Indiana Hoosiers Tailgate

Indiana Hoosier Football presents a very convenient for its tailgaters. Memorial Stadium is basically surrounded by one giant parking lot. While most tailgating areas around the country are pleasantly interrupted by trees, hills, and confined boundaries, tailgating here presents a sea of open trunks, tent canopies, and dropped tailgates. It isn't quite the sea of crimson that you may expect from the home crowd, as there is typically a decent visiting crowd. I'm not sure whether the visiting fan base is attracted by the picturesque limestone campus or by the probability of a road win (alhtough the late Coach "Hep" helped sour those expectations through an IU Football cultural transformation).

Hail Old IU / Defend the Rock / We Beleive Play 13
Bloomington Indiana is no more than a 1.5 hour drive south of Indianapolis and is secluded as an island of limestone buildings and crimson clad students. You can get your tailgating supplies and beverages at any of the local Big Red Liquors. Getting to the area and to the stadium is quite easy and traffic is pretty manageable. You dont have to get up terribly early or have to rush out to secure your spot, as there are many public lots for $10 that are within a stones throw from the stadium. Just east of the stadium is the Assembly Hall basketball complex which also houses many basketball and a few football awards. This is also where the players walk occurs which is a recent favorite among the local fan base.

The tailgate cuisine includes typical midwestern fare including bratwurst and corn husks on the grill. Student activity seems confined to the student housing around the stadium, where the parking lot is more popular among the visiting team fans and the optimistic IU alumni and local fan base. The stadium is a very quick 5 minute walk from the parking lot, and you can leave your spot 20 minutes before kickoff to get through the efficient crowd and stadium structure. If your still hungry during the game, in addition to the standard stadium menu, you can get yourself a turkey leg.

The late Coach Hep had spent the last few years changing the culture and jump-starting the enthusiasm for IU football among the fan base and community. Slogans like "Defend the Rock" (a piece of limestone structure preserved on the field), and "We Beleive - Play 13" (signalling their drive to get back to the post-season bowl scene) are apparent from banner signage to the retired ushers. Coach Hep's strategy seems to have worked, as the game atmosphere was very festive thanks to an enthusiastic IU fan base and large student section between the 30 yard line. I was very impressed with the excitement generated even though the football teams history may not warrant it. The first down march was pretty entertaining, and the 'IU Marching Hundred' band did a good job of pumping up the crowd. Bloomington is the home of the famous John Cougar Mellancamp, so the odd R-O-C-K in the USA or Authority Song was blasted appropriately.



After the game, if you want to continue to watch the rest of the day's football action, Kilroys Sports Bar offers 4 big screen TVs and many smaller ones, capturing all the games, offering typical bar fare. For the IU student experience, hit Nick's English Hut, which is a local favorite, but doesn't have the same game viewing options. Buffalo Wild Wings is also there as an always reliable option. Colorado Steakhouse and the U-Club offer the IU football experience with all local memorabilia and history. There are limited hotel options in Bloomington, so if it is a popular game or senior day/parents weekend, be sure to book early. If hotels are all booked up, you can stay in Indianapolis, or on the southern Interstate ring of I-465. Be sure at somepoint to find some daylight and walk around the campus, which is one of the nicest campus settings in the country.

Michigan State Tailgate

Michigan State University – "on the banks of the Red Cedar"

The upcoming clash in Michigan this weekend takes me back to a tailgate gameday experience last year that was one of the greatest. Last year it was the 100th game between Michigan State and Michigan, a rivalry that dates back to when MSU wasn’t Michigan State University, but it was Michigan Agricultural College (MAC). The winner of this annual bitter rivalry takes home the 4 ft. statue of Paul Bunyan – a legend in Michigan folklore.


The campus of MSU is located in East Lansing which is right near the state capital, which is about 1.5 hours northwest of Detroit.


Knowing that we were invited to a tailgate put on by “TheVictorsTailgate” (http://www.thevictorstailgate.com/), we only needed to find a parking spot before we made our way over to meet our fellow tailgaters. We found a good spot by the plant services building for $10 where the tailgating was already underway at the customary 9am opening time (for 3:30 games). There are a lot of parking options to take advantage of in the heart of the action, which is between the south of the stadium and north of Towbridge Road (The Munn parking lot towards the east part of the stadium is non-alchoholic and may want to be avoided.) The tennis courts would be the first parking priority, but the lineup to get a limited spot starts very very early. We walked from our parking spot through the RV section and upon the tennis courts. We entered a sea of fans that were well into the festivities. The usual events of beer pong, ghetto shoes (washers into a wooden box), Cornhole (bean bag toss), and Ladder golf were in full swing among the mostly younger and very energetic student body. There were so many more students that could fill the stadium, let alone the designated student section. It was like Friday night, yet it was only Saturday morning – I cant imagine what Friday night must have been like!



