There will be another group blended into the crowds during this next week. You may not have heard of us, yet, but our influence is growing. We are a fraternal (as far as we know) organization that looks for what we at Ole Miss hold most sacred – sports. We are your fathers, sons, fraternity brothers, husbands, business partners, and classmates. We talk trash at baseball games from both left field and right. We do not chant “The South Will Rise Again” at football games, we do not blindly endorse the decisions made by the Athletic Department, we do not enjoy mid-afternoon fireworks, and we do not wear Crocs. We refuse to ignore the manatee in the room. When we see good, we give credit where credit is due. When we see bad, we call it for what it is. We are NAFOOM.
Our moniker was bestowed upon us by those who would have you believe that we are Not A Fan Of Ole Miss. Nothing could be further from the truth. We love Ole Miss and want her to succeed in everything that she does. However, unlike the sheep that you will find elsewhere, we want one thing and one thing only: to win. We do not believe in “moral victories,” yearly Super Regional births instead of Omaha, or being satisfied by making it to the semifinals of the NIT. Are all of these signs of progress? Sure. Are they achievements to be praised as highly as an actual victory? No. Most importantly, we believe that “We are Ole Miss” should not be a mantra synonymous with mediocrity, but a war cry of greatness.
So as our beloved Rebels prepare to take on the Commodores of Vanderbilt, we will be watching. Good luck to our players, coaches, and staff. The hopes and dreams of our silent nation rest upon your shoulders. We believe that we will win, and expect nothing less. We will see you in The Grove. Hotty Toddy.
