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Most people see Saturdays in the Grove as a relaxing experience to enjoy some amazing food, loving friends and good ol’ fun. For drum major Chris Presley, it’s a job, but a job he has an immense passion for.

Presley, a junior Biology major, has been in band since age 12, and has developed a passion for music. When he’s not playing his alto sax or bassoon, Presley is conducting the beloved Pride of the South through the Rebels’ good downs and bad.

From early morning to late at night, Presley is always full of life and ready to keep everyone energized and excited, no matter what the action on the field is like.

Before even making it to the field, Presley prepares from his home as early as 7 a.m. “The day of the game, I make sure I have my whistle with me about two or three times before I leave the house,” Presley said.

During the Walk of Champions when the team gets off the bus and makes their glorious entrance into the Grove, Presley rapidly moves his arms and assists in the familiar musical atmosphere that we always remember about the Grove. Even at the earliest kickoff times, as the music begins to swell in front of the Student Union, people began to gather with giant cameras, red cups and little children to see what “tradition” really means. Through all of the excitement rushing around him, he always keeps a focused but relaxed face while keeping perfect time.

By the time the band wanders to the Grove stage for their final hurrah before heading to the stadium, the crowd had more than triples around them, ready for the familiar fight songs and chants that brings Rebel football to life. Presley rushes around, taking roll and answering questions from different directions, all while smiling and loving everything. “My favorite part about being the drum major is knowing that I can be a positive role model for those in the band and being a voice for the band when trying to raise money and letting people know how hard we work so they will appreciate our performances at football games,” Presley said.

Once the game ends, he returns everything to the band hall and wishes everyone a wonderful rest of the weekend. While most people are rushing home to freshen up for a night on the Square, Presley takes a different approach: studying and a good night’s rest.

“The greatest rewards of being a part of the Ole Miss band are developing skills like pride, discipline, and teamwork that aren't taught in the classroom and getting to do something I am already passionate about (playing and listening to music).“

Whether a seasoned veteran since it’s early beginnings or a freshman looking for a place to socialize, the Grove is and always has been a place of southern elegance, good-hearted camaraderie, and (most importantly) SEC football.

For more information, visit the Pride of the South website here.

Ole Miss Soccer Weekend Preview

Colonel Reb Foundation

Mulitmedia #1- Meredith Fuller

September marks the end of childhood cancer awareness month, but a whole new opportunity to give for Chili’s Restaurants . Chili’s has pledged over $50 million St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital and since has made a huge impact on the lives of childhood cancer patients. Through the Chili’s Create-A-Pepper to Fight Childhood Cancer campaign, the popular restaurant has donated $30 million to aid in the fight against childhood cancer.

Richard C. Shadyac Jr., C.E.O. of ALSAC, the company responsible for the fundraising efforts of St. Jude said “ Chili’s Create-A-Pepper camaign has raised millions of dollars for childhood cancer research and we are so thankful to have such generous and passionate partners in our mission.”

Now in it’s fifth year, The Tex-Mex restaurant along with St. Jude ‘s has recently expanded it’s fundraising programs into the digital world, now allowing the public to donate via text message or by going to the chili’s website. The restaurant also allows the public to donate and spread the word via social media such as Facebook and Twitter.

The most popular event, however, is the Create-A-Pepper night where customers are able to buy a pepper and color it to be hung in the restaurants lobby.This event is just one part of an entire month of fundraising Chili’s does for the hospital.

“This is just such a great opportunity to give back to the community and help those children that can’t help themselves.” said Kate MacNeil,21. MacNeil, a junior hospitality management major, has been participating in the event since she has been in school at Ole Miss.

“ The food is good, and I always make sure I eat here when it is so easy to give to such an awesome organization.”

To donate to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital visit www.createapepper.com, www.stjude.org, or simply text HOPE to 90999 to make a $5 donation

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Bobby Cox's last playoff run is most unlike

Marketed nationally as “America’s Team” by TBS and then marketed regionally as “Braves Country,” many here grew up watching Bobby Cox manage the Atlanta Braves.

Cox’s tenure has included an unprecedented 14-straight division titles from 1991 to 2005 and five World Series appearances, winning the title in 1995.

This season, Bobby Cox’s final season as a major league manager and for the first time since 2005, the Braves return to the playoffs where they will face the National League West champion San Francisco Giants.

Other than, perhaps, the 1991 “Worst to First” Braves, this is the franchise’s unlikeliest run to the playoffs. For the first time in franchise history, the Braves made it to the playoffs as a wild card team and they didn’t clinch the postseason berth until the last day of the regular season.

The Braves used 109 different lineups, thanks in part to season-ending injuries to Chipper Jones and Martin Prado. By the last month of the season, after injuries to starting pitchers Kris Medlen and Jair Jurrjens, the rotation became rounded out by Mike Minor and Brandon Beachy, both of whom started the year with the Class AA Mississippi Braves.

In this playoff run, the Braves assume an unfamiliar underdog role and deservedly so. Cy Young award winners Tom Glavine, Greg Maddux and John Smoltz aren’t walking through that door. Nor is Chipper Jones, the lone holdover from that 1995 team.

Instead there’s a roster with a flair for the dramatic, which led the Braves to 25 last at-bat victories this season and exemplifies the expression “the whole is greater than the sum of the parts.”

There’s the ace starting pitcher, Tim Hudson, who’s barely two years removed from Tommy John surgery.

There’s the closer, Billy Wagner, who, like his manager, is expected to retire at the end of the season, but is having arguably the best season of his career.

There’s the star rookie, Jason Heyward, who may well win the National League Rookie of the Year award, but will soon experience the playoffs for the first time.

There’s the journeyman utility player, Omar Infante, who, finally given the chance to play every day, ranks third in the National League in batting average (.321).

There’s the career minor leaguer, Brooks Conrad, who has stepped into the starting lineup for the injured Jones and Prado.

And then there’s players with career paths everywhere in between.

This playoff appearance is also a credit to Cox, who guided the Braves through a nine-game losing streak in April and, despite dropping to second in the National League East to the Philadelphia Phillies in mid-August, managed to piece together a lineup and pitching staff to hold on to win the wildcard.

Cox is the fourth winningest manager in major league history, compiling a 2,504-2,001 record in his time with the Braves and Toronto Blue Jays. He also holds the all-time record for ejections with 158, which is a credit not to a fiery temper, but a willingness and desire to fight for and protect his players.

While the Braves may not be the best team in this year’s playoffs and, at least according to Las Vegas (for entertainment purposes only, of course), they are the longest shot to win the World Series. But the best teams don’t always win.

It’s sometimes that team that gets hot or comes through in the clutch. Or perhaps it’s something intangible like a manager in his last year, getting the very best and more from his players by his presence alone.

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