Where I Come From: Tailgating Traditions
by Mike Breese on Jul 8, 2010 12:09 AM CDT
in EA Sports NCAA FB 11
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Tailgating has always been one of my favorite extra-curricular activities during college. I liked the early games, because that gave me a good reason to start early with drinking beverages as well. Especially during homecoming when pretty much every place is going to be open bright and early for keg and eggs.
Playing bags is a really good way to keep yourself busy and have a lot of fun. I'm not terribly good, but it doesn't matter because you're just having a good time with your friends in the spirit of competition. Washers is a fun game as well. As is beer bonging.
The one thing you do have to do is visit the Huskie Mobile/Bus/Whatever. It's pretty easy to notice the decked out Mobile at home games, because there is a deck on top of the thing and people are standing there partying. It's pretty much an essential thing to do during a tailgate is to stand on top of the famous Huskie Bus.
Oh and make sure that your pre and post game eatery is Fatty's. Nothing else in Dekalb comes close.
It's just weird for me, because I have yet to tailgate as an alumni and during my undergrad years I was part of a fraternity. I would ALWAYS stay and watch not just the first half, but the ENTIRE game. Sometimes I was the last man standing in terms of all my friends leaving, but I didn't care. Energy drinks or quick halftime naps help.
What are some of your tailgating traditions?
GO HUSKIES!!
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Tailgating....
I’ve had some good times tailgating but probably not as good as you Mike. While I’ve always partaken in some tailgating, hardly ever was it in the main lot in front of the stadium where all the “action” takes place.
At this point in my Huskie Fandom “career”, there’s no way I’m going in to that mess. Instead, I like to set up shop just across the street with some friends and cook up some good food and drink some good beer (that comes in a glass bottle….;-). We do like sitting across from the main lot because there is entertainment value in watching the chaos (or what appears to be chaos). But, we also like to be left alone a little, so we can do our own thing.
Tailgating has transformed over the years for me. It used to be about grabbing a burger from Burger King and roaming afround the lot but now it’s about hanging out and enjoying the company.
The food’s gotten better as well as the beer (and sometimes wine), and the times have become more meaningful because I get to hang out with and see people I don’t see every day.
Life is tough, but it's tougher if you're stupid.
- John Wayne
Tailgating Traditions
Since I didn’t start drinking until I was 21 (I know… shocking in this day and age) tailgating was originally never about drinking. I was all about hanging out, walking around the tailgate lot, and throwing the football around. Then once I turned 21 and grew gills, the beverages were flowing heavily but the base of hanging out, walking around the lot, and throwing the football around didn’t change. Today that holds true. We always say that it’s not a tailgate unless we are launching 40yd bombs (I swear we think we are throwing them that far) in or near the lot. The grill has burgers and dogs on it, the car stereo is blaring, and the canopy is up. We also started playing/singing the fight song right before we headed to the stadium. But first I always need to stop over and say hi to Justin H. and his gang. Then after the game is over we all head over to Pizza Pros to get 3 or 4 orders of cheese nuggets. Sounds like a perfect day to me!
Tailgating is a must
I don’t think I’ve ever attended a football game where I didn’t tailgate beforehand. Honestly. I used to tailgate at my older brother’s high school games, the games when I was in high school, any bears games, and every game I went to at NIU. My family has spread out a little bit over the Illinois and Wisconsin area and tailgating at DeKalb gives us a great opportunity to meet up and spend a few hours together having fun. As much as I love NIU football, tailgating was a HUGE reason for why I got into the team and why I was showing up for November games when the team was 1-8. Burgers, brats, hot dogs, chicken, steak…doesn’t matter. And I always have to play some tailgating games whether it’s just throwing a ball around or playing beer pong. Tailgating is definitely the ultimate social experience for a college football game and I always look forward to crossing paths with old friends.
Tailgating
As mentioned before, I spent most of my student years working the games, always having to be in the press box a couple hours before kick-off…which meant no tailgating for me. However I do have fond memories of hanging out with friends at the Alpha Phi Omega area that we always had for tailgating the year that I wasn’t working. Since I graduated, I have spent more time wandering the campus with a few good friends than tailgating, but I always make sure to spend a couple hours in the party outside the stadium.
Tailgating
As a student (especially during the ‘03 season) I went into the games right away for the first row 50-yard line seat (great when the opponents sat behind the students). Once the gates opened I was done tailgating but I have relaxed in my recent years. We continually make it out to games and tailgate on the east side (forever). Usually we end up getting a spot around the Huskie mobile or red black. Beers , bags plus what ever is on the grill is always a good time. Hanging out with many Huskie fans is all in good fun. Tailgating in Soldier field, Northwestern, Wisconsin, Michigan etc. is one of the greatest experiences I get to have because of the time I get to spend with my buds who are now alumni (We pick an away game every year and go as a group). Can’t wait for the football season to start and I can’t wait till the Illinois game to have a great time (and celebrate a Huskie W)
by projectmayhem011 on Jul 9, 2010 9:50 AM CDT reply actions
2004
I started tailgating with a few of my dads friends (and now my friends) on the west side of the stadium back when I was 11 and I still tailgate with them to this day, at the 11 o’ clock games we are always be tired but still keep on partying, before and after the games for the Huskies.
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