Former University of Mississippi football players have come together to launch a grassroots effort honoring legendary Rebel coach Billy Brewer while also backing the construction of a new alumni center.
Thanks to gifts from student-athletes who played football for the legendary coach, the new Triplett Alumni Center will include the Billy Brewer Balcony — a space where former players can gather and share stories of their glory days.
So far, $135,000 of $250,000 has been raised by 25 of Brewer’s players with 1985-1988 Rebel tight end Wesley Walls of Charlotte, North Carolina, making a lead gift.
“I’m incredibly proud of the Billy Brewer Balcony and honored to be among the former players contributing to it,” said Walls, who played for four NFL teams after graduating from Ole Miss, including the 1990 Super Bowl winning San Francisco 49ers.
“Everyone wants to help because we all have a unique story about how Coach Brewer changed our lives,” Walls continued. “We’re committed to seeing this project finished so we can gather on the Billy Brewer Balcony, remember our playing days and share stories about the extraordinary man who meant so much to all of us.”
Jamie Holder of Bay Springs, Mississippi, a Rebel wide receiver from 1983-1985, said the effort is about giving Coach Brewer the credit he deserves.
“He accomplished a great deal with very limited resources — far fewer facilities, recruiting advantages or institutional support than exist today,” Holder said. “Despite that, his love for Ole Miss was unmistakable.
“You could feel it in the way he talked about the program, the history and the great teams and moments from his own playing days. He constantly reminded us of what Ole Miss football stood for and where it came from.”
Moreover, Brewer established a gameday tradition at Ole Miss: the Walk of Champions, during which the players and coaches parade to the stadium on foot through throngs of cheering fans — a practice that has now been replicated at colleges and universities nationwide.
“He understood the power of tradition and pride, and he built that intentionally,” Holder said. “Coach Brewer was also an exceptional motivator. Every day he left quotes or sayings in our lockers — sometimes funny, sometimes inspiring — but always meant to keep our minds focused and sharp.
“He demanded discipline and accountability, from attending meetings to eating breakfast and going to class,” he continued. “That discipline was intense, and it stuck with us; even years later, many of us still have nightmares about being late or unprepared. That speaks to how deeply it was ingrained.”
Walls agreed: “He was the toughest coach I ever played for — physically and mentally. We had no days off, wore shoulder pads every day and practiced with game-level intensity.
“When you felt like you couldn’t go anymore and somehow found the strength to keep going, that’s when Coach Billy Brewer knew he had you. He pushed all of us to our limits, tested us, made us better football players and more importantly, better men.”
The idea to honor Brewer formed during a meeting of the Ole Miss Alumni Association advisory board of which 1987-1990 defensive back Todd Sandroni of Tupelo, Mississippi, was a member.
“During that conversation, we talked about how different individuals and groups were trying to raise money for specific projects. That led me to think about Coach Brewer, who spent 10 seasons at Ole Miss and had so many players come through the program during his tenure,” Sandroni recalled.
“One thing led to another, and we began discussing the idea of reaching out to former players who played under Coach Brewer to help fund a balcony in his honor and name it after him.”
Sandroni contacted athletes who played for Brewer before and after him, and each showed interest in helping to honor his college coach.
“In many ways, that enthusiasm reflects how deeply Coach Brewer loved Ole Miss. He played there under Coach (Johnny) Vaught, stayed connected to the program even after his coaching career ended and often spoke about Ole Miss being his dream job and part of who he was,” Sandroni said.
“Ultimately, this effort is about honoring Coach Brewer, bringing his former players back together and showing appreciation for everything he did for us and for the program.”
It’s also about having a space to call their own.
The Billy Brewer Balcony will offer a view of the Grove and allow the Alumni Association to host a wide range of gatherings, from career fairs to alumni reunions, rehearsal dinners and weddings, and further enhance opportunities for connection.
The new Triplett Alumni Center is a $51 million-plus project that will serve as a welcome center, extending hospitality to alumni, prospective students, university guests and others.
In addition to being the starting point for campus tours, the ground floor will house a ballroom and large gathering space in the lobby. The second floor will be home to a 300-seat-plus grand ballroom, large pre-function area, multiple breakout rooms and the president’s hospitality suite.
A significant aspect of the new building is the integration of the athletic legacy of Ole Miss. The third floor will house the M-Club Alumni Chapter, featuring special collections and memorabilia in the Manning Room and the Jake Gibbs Room. The Billy Brewer Balcony will be off the third floor.
The fourth floor will accommodate Alumni Association staff, an executive board room, and meeting spaces overlooking the historic Grove.
Ole Miss Alumni Association CEO Kirk Purdom expressed appreciation for the teammates’ vision.
“What these former student-athletes are doing is admirable, and the fact that their gifts honor one of our university’s greatest football coaches makes it especially meaningful,” Purdom said. “It sets a powerful example for other teams and players.”
Coach Brewer genuinely cared about the individuals on his teams as people, not just as football players, even long after their playing careers ended. For example, when Holder’s first child was born, Brewer sent the baby boy a mock scholarship to play for Ole Miss.
“We knew he truly cared about us, and that’s why players who played for him still love and respect him so deeply,” Holder said. “Above all, Coach Brewer demanded respect because he earned it.
“Honoring him feels long overdue. He gave everything he had to Ole Miss football, and he deserves to be remembered properly for the legacy he built.”
For information on supporting the Billy Brewer Balcony project or to make a gift to the Triplett Alumni Center building fund, click here, or contact Mary Kate Skelton at marykate@olemissalumni.com or 662-915-2377.
By Bill Dabney/UM Foundation