Thieves almost made off with an Ole Miss cheerleader's once-in-a-lifetime chance to cheer at the Cotton Bowl.
Almost everything was stolen from Gresham Hodges' black sport utility vehicle while it was parked outside her family's house in Dallas' Lakewood neighborhood.
Her iPod and cell phone could be easily replaced, but her University of Mississippi cheerleading uniform wasn't -- at least, not before Saturday's Cotton Bowl.
"That was kind of the first thing I thought about: 'My cheerleading backpack is gone. What am I going to do?'" Hodges said.
There wasn't enough time to order another NCAA-approved uniform before the game, and the Dallas native feared she'd be sidelined for the biggest game of her life.
"We've gotten tickets for my friends and family to finally see me cheer," Hodges said.
But the sophomore received news Wednesday afternoon that has her cheering again.
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Her cheerleading coach has scavenged up enough pieces of a uniform to put her back in the game. The uniform and shoes are on a bus on their way from Mississippi to Dallas. They should should arrive Thursday.
The uniform may not fit perfectly, Hodges said she is just be grateful to have one.
"It's great how everyone has pulled together and helped me out," she said.
Ole Miss plays Oklahoma State at Cowboys Stadium in Arlington on Saturday.
