45 F
Oxford

Ole Miss Tailgating Traditions: The Cossar Family Tent

tailgating traditions2-01

The Tailgating Traditions of the Cossar Family Tent!
An Interview With Pepper Cossar by HottyToddy.com
Enjoy the fifth in our series of Tailgating Traditions articles sponsored by Ole Miss Tailgating where you can even order Raising Cane’s® and Chick-fil-A® for your Grove Tent! (Click the Ole Miss Tailgating logo below to see the menu and order!)

tailgate billboard 176x512

copy-4-of-pb211986
The Cossar Family

HottyToddy.com: Pepper, your family has been tailgating for a long time, tell us about the history?

Pepper Cossar: The Cossar Family Tradition of tailgating began long before I came along. It is my understanding that my grandfather, George Payne Cossar, Sr., initially got season tickets for football games shortly after World War II.  He was actually a cheerleader when the team was called the Mississippi Flood.

My earliest memory of tailgating was in the late 60’s behind the Sigma Nu Fraternity House. That was literally “tailgating” as we would bring chicken from Charleston and just hover around the trunk of the car when it was time to eat.  I was 5 or 6 and can remember my brother (George Cossar III) and me playing football and doing our best imitations of Archie Manning and Floyd Franks.

The next place we tailgated was in the parking lot of the Field House. That was great because the football players would walk right past us. I remember that they looked like giants.

After they put a parking lot where the old baseball field was located, we moved to that location.  That is when we first started setting up a tent.  Our spot was exactly where they later put the Rebel shop. When they built the Rebel Shop, we were moved to the best spot that we could imagine which was within 10 yards of the elevator on the home (west) side of the stadium. (There is a good story about that move and how my grandfather negotiated it.) We stayed there until they built the Pavilion, and we moved to the parking lot immediately north of the Football Stadium. Once again, construction caused us to move to our current location.

HottyToddy.com: What year did your tailgating experience begin?

Pepper Cossar: I can remember tailgating as early as 1968.  My family was tailgating long before that.

HottyToddy.com: Who are the regular participants in the Cossar family tent?

Pepper Cossar: My mother and father (George and Louanne Cossar), my brother and his family (George, Betty, Mary Chandler, Chip, Eliza), my wife and family (Angela, Pepper, Jr., Jessica, Colton, and AnnaLee — children ranging from ages of 26-8 years old!), my sister and her family (Anne Love Perry, Joe Perry, Kristen), my Uncles Bill and John Cossar.

HottyToddy.com: Where is the location of your tent, and how did you select it?

Pepper Cossar: The current location is right in front of the Athletic offices…just North of the stadium.  It was selected because it was right in front of our parking spots and had a space to put up a couple of tents….and was in close proximity to the stadium, which is needed because of the short walk to the stadium for my parents.

HottyToddy.com: What is your history with Ole Miss (in general) as well as the other principals?

Pepper Cossar: My grandfather was a cheerleader for Ole Miss as was my Uncle John Cossar. Graduates of Ole Miss include my grandfather, grandmother, Mom, Dad, two Great Uncles, three Uncles and their wives, brother, sister, cousins. I graduated undergrad as well as law school from Ole Miss as did my father and grandfather.

HottyToddy.com: What is the game-day menu, typically at the Cossar tent?

Pepper Cossar: It varies…but usually includes chicken, sandwiches, numerous dips, numerous desserts. Sometimes we will smoke a Boston Butt. We limit it to what can fit on two tables. Morning games will usually include an area to  prepare bloody Marys.

HottyToddy.com: Have y’all ever had any celebrities or well-known athletes come by? Would you mind naming a few for our readers?

Pepper Cossar: Sure…number one athlete and celebrity would include Archie stopping by every now and then when were at the location next to the elevator. Tom Lester of Green Acres would stop by when he came to the games. Former Miss Mississippi/Miss America Mary Ann Mobley would come by. Dexter would stop by when he would return for games when his professional team was not playing. Tom Brokaw took a liking to my two uncles, twins John and Bill Cossar, and stopped by on occasion.  Some Governors over the years as well as U.S. Congressmen, Senators and an Ambassador.

HottyToddy.com: Describe the most humorous incident that comes to mind?

Pepper Cossar: Once when Dexter stopped by he took a picture with my father. In the picture, their hands were touching…..Dad said that it looked like they were going steady!

