Born Into the Red and Blue
For as long as they can remember, cousins Blanton Hale of Longview, Texas, and William Thomason of Atlanta, Georgia, have been surrounded by the red and blue of Ole Miss.
The tradition began generations before them, when their grandfather, Keith McKey, proudly wore the Rebels uniform on the football field and their grandmother, Peggy McKey, made her mark as a standout on the Ole Miss women's basketball team.
Their family stories were filled with tales of legendary games, lifelong friendships and unforgettable Saturdays in Oxford, creating a legacy that neither cousin ever questioned; they simply knew they were meant to be part of it.
Every fall, no matter how many miles separate their homes, the family reunites in the Grove for game days. Hale and Thomason grew up tossing footballs between the tents, listening to their grandparents reminisce about their playing days and learning every Rebel cheer before they were old enough to understand the score.
The Grove became more than a tailgating destination; it became the place where family traditions were passed from one generation to the next, where memories were made and where their love for Ole Miss only grew stronger.
Now, as college draws near, the two share a common dream: to join the next generation of Ole Miss alumni. They can already picture themselves spending Saturdays in Vaught-Hemingway Stadium, carrying on the family tradition of tailgating in the Grove and experiencing the excitement of fraternity rush as they begin building friendships that will last a lifetime.