Why does Ole Miss say 'hotty toddy'? What we know about Rebels chant
"Hotty toddy" lets Mississippians know they've found their people, even far from home.
In a recent video, Eli Manning said he loves hearing the rally cry walking past someone through the airport or on a New York City street "and they just give you a ' hotty toddy .' You don't stop walking, you just keep going on your way, but you know that person's an Ole Miss Rebel ."
According to the University of Mississippi , it's more than a chant. It's a feeling of shared joy and excellence that comes from shared experiences from the football field to the classroom to The Grove.
But where did it come from and what does it mean? There are a few theories. Here's what we know about the roots of "hotty toddy," including how it started.
What's the full 'hotty toddy' chant?
The current words are:
"Are you ready?!Hell, yeah! Damn right!Hotty Toddy, Gosh AlmightyWho the hell are we? HeyFlim Flam, Bim BamOle Miss, by Damn!"
What does 'hotty toddy' mean?
According to the university, the origins of the phrase "remain a mystery."
The first time the chant was published was in the Nov. 19, 1926 edition of The Mississippian . The student newspaper is now called The Daily Mississippian.
The lyrics were:
"Heighty! Tighty! Gosh A Mighty!Who in the h--l are we?Rim! Ram! Flim! Flam!Ole Miss, By D--n."
But there are three main theories about how the original chant morphed into its modern version.
Some people think it was based on the name of the Virginia Tech Regimental Band, the Highty Tighties.
Others say it's from the warm, boozy " hot toddy." The phrase was also used as a cheer in World War II.
Could it be a reference to calling Ole Miss students " hoity-toity"? The phrase means stuck-up, pretentious or generally snobby.
Fins up! Ole Miss also has a hand sign
Ole Miss has a visual taunt too, the "Fins Up" hand sign. Bring your thumb to the top of your forehead with your hand at a right angle.
In 2008, linebacker Tony Fein was the first to use the symbol in pre-season practice. "Fins Up" took hold over the season. The team went on to win the Cotton Bowl that year, and Fein's landshark status went on to cover top-tier athletic performance.
Fein died of an accidental drug overdose in 2009 without realizing his dream of playing in the NFL.
In 2017, students led a ballot initiative that made the Landshark Ole Miss's official on-field mascot. The university unveiled Tony the Landshark in 2018.
The mascot isn't used much as of 2026, but "Fins Up" is still a visual taunt to other teams.
Bonnie Bolden is the Deep South Connect reporter for Mississippi with USA TODAY Network. Email her at bbolden@gannett.com .
This article originally appeared on Mississippi Clarion Ledger: Why does Ole Miss say 'hotty toddy'? What we know about Rebels chant