Another time was my brother-in-law, Joe Perry and I were sitting around after a particularly good Ole Miss win…right outside of the stadium where the Pavilion is now located….enjoying the win and the beverages that were available, listening to listening to Elvis sing The Trilogy over and over…because you just can’t hear that too much! On this particular occasion, our families did not join us for the game….At some point in time we noticed that there was not a single soul around! The TV crew had packed up and left, and every single person was out of the lot…. except us.  So what did we do?….we stayed for a couple more hours!  You just can’t beat a beautiful day after a Rebel win.

HottyToddy.com: What about any other memorable moment?

Pepper Cossar: Most memorable moment on campus…Beating Alabama 2 years ago …..

Most memorable moments off campus…Cotton Bowl trips to Dallas, Sugar Bowl trip to New Orleans, road-trip to play Wyoming.

HottyToddy.com: Your permanent residence (and the other regulars) is where?

Pepper Cossar: My parents and Bill Cossar reside in Charleston, MS. My brother and his family live in Senatobia and my family lives in Madison, MS.

HottyToddy.com: Do any of you have second homes in Oxford?

Pepper Cossar: Yes, my wife and I have a condo in Oxford as does Bill Cossar. The condos serve as great locations for family gatherings on football weekends as well as a great place to spend the weekend anytime of the year when we want to come to “God’s Country.”

HottyToddy.com: Your view on the rules and regulations for setting up
tents on Game Day?

Pepper Cossar: I wish they would let people reserves places all day long in the Grove until it is time to put up tents.  This was a great way for the college kids to make some extra money by sitting in the Grove for 4 or 5 hours….thus resulting in someone else giving your kids money on the weekend!

HottyToddy.com: If Ole Miss were to change anything about the tailgating experience, what would you recommend?

Pepper Cossar: The setting up experience can be … stressful… at times

HottyToddy.com: How early in the week do you start preparing for the Saturday event?

Pepper Cossar: We pretty much do the same thing every weekend…so there is not a whole lot of prep work.  Around Wednesday we will start calling and texting regarding the menu and the time of everyone’s arrival.

HottyToddy.com: How do you divide the duties among the participants?

Pepper Cossar: Normally my immediate family will set up the tents tables and chairs on Friday evening. This will include my wife and daughter, AnnaLee. AnnaLee started helping at around age 6. Other times  other family members will assist on Friday evening.

On Saturday, we all show up at about the  same time and all pitch in.

HottyToddy.com: What is your zenith enjoyment from all of this work?

Pepper Cossar: No doubt…being with family and good friends who stop by before and after the game.

image001-1
AnnaLee (8), Pepper and Angela Cossar
img_0056
Louanne Cossar, Angela Cossar, Anne Cossar Perry and George Cossar Jr, at the tent in front of the stadium.
img_0057
Louanne Cossar, Pepper Cossar, Joe Perry, George Cossar, III and George Cossar Jr. at the tent in front of the stadium.
fall-football-1-2010-015
George Cossar, Jr. and two granddaughters, Mary Chandler and Jessica.

Week 1: Ole Miss Tailgating Traditions: The Looser Family 

Week 2: Ole Miss Tailgating Traditions: “The Real Thing” Tent

Week 3: Ole Miss Tailgating Traditions: The “Zebra Tent”

Week 4: Ole Miss Tailgating Traditions: Jim’s Place In The Grove


Allison Buchanan is CEO at HottyToddy.com. She can be reached at allison.buchanan@hottytoddy.com

Follow HottyToddy.com on Instagram, Twitter and Snapchat @hottytoddynews. Like its Facebook page: If You Love Oxford and Ole Miss…