TheVictorsTailgate had a full spread on where there was a full ham as the main dish, with Gyros (for the Sparty theme), and all the necessary snacks. These guys had such a menu that Bratwurst were simply accessories. The tailgate was so impressive that even the Commissioner of Tailgating – Joe Cahn came by to check things out and have a chat.
We left the stadium with about 30 minutes before kickoff, which gave us a comfortable amount of time due to the fact that the crowd arrived from all angles of the stadium, which alleviated mass congestion. Stopping for a picture with the bronzed life-size picture of the Spartan warrior was apparently a very popular thing to do.

The atmosphere inside the stadium was very lively and the chants of “GO GREEN, GO WHITE” reverberated from all corners of the stadium, and hands were out galloping the Spartanesque song by the band. Getting around the stadium inside was kind of tight and reminded me of a hockey arena. Overall, a great atmosphere from a passionate fan base.

After the game we went right back to the tailgate spot. This time though, the tennis courts literally looked like a twister came through, with not many people around, and the fields just absolutely littered – it was a bit of a shame really.

About an hour and a half after the game, the traffic was still quite heavy. The popular destination would be Grand River Ave, just east of Abbott road, which includes sports bars such as Harrison Roadhouse and Buffalo Wild Wings.
All in all, a great experience for a great rivalry – or any Fall Saturday game for that matter.

Michigan Wolverines Tailgate

A tailgate for 8 with a couple of visitors, for a Noon start time with the Miami Redhaws on the road against the Michigan Wolverines in Ann Arbor. Tickets for this event were available a few weeks in advance online, which is common for the University of Michigan Football for MAC opponents and the like.

The day before I drove home from the work week listening to an interview of Joe Cahn - the legendary commissioner of Tailgating, on the Tim Brando show. I dont know that there could be a better interview on the eve of a tailgate. After packing and preparing for the early morning departure, we watched some of the Navy v. Ball State game. You could say this was either a MAC scouting report or just the result of being starved of College Football for the past 7 months. Off to bed early for an early rise - we were aiming to depart at 6:30 for the 50 minute trip.

Off to the location
We hit the road at 6:50, meaning we had just lost 20 minutes of tailgating. On the way, we discussed whether to park at the two prime tailgating locations for Michigan Football - the U of M Golf Course, or Pioneer High School at the corner of Stadium and Main. The golf course is not exactly a grid system of parking, and is probably the most popular spot among tailgaters for a $40 fee. When we arrived at 7:45, we opted for Pioneer High School for a few reasons: 1) It was closer to the stadium and our gate of entry 2) There was a lineup to get into the golf course as it wasnt yet open. Pioneer is more of a grid system utilizing the vast athletic fields and was only a $30 price tag. When we arrived we were guided in by the scent of charcoal and propane into the second row of tailgaters. The weather was looking to be a sunny day of 80 degrees, pretty typical for Saturdays in Ann Arbor. The first bag of chips was open by about 7:50. The first beverage cracked at about 7:49. One word of note at Pioneer, because it is a high school any beverages must be poured into a cup.

Food
The checklist included a few cases of beverages, and heeding the advice I heard a day earlier from Mr. Cahn, the basic diet included Brats and Sausages (Beer Brats, Chorizo, Spicy, Italian), and more bags of chips, nachos, and pretzels than there were participants, as well as a veggie tray for...well....peace of mind I guess. Due to the basic menu, we only needed the Coleman propane camping stove and a couple cans of propane (ALWAYS bring extra propane).

Tailgate
We were surrounded by Hilbilly Golf (Ladder Golf), Ghetto 'Shoes (Tossing washers into a hole of a wooden box), Cornhole (Bean Bag toss into a hole of a wooden box), and some Beer Pong. We brought the football and were so excited that football was in the air, that we thought we could play a game of QB-WR-DB. After a few minutes of Steve Threet like throws, Donovan Warren like pass breakups, and Greg Mathews catches, my breath was quickly lost and It was time for a seat.

One of the greatest examples of why the college game trumps all was evident at the tailgate beside ours. The tradition, history, and pageantry was all on display. The patrons beside us hung the sweaters that were worn on gameday by their fathers who had passed on and left their legacy by introducing them to gameday Saturdays. They had game-worn winged helmets from the 40's and 70's as well as an old football. They also had the book tales from Michigan Stadium which is a book full of short stories from the University of Michigan - before each game one of them recite a story and then autograph it, or if they are lucky, a former player or famous figure will sign it.

There was actually a little bit of Red spotted along the rows of Maize and Blue. The Miami fans brought a football target throwing game, and were very hospitable. If you want to see the cheerleaders and band perform prior to the game, the golf course is the place to be.
The Victors walk is something new this year where 2 hours before gametime, the players are dropped off from the bus in the Blue Lot parking area just east of Crisler Arena and walk through the crowd towards the tunnel. For the student experience, stroll along State and Hoover streets.

