Reigning Game Day National Champs Announce Their New Team

Six months have passed since the University of Mississippi took home the first-ever All Girl Division lA Game Day championship title, and the team is still reeling with excitement.

“We received our rings at our end of the year banquet in April and it still didn’t seem real then! We are so excited to be the first ever to win that division and we are already looking forward to building on our success,” said head coach Ryan O’Connor.

Ole Miss is known for having an incredible game day atmosphere back home in Oxford, Mississippi, so when new game day divisions were announced, it was a no-brainer for these Rebels to bring their sideline skills to the competition mat.

“We spent a lot of our time focusing on gameday this year at Ole Miss with both teams. We added motions, signs, and stunts to our current traditions and even started a few new ones,” O’Connor said. “We started out last year knowing that game day was going to be the area we were going to focus on and I think our administration, fans, and our team saw that every week! It felt great to be rewarded in Orlando, too.”

One of their newest traditions gave them an edge and helped them stand out against other schools in the competition.

The squad incorporated unique “D-fins” signs in the place of traditional "defense" signs to honor their football team's defensive unit, popularly known as the Landsharks. The chant lit up the crowd as they cued a response from the fan-filled arena. The Ole Miss Rebels made a real splash with great use of cheers and chants incorporating a fun school tradition.

[Watch] Ole Miss All Girl's Winning Performance

2018 was Ole Miss All Girl’s second time competing at nationals, and they made their mark taking home the title of first-ever Game Day national champs. With such a huge accomplishment in their trophy case, the team is excited to take on another year. 

The entire Ole Miss Spirit Squad held their 2018-19 tryouts this past May and the outcome of talent was overwhelming.

“The Ole Miss All Girl team is stacked with talent this year! I was so blown away by them at tryouts and I am feeling incredibly blessed to work with such an amazing group already!”

The All Girl squad is made up of 15 rookies and 15 veterans. 

“It’s a brand-new team for the most part. That is honestly the part I am the most excited about as a second-year coach with the program. I think the returners who are back are all strong leaders on and off the field and the rookies are ready to work! Watch out for this team!” O’Connor added.

Your first college cheerleading tryout as an athlete can be very nerve-wracking, but the excitement that comes from making your dream team is something you will never forget.

“Tryouts are the hardest part of my job,” O’Connor said. “I struggle to make decisions that I know are going to deeply impact these young adults, but delivering the good news is always exciting no matter how many times I get to do it! I saw so many freshmen make the team that have been coming to clinics and getting better and better each time. I feel like I have already watched them grow as athletes and I am really looking forward to getting to know them as people this year.”

2018-2019 Ole Miss All Girl Cheerleading Team

With their recent championship success still fresh on everyone’s mind, the All Girl Veterans are determined to lead the way to another standout season.

“I have three seniors who are going to do amazing things in their last year here at Ole Miss. I know they understand what it takes, and they are ready to push this team to leave their mark,” O’Connor said. “I also have a group of juniors who are not only talented, but they are hungry for another title. They also want to make changes to our program across campus, in the classroom and on the field!”

Will we see the Rebels in the Game Day Divisions again at UCA College Nationals?

O'Connor says you can count on it!

"We definitely want to keep pushing the limits on our sidelines and finding new ways to get our crowd involved this year. Getting to showcase that in Orlando is a bonus!"

With both squads picked for the 2018-19 season, O’Connor has some big goals for the program and for herself. 

“My goal as a coach is to continue to learn and grow. I want to figure out new ways to teach and motivate my new group and I want to always try to set a good example for them in my own life," O'Connor explained. "I would love to start a new tradition in Oxford on gamedays that our fans, students, and athletes love! I hope to find one that sticks this year and really stands the test of time, so I can come back years later and know where it all began. I want to raise our team GPA in the classroom and continue to be involved in our campus and community."

"Competitively, I think the sky is the limit for both teams. They are young, hungry and talented. I am ready to get started!”