From a football chant to friendly greeting, the beloved cheer has been 100 years in the making.
Written by Emily Welly | Photographed by Carleigh Harbin
“Hotty Toddy.” In Vaught-Hemingway Stadium, the battle cry kicks off every football game.
“You can feel the excitement and then simply enjoy the moment as our fans respond to the question,” said Langston Rogers, special assistant to the athletics director. “It’s a rich tradition that brings us together and is a source of pride for all who love Ole Miss.”
Hotty Toddy History
Where the Hotty Toddy cheer came from is a bit of a mystery.
Some say it originated from Virginia Tech’s Regimental Band, which became known as the Highty-Tighties in 1919. It’s also been reported the cheer is similar to cavalry chants popular among WWII soldiers. And of course, some presume the cheer is a nod to the hotty toddy drink.
According to Ole Miss, the earliest known reference appeared in “The Mississippian” on Nov. 19, 1926. It was a suggested cheer to be used during the next day’s football game:
“Heighty! Tighty!
Gosh A Mighty!
Who in the h—l are we?
Rim! Ram! Flim! Flam!
Ole Miss, by D—n!”
Hotty Toddy Today
The Hotty Toddy cheer has evolved as it’s been passed down through the generations. Nearly 100 years since it seems to have originated, it now starts with “Are You Ready?,” a question that blasts out from the jumbotron on game day. Ole Miss fans yell back with a resounding rendition of the beloved cheer.
Today, “Hotty Toddy” is also a much more personal greeting for fellow fans.
“I always wear an Ole Miss shirt whenever I travel for various meetings,” said Langston Rogers, special assistant to the athletic director. “I can’t count the number of times I’ve had people see our logo and respond with a ‘Hotty Toddy.’ I just can’t count the times.”
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