The third annual BancorpSouth Rebel Road Trip kicked off in Dallas this weekend on Sunday.
The team started the trip visiting one of Ole Miss’ growing out-of-state fan bases in Dallas.
Kyle Campbell, assistant athletic director for Media and Public Relations, said it was exciting to meet with Ole Miss fans there.
“It was especially thrilling to meet our dedicated and growing fan base in Dallas,” Campbell said.
Led by Ole Miss footballl coach Hugh Freeze and Athletic Director Ross Bjork, this year’s Rebel Road Trip covers four states in six days. The Road Trip will have traveled to eleven cities by the end of the week, six of which are new locations.
The caravan added Dallas, Little Rock, Ark., Jackson, Tenn., Grenada, Hattiesburg and Biloxi to the road trip. The schedule also includes cities from last year’s Road Trip including Memphis, Tenn., Corinth, Jackson, Oxford and Tupelo.
Originally designed to introduce Freeze and Bjork to the public in 2012, Rebel Road Trip has served the past two years as a way to unify Rebel fans in the Southeastern United States. It keeps fans updated and ready for next season’s sports by providing the vision for the future of Ole Miss Athletics.
Andrew Copeland, sophomore business major from Newnan, Ga., said he thinks Rebel Road Trip helps reach out to fans outside of Oxford.
“I think Rebel Road Trip is a great way to get fans outside of Oxford as excited as locals fans,” Copeland said.
The daily events open with breakfast and a 30-minute social period with university and athletics officials, special guests and information booths. The event then shows a video highlighting athletics, Ole Miss Athletics Foundation and the Alumni Association. Bjork and Freeze finish the morning portion of the program by speaking and taking open questions.
Midday and evening events follow the same schedule with the exception of guest speakers.
Ole Miss Men’s Head Basketball Coach Andy Kennedy attended the events in Dallas, Little Rock, Memphis, Jackson, Tenn., and Corinth. He will also be attending the events in Jackson and Oxford.
Women’s Head Basketball Coach Matt Insell joined the team for the events in Jackson, Tenn., and Corinth. He will also attend the events in Oxford and Tupelo.
The Rebel Road Trip’s success is largely accredited to the Alumni Association at Ole Miss.
Jim Urbanek, the Alumni Association’s assistant director of communications, said he is glad the Alumni Association has the opportunity to work with other campus and community organizations.
“The Alumni Association is excited to be able to work with the Athletics Department, the Athletics Foundation and BancorpSouth in bringing this program to Ole Miss alumni and friends,” Urbanek said.
Rebel Road Trip will come to Oxford on Thursday. The event will start at 7:30 a.m. at the Inn at Ole Miss. The program will include breakfast, speakers and open information booths.
The expedition will then come to a close Friday in Biloxi.
For tickets and/or more information visit www.rebelroadtrip.com, or keep up with Rebel Road Trip on Twitter at #RRT14.
