Christmas is almost here, and in the South the combination of great food and great football go hand in hand! We recently caught up with one of Mississippi State’s football greats to find out what he’s been up to and to learn how he’s sharing his love of family cooking with fans everywhere.

Former MSU Tight End REGGIE KELLY is no stranger to our area or to MSU football fans. He grew up in Aberdeen, MS and had a stellar career as a Bulldog. He continued his football career with the Cincinnati Bengals and the Atlanta Falcons, where he plays now. Even though he is obviously pretty busy during this time of year, he still finds time to get back to Mississippi. He is very active in charity work in Aberdeen through the United Way of Monroe County, providing holiday hams and turkeys to local elderly, and just last week he hosted his high school’s team and coaches as the Falcons played the Jacksonville Jaguars. On trips home, he also manages to pop over to Starkville, his Bulldog home away from home as well!

What you may not know is that Reggie also has a signature line of sauces, seasonings and salsas he markets across the nation, and we hear he’s a pretty good cook too! The KYVAN line of food products is Reggie’s way of sharing the Southern cooking tradition with others! Check out what Reggie had to say about his time in Starkville and his savory cooking…

1. Tell us some of your favorite memories about your time in Starkville.
“The basketball team went to the Final Four during my Freshman year. The students went crazy!”

2. We know you get back to the area and your hometown of Aberdeen as often as you can. What are the favorite stops you like to make in Starkville when you travel to Mississippi?
“I love to stop by the campus, see the football team and give them an encouraging word. I also don’t miss a chance to visit Mugshots and Bop’s!”

3. Great food is such a huge part of growing up in the South. Tell us the story of how you began your KYVAN line of salsas, seasonings and sauces. And, where did you get the name?
“KYVAN is derived by combining my two kids’ names (KYla and KaVAN). My wife and I came up with the idea to go into the food business because we grew up around family who could cook and loved cooking. We wanted to take some of our personal home ingredients and sell them to the consumers so they could appreciate the goodness of great food. Since I was a boy, cooking in my household was an event in itself. I wanted to share that same experience.”

4. What’s your most popular product?
“The Mild Salsa, for sure. Try it!”

5. You know it’s always tailgating season in Bulldog Country. Do you have a favorite tailgating recipe or something for the holiday table using one of the KYVAN products?
“We always do a steak recipe where we marinate the steak in KYVAN overnight and then cook it. Easy and delicious, and steak is always a crowd-pleaser.”

6. Where can folks in Starkville get KYVAN locally or online?
“In Starkville, KYVAN is available at Barnes & Noble on campus, Campus Book Mart, The Lodge and Piggly Wiggly. You can also purchase online at www.reggiekelly82.com“

7. Ok. Who do you pick to win the Music City Bowl this year?
“No brainer!” MSU Bulldogs! #MAROON4LIFE”

Well, we couldn’t have said it better ourselves. It was a pleasure to visit with Reggie — one of the Bulldogs who continues to make us proud.  Stop by one of the locations listed above and pick up some KYVAN for your holiday table this year!