By GLENN GUILBEAU, Tiger Rag Editor
OXFORD, Mississippi – The world famous Grove tailgating mecca here near Vaught-Hemingway Stadium had more short-yardage situations here Saturday afternoon than at a classic LSU-Ole Miss football game in the 1950s.
It was waist-to-butt traffic for much of the 10-acre green space filled with tents and natural tree shade, but temperatures reached 98 degrees with a heat index in the 100s. It was literally a Hotty Toddy afternoon at Ole Miss, and nothing to cheer about.
And LSU fans were largely outnumbered in the afternoon hours before No. 7 LSU (2-0) and No. 8 Ole Miss (2-0) were to kick off at 6:30 p.m. on ABC with the sun mercifully setting.
Navigating the crowd was reminiscent of the mass of humanity trying to move around when Bruce Springsteen played the Jazz Fest at The Fairgrounds in New Orleans on April 29, 2012, before an estimated crowd of 65,000. Only it was about 20 degrees cooler that afternoon.
The late villain Al Davis, who fired and tried to embarrass young Lane Kiffin 18 years ago, would be so proud of him today. For Lane has become him. Column:https://t.co/BKkEuAtPAF
— Glenn Guilbeau (@SportBeatTweet) September 19, 2026
“Should I go down there?” an LSU fan wearing purple and gold overalls asked as he considered a right turn toward a sea of red and navy blue.
Someone said no.
“I think you’re right,” he said.
As a group of LSU fans walked down a pathway with barricades between them and throngs of Ole Miss fans in the grassy shade, both sides yelled obscenities.
Even the famously dressed to the nines Ole Miss coeds cussed in the face of some LSU fans, and a few of them reluctantly settled for some of the many Port-O-Lets.
“I never understood why they confine themselves to such a small tailgating area,” one LSU fan said in passing. “At LSU, we stretch out across the whole campus – not just one little spot.”
But when 300,000 visitors descend on a town of 26,773 for a football game in a 64,038-seat stadium, even the most spacious green spaces can look tiny.
“Nobody gets out of here alive,” an Ole Miss fan yelled as three LSU fans walked by.
New LSU coach Lane Kiffin, who bolted from Ole Miss for his new job after leading the Rebels to an 11-1 (7-1 SEC) season and their first College Football Playoff berth, was targeted by the Ole Miss fans.
Kiffin was called a “Heaux” on some posters and buttons. He was referred to by other nouns, verbs and adjectives that cannot be in print.
LSU-OLE MISS INJURY REPORT
But Kiffin and the Tigers arrived ready to play with starting quarterback Sam Leavitt expected to play after a curious injury report by Kiffin to the Southeastern Conference office on Wednesday night that listed him as “doubtful,” followed by “questionable” on the SEC availability report on Thursday night. On Friday night and Saturday at 5 p.m., he was not on the availability report, which means he is available.
“Sam’s doing great,” Kiffin said on ESPN’s GameDay Saturday morning. “Early in the week, he had a scare in practice. But he’s had a great recovery.”
Apparently as great as New York Knicks center Willis Reed recovering from a right thigh injury in time to start Game 7 of the 1970 NBA title series against the Lakers that the Knicks won.
“He’s worked really hard,” Kiffin said. “And he’s ready to go.”
TJ DOTTERY GAME TIME DECISION
LSU starting linebacker TJ Dottery, who transferred to the Tigers from Ole Miss after last season, was listed as a “game time decision” in Kiffin’s game day availability report to the SEC office released at 5 p.m. Saturday. Dottery had been listed as questionable earlier in the week.
Shortly before the game, LSU defensive coordinator Blake Baker told Channel 2 in Baton Rouge that Dottery was “good to go.” And Dottery started the game.
All other Tigers were expected to be ready to play other than three backups listed as out with injuries – wide receiver Phillip Wright III, linebacker Jaiden Braker and running back Raycine Guillory.
All Ole Miss players were expected to play other than three backup Rebels listed as out – cornerbacks Cedrick Beavers and Victor Lincoln Jr. and offensive lineman Emanuel Faulkner.
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