For Bob Harrison, tailgating at the Grove is more than just a tradition, it's a business. What started as a simple favor for friends has turned into an easy money-maker for Harrison, a Jackson, Mississippi resident and Ole Miss alum.
"For me, it's not about the money. It helps, but at Ole Miss, everyone's friends, and when I'm out here setting up, I feel like I'm setting up for my own friends. It's a great feeling."
Harrison's business, the Rebel Tent Company, started about twelve years ago when he and some friends from college decided to set up a tent to tailgate together in the Grove. After a few games, Harrison and his friends were setting up a few more tailgates. "Some friends of ours asked us if we would set up their tents for them, and it all sprung from there. Just by word of mouth we got a lot more people asking us to set up tents for them, and what was first just a free favor slowly became a steady business. I figured if I was already here putting up a tent already, setting up a few more wouldn't be bad at all, especially if I'm getting paid to do it."
The Rebel Tent Company's process is simple. By Wednesday of a home gameday week, Bob confirms how many customers want tailgates set up and taken down for them and calls his extra help to deal with saving spots and setting up tailgates. His main source of help comes from current Ole Miss students looking for a way to make some extra spending money. These students arrive at the Grove early Friday afternoon in order to save the spots requested by Harrison's customers. They sit and save these spots until 9 p.m. when the University Police Department (UPD) allows tailgates to be set up. At this time, other students run tents from cars parked near the Grove to the saved spots to help set up. Once the tents are set up, the tables and chairs are brought to each tent and the tailgate is officially set up minus only what the customers bring with them the next day.
Students who work with Bob Harrison rave about working for him. "Working with Bob has been a great experience, and he is a pleasure to get to know," says Reed Kerwin, a sophomore from Charleston, SC who has worked for Harrison all season long. "He always makes sure we get done working at a decent hour so we don't lose our entire Friday night, and always makes sure we work only as long as we work. Plus he pays us well for a pretty easy job, you just can't beat working for him."
The Rebel Tent Company has stayed quite busy for the last twelve football seasons, even through the toughest years, most notably this season. Bob Harrison has helped create an enjoyable Grove experience for many fans over the years, as well as creating easy money-making jobs that get students involved in Ole Miss' #1 ranked tailgating tradition. "To be a part of this rich tailgating tradition every home weekend like this, it's an awesome feeling. I love being a part of it, and when everyone else here shares the same passion, it's undescribable. It's unlike any tailgating experience I've ever had and I believe no one can compare," said Harrison.
For more on this story click here.
"For me, it's not about the money. It helps, but at Ole Miss, everyone's friends, and when I'm out here setting up, I feel like I'm setting up for my own friends. It's a great feeling."
Harrison's business, the Rebel Tent Company, started about twelve years ago when he and some friends from college decided to set up a tent to tailgate together in the Grove. After a few games, Harrison and his friends were setting up a few more tailgates. "Some friends of ours asked us if we would set up their tents for them, and it all sprung from there. Just by word of mouth we got a lot more people asking us to set up tents for them, and what was first just a free favor slowly became a steady business. I figured if I was already here putting up a tent already, setting up a few more wouldn't be bad at all, especially if I'm getting paid to do it."
The Rebel Tent Company's process is simple. By Wednesday of a home gameday week, Bob confirms how many customers want tailgates set up and taken down for them and calls his extra help to deal with saving spots and setting up tailgates. His main source of help comes from current Ole Miss students looking for a way to make some extra spending money. These students arrive at the Grove early Friday afternoon in order to save the spots requested by Harrison's customers. They sit and save these spots until 9 p.m. when the University Police Department (UPD) allows tailgates to be set up. At this time, other students run tents from cars parked near the Grove to the saved spots to help set up. Once the tents are set up, the tables and chairs are brought to each tent and the tailgate is officially set up minus only what the customers bring with them the next day.
Students who work with Bob Harrison rave about working for him. "Working with Bob has been a great experience, and he is a pleasure to get to know," says Reed Kerwin, a sophomore from Charleston, SC who has worked for Harrison all season long. "He always makes sure we get done working at a decent hour so we don't lose our entire Friday night, and always makes sure we work only as long as we work. Plus he pays us well for a pretty easy job, you just can't beat working for him."
The Rebel Tent Company has stayed quite busy for the last twelve football seasons, even through the toughest years, most notably this season. Bob Harrison has helped create an enjoyable Grove experience for many fans over the years, as well as creating easy money-making jobs that get students involved in Ole Miss' #1 ranked tailgating tradition. "To be a part of this rich tailgating tradition every home weekend like this, it's an awesome feeling. I love being a part of it, and when everyone else here shares the same passion, it's undescribable. It's unlike any tailgating experience I've ever had and I believe no one can compare," said Harrison.
For more on this story click here.
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