The student section is seen during the fourth quarter of the Troy game last week.
AUSTIN McAFEE | The Daily Mississippian
The No. 24 Ole Miss Rebels will face off against the No. 8 Missouri Tigers at 6:45 p.m. Saturday to begin Thanksgiving break, with a full Vaught-Hemingway Stadium expected.
Stephen Ponder, University of Mississippi senior executive associate athletics director for external relations, said the game is sold out.
“We are expecting a full house Saturday night,” he said. “We are sold out, and expect it to be full.”
Ponder said the Athletics Department has been preparing as normal for the weekend.
“From our standpoint, we are preparing for a full house of 60,000 plus,” Ponder said. “That is how many tickets we have out, and every indication we have shows that we will have a full crowd.”
Ponder said he hopes for the best this weekend.
“The weather is going to cooperate — it is going to rain tomorrow and clear up for Saturday, and it should be a beautiful day,” Ponder said. “For Thanksgiving break, we have a week, and I think most people will stay for the game Saturday versus going home Friday or Saturday.”
Ponder said tonight’s basketball doubleheader should also keep students around.
“We’ve got a basketball doubleheader as well, and so I expect we will have a full weekend of activity with our fans and students alike,” Ponder said.
Sophomore public policy major Audrey Mooney said she is looking forward to the weekend.
“I think it is going to be a lot of fun,” she said. “It will be a pre-Thanksgiving celebration, and Mizzou is new to the SEC and doing well this year, so I think it will be a good game.”
Joe Bell, freshman public policy leadership and international studies major, agrees.
“I’m staying for the game and excited for the weekend,” Bell said. “I want to spend the weekend with my friends, and it is a big game for us.”
Sophomore journalism major Drake Davis said he will also be attending the game.
“I think we are going to beat Mizzou,” Davis said. “And I cannot leave with one game left – I have been to every game I could.”
Not all students will be staying for the game, however. Sophomore chemical engineering major Livvy Cooper said she will not attending this weekend.
“I am ready to see my family and am going home this weekend,” she said.
-Grant Beebe
thedmnews@gmail.com