To the game
Due to some of the rumors about construction leading to greater than usual lineups to get into the stadium and to the seats, we packed up the tailgate about 40 minutes before kickoff, which was about 10 minutes earlier than usual, but about 20 minutes later than suggested. We followed the massive moving crowd towards the stadium and through the intersection of Main and Stadium streets. The always humorous, always cordial Officer Brian gave out directions, jabs, and jokes from his podium at the intersection. Our gate was at the northwest corner of the stadium which is the least busiest section to enter due to its proximity away from the tailgating relative to the other 3 corners of entry. We were pleasantly surprised when we arrived after only a 15 minute commute from tailgate to seat. For a few brief moments we regretted not maximizing our tailgating time, but then remembered from past history that the later you get to the game, the more the commute time grows exponentially. In Michigan Stadium, getting there with 10 minutes before kickoff is critical so you can experience the entry of the team as they run out and high-five the banner at the middle of the field.

In the game
Our seats were perfect for getting an aerial view, but not too far away to get a look at the new Michigan spread offense. At 50 rows up in section 23 we were right beside the always entertaining and distinct student section and Band. Keys clanging on 3rd down; the "You Suck" chant in cohesion with the Darth Vader music along with the tomahawk chop; the wave variations of 1) reverse wave; 2) slow motion wave; and 3) the super fast wave; the palms up after a first down; Lets go Blue chants; and of course the Victors with fists pumping to Hail! Hail! The trick is knowing when to interrupt the clapping rhythm with the forceful pump of the fist at each "Hail!". Great atmosphere, and quite a bit different from the other 3/4 of the stadium which are known for being very analytical, but quite reserved. In the second half, members of the band visits each section of the stadium to perform the traditional Michigan songs. Construction of boxes is being done to complement the bleacher seating for the 100,000+ crowd.
After the game
On this day, sadly we had to head back home after the game, but we got another hour of tailgating in while traffic passed. Heading back to the tailgate is easy, but if your looking for more variety and more games, we typically hit sports bars including Scorekeepers, and Buffalo Wild Wings - the Little Brown Jug, and Conor O'Neill's. If your making a night of it before or after the game and want more of a club-type of Tom Foolery, than head to nearby Ypsilanti or also referred to as "Ypsi". Checking out the uniqueness of each campus is always a great experience. Ann Arbor is no exception with Where to Stay There are a handful of hotels in and around the downtown area. For a less expensive option, south of the downtown area around I-94 there are about 10 hotels around the Briarwood Mall.

Once again, a great Fall Saturday - are there any that aren't?

Twas the night before football

The season is already one week old, but it is never too late for the following words about College Football. This was sent by a fan of the Maize and Blue Michigan Wolverines, but no matter who you root for you have to love it....

Twas the night before football and all on Main Street,
Not a player was stirring, not even Steve Threet

The jerseys were hung by the lockers with care,
in hope that the kickoff, soon would be there

The players were nestled all snug in their beds,
while visions of Rose Bowls danced through their heads

The wife said "come to bed, its getting quite late",
but I was determined to plan a tailgate

Chicken wings, nachos, bratwurst and beer
"you'll surely keel over" my doctor had feared

Then out of nowhere I heard quite a clatter,
Turned on the TV, and saw Jim Brandstatter

He said, "Lloyd is gone, and boy was he great
But Rich Rod's the one to deliver our fate"

No more "I" formation, no auto run on first,
and out with Debord - he was the worst

And the new offense, they call it the spread
the schedule is packed with defenses to shred

And then in the background, the view of a Vicar
and then came the band, playing Hail to the Victors

There on the 50, in a maize and blue jacket
stood Rich Rodriguez, and amid the band's racket:

"On Minor, on Schilling, on Mathews and Brown,
On Taylor, on Warren, Tressel's a Clown!"

"To the top of the standings, and on to the bowls,
The National Title, these are our goals!"

As he faded away, a voice we all know,
boomed from heavens - by God it was Bo.

"I'm excited as hell, you all know the reason,
now gather the troops, its time for the season"

Wake up and smell the Charcoal!

The tradition, pageantry, colors, and excitement signal that College Football has arrived. But before (and after) the game comes the tailgate. The smell of 50,000 charcoal grills that engulf small college towns is the official start of the season.

Fall Saturdays are not about a 3 hour time slot, but an entire day dedicated to Brats, Beverages, Games, Football, and any other associated Tom Foolery.

This site is dedicated to providing and welcoming your tailgate stories and experiences including where you tailgated on campus, what the menu was, what games were played, what activities partook, when you left the tailgate for the stadium, any sports bars and restaurants that were visited, where you stayed, Stadium tips, and any other College Football Related items.

I am still working out the layout of the site, so I appreciate your patience. Regardless, I encourage you to send your stories from each Saturday around the country.

It is finally here - on with Fall Saturdays, on with life.