OXFORD, Miss. – Many University of Mississippi students, faculty and
staff, as well as Rebel fans everywhere, are to don their finest red
and blue attire Friday (Aug. 29) for the fourth annual College Colors
Day observance.
Organized by the Collegiate Licensing Co., national College Colors Day
seeks to promote higher education by encouraging fans, alumni and
students to wear the apparel of their favorite college that day.
Governors from across the nation have agreed to sign College Colors Day
proclamations.
“This is our fourth year to participate in this,” said Kathy Tidwell, UM manager of contractual services and licensing. “I think it is a good way for everyone to get into the act. It’s right before our first football game; it shows support for our university. It gets everyone in the frame of mind for starting school.”
The day is designated in conjunction with the kickoff of college football and the return of students to school. It coincides with the Ole Miss-Memphis season opener Aug. 30.
“We want College Colors Day to become one of America’s top holidays and celebrations,” said Tim Hawks, Ole Miss graduate and director of special projects for the CLC. “The wearing of Ole Miss apparel by students, fans and alumni is a powerful thing. Not only does each sale of Ole Miss apparel generate royalties that are used for scholarships and campus improvements, but it is a great promotion for the university,”
In the past, College Colors Day has been very successful on the Ole Miss campus, with many students, faculty and staff wearing red and blue, Tidwell said.
“Both me and my wife will wear Ole Miss apparel to our respective places of employment, as well as anywhere else we go in Atlanta on College Colors Day,” Hawks said. “This is great marketing and exposure for Ole Miss. Think about the day when hundreds of thousands of Ole Miss students, fans and alumni do the same throughout the U.S. That is pretty powerful.”
This year, CLC has partnered with country music star Toby Keith. Full-size, stand-up Keith signs promote the event in various college bookstores across the country.
The Ole Miss Bookstore is supporting the campaign with several signs, and staff will wear the school colors, Tidwell said.
For more information, visit http://www.collegecolorsday.com/web/ccd.nsf/Content/pgHome . To learn more about the Ole Miss Bookstore, visit http://ole-miss.bncollege.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/BNCBHomePage?storeId=13557&catalogId=10001&langId=-1.