How about the tailgating at TTU? Lots of food and fun. A bounce zone for the young and young at heart. Fathers and sons playing football. Corn hole games. Frisbies. Some folk bring their own food. Some dine on the free food and beverages that are provided by local churches and businesses. Tech cheerleaders pump us up for the game, and my favorite, the TTU Marching Band performs.
When did tailgating begin? The American Tailgater Association, on its website, details the history of sharing food and drink before events and says the first documented tailgate probably took place in 1861 at the Battle of Bull Run. It states, “At the battle’s start, civilians from the Union side arrived with baskets of food and shouting, ‘Go Big Blue!’ Their efforts were a form of support and were to help encourage their side to win the commencing battle.” The Romans ate and drank outside the Coliseum before gladiator games. Doesn’t that fall into the broad definition of tailgating? Surely, they shared food and spirits and talked about the upcoming sports events.
In 1869, a group of Rutgers fans and players, wearing scarlet-colored scarves as turbans, paraded before the football game between Princeton and Rutgers. This was one of the earliest recorded celebrations before a sporting event.
There are all styles and levels of tailgating. Tailgating was simple when we drove a big wood panel station wagon. We lowered the tailgate, spread out a plastic tablecloth and food. Pimento cheese sandwiches, chips, and store bought cookies. Then came vans. We packed chairs, coolers with drinks, upscaled to ham rolls, fancy dips for chips, and cupcakes decorated with our team’s mascot. Or we picked up a family-pack barbeque dinner on the way to the game.
For some folks, RV tailgating is the ultimate. As good as life gets, I’ve been told, and an event that can go on for several days. No need to go to the game. RVers park close to the stadium and watch the game on big screen televisions. They relax in their comfortable chairs, eat and drink all through the game, know there’s been a big play when they hear the roar of the crowd, and maybe even the game announcer, and celebrate when their team scores on the big screen.
Football fans on the Ole Miss campus take tailgating to the extreme. And when I tailgated in The Grove, I made a check mark on my bucket list. Ten acres in the center of a campus shaded by oak, elm, and magnolia trees. Thousands of fans under a sea of red, white, and blue tents. And the table settings and fare were fit for a southern girl’s wedding reception. Elaborate centerpieces, silver candlesticks, tablecloths, fancy hor d’oeuvres, barbecue, fried chicken, shrimp, and all the fixings.
Tailgating isn’t just about the food. It’s getting ready for the big game. Food, friends, and fun —what’s not to like about one of fall’s biggest social events?
Filed under: Food, Friends, sports | Tagged: food, Friends, tailgating, travel | Leave a comment »
Susan Writes 