has done it again. Never one to think conventionally, Kiffin has scrapped the traditional spring football scrimmage game and conjured up a new, engaging experience for players and fans alike. The first-ever Grove Bowl Games will take place this Saturday, April 13, at 3 p.m. at Vaught-Hemingway Stadium.
Kiffin believes the typical spring scrimmage does not offer much in terms of evaluation as the team’s spring practice concludes, and the event has only persisted for so long because of tradition, not utility.
Instead of the normal red-team-versus-blue-team scrimmage, the bowl will now feature seven- on-seven competitions and skills challenges. All competitions will be offense versus defense, with points earned in each skills contest. The student-athletes have drafted their teams and coaches, as per usual, but this year, there will be more fan involvement, according to a post-practice interview with Kiffin.
Each sorority and fraternity on campus will have a designated captain to compete with and against the athletes. The Grove Bowl Games will also feature an obstacle course, dunk competition and a hot dog eating contest.
There will even be an appearance by Joey Chestnut, the national champion and 16-time winner of Nathan’s Hot Dog Eating Contest.
How did Kiffin manage to swing for the hills and land Chestnut? The fun-loving and innovative head coach put it quite simply.
“(I did it) kind of how everybody does it: I just DM’d him. (I just) slid in his DM’s,” Kiffin said. Students at the University of Mississippi are stoked for the upcoming festivities.
“Adding different games to the Grove Bowl could totally get more fans to come. It’s not just about football anymore, so more people might be interested,” freshman allied health studies major Carson Carter said. “Plus, adding new ideas like fan contests and famous guests like Joey Chestnut could make it much more fun and exciting.”
It seems Kiffin is trying to make the Grove Bowl an all around entertainment day for fans and family rather than just a football event.
“The dunk contest sounds super cool to me. I personally would enjoy watching those crazy dunks, and all the hype around it would be awesome,” Carter said. “It’s not just about football skills, it’s about showcasing athleticism and entertainment, which sounds really fun to watch.”
With the No. 1 transfer class in the country and pre-season rankings as high as No. 5 according to multiple sports sites, the Rebels’ upcoming 2024 season is highly anticipated. Even with the innovative changes, fans will still have the opportunity to see some new and familiar faces play on the field.
The Grove Bowl Games will showcase some new talents such as former Alabama defensive back Trey Amos and former Florida defensive end Princely Umanmielen. With 2024 being quarterback Jaxson Dart’s senior season, all eyes are on him, and the games will provide a great opportunity for fans to see the talent behind Ole Miss’ starting QB.
The overarching goal of this twist on the spring scrimmage is to bring in a larger audience.
“We want the fans to be there – especially the students,” Kiffin said. “We want the student section just like it is on game day.”
With free admission, free parking and concessions open on both sides of the stadium, organizers hope to make this Saturday in April look like a Saturday in September. And, to make the Grove Bowl Games even more enticing, Ole Miss Athletics will hold a spring clearance sale in the stadium, with apparel and merchandise as much as 75% off.
So, the question is: Will you be at the first-ever Grove Bowl Games or be a square on the Square?
