Jan. 30, 2013

OXFORD, Miss.  - OIe Miss has been nominated as one of the top college basketball student sections in the country and is asking for fan support to help win the prestigious title. Rebel fans will now have a say in determining the most deserving student section by voting for the Naismith Student Section of the Year Award.  

By visiting www.facebook.com/ILoveCollegeHoops, Ole Miss fans can vote once per day for Club Red as the top student section in college basketball. The Naismith Student Section of the Year Award, which is presented through a partnership of The Collegiate Licensing Company (CLC), an affiliate of IMG College, and the Atlanta Tipoff Club, administrators of the Naismith Awards, is dedicated to celebrating fans that love college hoops and provide support to their college basketball team with devotion and passion.

"College basketball student sections showcase the emotion, energy, and passion that define what it means for a team to truly have a home court advantage, and we want to celebrate that," added Catherine Gammon, Senior Vice President of Brand Development for CLC. "We encourage all fans to vote to cast their vote and ensure their favorite school gets recognized for the spirit they display in supporting their team."

 "We want to encourage all students, alumni, staff, and fans to show their support of Ole Miss by voting for Club Red as the greatest college basketball student section in the country," said Michael Thompson, Senior Associate Athletics Director for Communications and Marketing. "With colleges and universities all over the country vying for this top award, it is important that our fans visit the I Love College Hoops Facebook page, and vote for the Rebels."

The Naismith Student Section of the Year Award will be determined through two rounds of public votes, combined with a scoring of finalists by the Naismith Awards Board of Selectors, which will review criteria such as the student section's name and attendance, as well as photos, video, and a write-up submitted by the nominating school.  Complete details on the selection process can be found at facebook.com/ilovecollegehoops.

The winning student section gets bragging rights, while the winning school will receive $10,000 to be used in its general scholarship fund. 

Last year's basketball season marked the first-ever Naismith Student Section of the Year Award, with The University of Kansas serving as the official winner of the competition.