In a wonderful and humorous turn of events, Eli Manning—Ole Miss legend, two-time Super Bowl champion, and beloved figure in college and professional football—returned to his alma mater and left more than just memories. During a spirited visit to the University of Mississippi campus, Manning established an amazing and completely unexpected record at The Grove, creating a moment that not only enthralled students but also infused new energy into the school’s legendary tailgating tradition.
The day began quietly—just another sunny Saturday in Oxford—but quickly became electrifying as word spread that Eli had returned to campus. Manning, who was Ole Miss’ quarterback from 2000 to 2003 and is still regarded as one of the most beloved individuals in Rebels history, attended a campus-wide leadership program and filmed a fun bit for an upcoming SEC Network feature.
However, what followed was anything but scripted.
Surrounded by hundreds of excited students and alumni in The Grove, a legendary 10-acre tailgating haven widely regarded as college football’s most iconic pregame tradition, Manning was persuaded to participate in a “Grove Gauntlet Challenge,” a spontaneous competition started by students to see who could thread a football through a suspended hula hoop the furthest distance away.
After watching several kids and even a few professors try and fail from 35 yards out, Manning, with his characteristic dry humor, joked, “I didn’t wear my cleats, but I guess I’ll give it a go.”
He backed up for 40 yards.
Then 45.
Then fifty yards.
With the audience growing louder by the second, he dropped back, scanned the imagined field, and unleashed a perfect spiral—threading the football clean through the hoop, hitting nothing but air, and eliciting a shout audible all the way down to the Walk of Champions.
Cheers erupted. Phones flew into the air to record the scene. And with that, Eli Manning had set a new “Grove Gauntlet” record—a newly formed title that students quickly pledged to instill in tradition. Some people quipped that it should be called the “Eli Toss.”
“I’ve thrown game-winning touchdowns in the Super Bowl,” Manning quipped later in an interview. “But nothing compares to making history in flip-flops, under an oak tree, at The Grove.”
Glenn Boyce, University Chancellor, described the moment as “pure Ole Miss magic,” noting that Eli’s presence was more than just a school visit. “Eli reminds us who we are—rooted in tradition, fueled by community, and always willing to have a little fun along the way.”
Students and alumni shared the occasion on social media, applauding Manning not only for the toss but also for what it represented: humility, humor, and an unwavering love for Ole Miss.
Eli Manning’s journey to the hallowed halls and Grove was the ideal combination of nostalgia and fresh memories. And just like that, he made Ole Miss history again—this time with a hoop rather than a helmet.