Most Popular

Recent Comments

scamasdscamith on News Watch Ole Miss
Frances Phillips on A Bigger, Better Student Union
Grace Hudditon on A Bigger, Better Student Union
Millie Johnston on A Bigger, Better Student Union
Binary options + Bitcoin = $ 1643 per week: https://8000-usd-per-day.blogspot.com.tr?b=46 on Beta Upsilon Chi: A Christian Brotherhood
Jay Mitchell on Reflections: The Square
Terry Wilcox SFCV USA RET on Oxford's Five Guys Announces Opening Date
Stephanie on Throwback Summer
organized religion is mans downfall on VP of Palmer Home Devotes Life to Finding Homes for Children
Paige Williams on Boyer: Best 10 Books of 2018
Keith mansel on Cleveland On Medgar Evans
Debbie Nader McManus on Cofield on Oxford — Lest We Forget
Bettye H. Galloway on Galloway: The Last of His Kind
Richard Burns on A William Faulkner Sighting
Bettye H. Galloway on Galloway: Faulkner's Small World
Bettye H Galloway on Galloway: Faulkner's Small World
Bettye H Galloway on Galloway: Faulkner's Small World
Bettye H. Galloway on Galloway: Faulkner's Small World
Ruby Begonia on Family Catching Rebel Fever
Greg Millar on The Hoka
Greg Millar on The Hoka
Greg Millar on The Hoka
Greg Millar on The Hoka
jeff the busy eater on Cooking With Kimme: Baked Brie
Travis Yarborough on Reflections: The Square
BAD TASTE IN MY MOUTH on Oxford is About to Receive a Sweet Treat
baby travel systems australia on Heaton: 8 Southern Ways to Heckle in SEC Baseball
Rajka Radenkovich on Eating Oxford: Restaurant Watch
Richard Burns on Reflections: The Square
Guillermo Perez Arguello on Mississippi Quote Of The Day
A Friend with a Heavy Heart on Remembering Dr. Stacy Davidson
Harold M. "Hal" Frost, Ph.D. on UM Physical Acoustics Research Center Turns 30
Educated Citizen on Buzzed Driving is Drunk Driving
Debbie Crenshaw on Trump’s Tough Road Ahead
Treadway Strickland on Wicker Looks Ahead to New Congress
Tony Ryals on parking
Heather Lee Hitchcock on ‘Pray for Oxford’ by Shane Brown
Heather Lee Hitchcock on ‘Pray for Oxford’ by Shane Brown
Dr Donald and Priscilla Powell on Deadly Plane Crash Leaves Eleven Children Behind
Dr Donald and Priscilla Powell on Deadly Plane Crash Leaves Eleven Children Behind
C. Scott Fischer on I Stand With Coach Hugh Freeze
Sylvia Williams on I Stand With Coach Hugh Freeze
Will Patterson on I Stand With Coach Hugh Freeze
Rick Henderson on I Stand With Coach Hugh Freeze
George L Price on I Stand With Coach Hugh Freeze
on
Morgan Shands on Cleveland: On Ed Reed
Richard McGraw on Cleveland: On Cissye Gallagher
Branan Southerland on Gameday RV Parking at HottyToddy.com
Tom and Randa Baddley on Vassallo: Ole Miss Alum Finds His Niche
26 years and continuously learning on Ole Miss Puts History In Context With Plaque
a Paterson on Beyond Barton v. Barnett
Phil Higginbotham on ‘Unpublished’ by Shane Brown
Bettina Willie@www.yahoo.com.102Martinez St.Batesville,Ms.38606 on Bomb Threat: South Panola High School Evacuated This Morning
Anita M Fellenz, (Emilly Hoffman's CA grandmother on Ole Miss Spirit Groups Rank High in National Finals
Marilyn Moore Hughes on Vassallo: Ole Miss Alum Finds His Niche
Jaqundacotten@gmail williams on HottyToddy Hometown: Hollandale, Mississippi
Finney moore on Can Ole Miss Grow Too Big?
diane faulkner cawlley on Oxford’s Olden Days: Miss Annie’s Yard
Phil Higginbotham on ‘November 24’ by Shane Brown
Maralyn Bullion on Neely-Dorsey: Hog Killing Time
Beth Carr on A Letter To Mom
Becky on A Letter To Mom
Marilyn Tinnnin on A Letter To Mom
Roger ulmer on UM Takes Down State Flag
Chris Pool on UM Takes Down State Flag
TampaRebel on UM Takes Down State Flag
david smith on UM Takes Down State Flag
Boyd Harris on UM Takes Down State Flag
Jim (Herc @ UM) on Cleveland: Fall Vacations
Robert Hollingsworth on Rebels on the Road: Memphis Eateries
