Three years ago the University allowed two students to start wearing the "Rebel" mascot uniform. I am very close to one. He is my son. He got away with a little shenanigans (Vanderbilt game in Oxford with the clock operator, faked being tossed out at a basketball game, and even rubbed Neal's head at a basketball game). This of course was Hugh Freeze's first year. Well, anyway, the week of the Auburn game (where we would become bowl eligible), he was performing for a small crowd of kids at a women's soccer match in the stands. A drunk man pushed him down the stands. If the man only knew the size and strength of the young man in the uniform he would not have done it. He was a finalist in the Mississippi 6A Powerlifting Competition at age 16 (300 lb bench, 500 lb squat, 500 + lb dead lift in the 198 pound weight class). He is also a Trent Lott Scholar who grew up hearing me talk about my love for the Colonel. He said " Dad, I am going to put the Colonel's heart in the new Rebel for you and everyone else who loves the Colonel". Well anyway, instead of cold cocking the man who pushed him down the stands, he, with tears in his eyes and fighting through a lot of anger and physical pain, stayed in character and actually acted friendly to the guy and made it seem like a part of a planned routine. He did it for the kids so they wouldn't freak out. He also would not allow the University Police who arrived on the scene to arrest the guy. He decided that evening that after the upcoming Auburn game he couldn't do it any longer. He roomed his freshman year across the hall from Jaylen Walton and I'Tavius Mathers (great guys by the way, great encouragers). Word got around what happened at the soccer game through some of the players. Then, a strange thing happened that Saturday morning at the Auburn football game before he got dressed.. Keep in mind that he is a nobody, as compared to the players ... . As he was entering his little dressing room in the tunnel, a man came up to him, put his arm around him, hugged him, and said, "let's go get 'us' a 'W' today, Rebel!" That man's name was Hugh Freeze. Guys, there is no way I can tell you the value of the people in the Athletic department at Ole Miss, beginning especially with Ross Bjork. There are truly great human beings at Ole Miss! My son has never once regretted turning down a scholarship to be Aubie at Auburn (His mama's school), one of the most beloved mascots at any university, except for that one week before Hugh Freeze came up and encouraged him. I cannot possibly tell you how much he loves everything about Ole Miss, especially Hugh Freeze! Hugh Freeze is the real deal! My son will continue this year to try to win some of you over. He carries the love of His dad's colonel in his heart, but what he is doing, he believes, is for the betterment of our great University! Please know that you Colonel supporters do matter to him. Just thought I would share. True story!
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