David McCullough on Shepard Leaves Ole Miss Football
Gayle G. Henry on Meet Your 2015 Miss Ole Miss
Guillermo F. Perez-Argüello on Neely-Dorsey: Elvis Presley’s Big Homecoming
Jennifer Mooneyham on ESPN: Ole Miss No. 1 in Nation
Wes McIngvale on Ole Miss Defeats Alabama
BARRY MCCAMMON on Ole Miss Defeats Alabama
Laughing out Loud on ESPN: Ole Miss No. 1 in Nation
Dr.Bill Priester on Cleveland: On Bob Priester
A woman who has no WHITE PRIVILEGE on Oxford Removes Mississippi Flag from City Property
A woman who has no WHITE PRIVILEGE on Oxford Removes Mississippi Flag from City Property
paulette holmes langbecker on Cofield on Oxford – Rising Ole Miss Rookie
Ruth Shipp Yarbrough on Cofield on Oxford — Lest We Forget
Karllen Smith on ‘Rilee’ by Shane Brown
Jean Baker Pinion on ‘The Cool Pad’ by Shane Brown
Janet Hollingsworth (Cavanaugh) on John Cofield on Oxford: A Beacon
Proud Mississippi Voter on Gunn Calls for Change in Mississippi Flag
Deloris Brown-Thompson on Bebe’s Letters: A WWII Love Story
Sue Ellen Parker Stubbs on Bebe’s Letters: A WWII Love Story
Tim Heaton on Heaton: Who is Southern?
Tim Heaton on Heaton: Who is Southern?
Karen fowler on Heaton: Who is Southern?
Don't Go to Law School on Four Legal Rebels Rising in the Real World
bernadette on Feeding the Blues
bernadette on Feeding the Blues
Joanne and Mark Wilkinson on Ron Vernon: a Fellowship of Music
Mary Ellen (Dring) Gamble on Ron Vernon: a Fellowship of Music
Cyndy Carroll on Filming it Up in Mississippi
Dottie Dewberry on Top 10 Secret Southern Sayings
Brother Everett Childers on ‘The Shack’ by Shane Brown
Mark McElreath on ‘The Shack’ by Shane Brown
Bill Wilkes, UM '57, '58, '63 on A Letter from Chancellor Dan Jones
Sandra Caffey Neal on Mississippi Has Proud Irish Heritage
Teresa Enyeart, and Terry Enyeat on Death of Ole Miss Grad, U.S. Vet Stuns Rebel Nation
P. D. Fyke on Wells: Steelhead Run
Johnny Neumann on Freeze Staying with Rebels
Maralyn Bullion on On Cooking Southern: Chess Pie
Kaye Bryant on Henry: E. for Congress
charles Eichorn on Hotty Tamales, Gosh Almighty
Jack of All Trades on Roll Over Bear Bryant
w nadler on Roll Over Bear Bryant
Stacey Berryhill on Oxford Man Dies in Crash
John Appleton on Grovin' Gameday Memories
Charlotte Lamb on Grovin' Gameday Memories
Guillermo F. Perez-Argüello on Two True Mississippi Icons
Morgan Williamson on A College Education is a MUST
Morgan Williamson on A College Education is a MUST
Jeanette Berryhill Wells on HottyToddy Hometown: Senatobia, Mississippi
Tire of the same ole news on 3 "Must Eat" Breakfast Spots in Oxford
gonna be a rebelution on Walking Rebel Fans Back Off the Ledge
Nora Jaccaud on Rickshaws in Oxford
Martha Marshall on Educating the Delta — Or Not
Nita McVeigh on 'I'm So Oxford' Goes Viral
Guillermo F. Perez-Argüello on How a Visit to the Magnolia State Can Inspire You
Charlie Fowler Jr. on Prawns? In the Mississippi Delta?
Martha Marshall on A Salute to 37 Years of Sparky
Sylvia Hartness Williams on Oxford Approves Diversity Resolution
Jerry Greenfield on Wine Tip: Problem Corks
Cheryl Obrentz on I Won the Lottery! Now What?
Bnogas on Food for the Soul
Barbeque Memphis on History of Tennessee Barbecue
Josephine Bass on The Delta and the Civil War
Nicolas Morrison on The Walking Man
Pete Williams on Blog: MPACT’s Future
Laurie Triplette on On Cooking Southern: Fall Veggies
Harvey Faust on The Kream Kup of the Krop
StarReb on The Hoka
Scott Whodatty Keetereaux Keet on Hip Hop — Yo or No, What’s Your Call
Johnathan Doeman on Oxford Man Dies in Crash
Andy McWilliams on The Warden & The Chief
Kathryn McElroy on Think Like A Writer
Claire Duff Sullivan on Alert Dogs Give Diabetics Peace of Mind
Jesse Yancy on The Hoka
Jennifer Thompson Walker on Ole Miss, Gameday From The Eyes of a Freshman
HottyToddy.com