A Tail Of A Tale

Let's talk about traditions today -- specifically, tailgating.

I cannot express how much I was impressed as both a part of a college football athletics program -- specifically, football in this particular case -- and as a fan with the game day atmosphere that awaited us at Saint John's a few weeks ago. Of course, those folks up there have nearly a 100-year head start on us down here with their football program, but somehow I don't think it took them that long to figure out that a huge part of the college football experience involves tailgating.

We've come a long way here at ETBU in nine years. I actually see some small tailgating parties going on outside Ornelas Stadium on game day. I'm not talking about the larger ones sponsored by, say, cheerleaders, or the alumni association, or any of that. Nothing at all wrong with any of those and we certainly welcome the efforts of the people involved with that in generating game day spirit for the Tigers.

But up at Saint John's, let me tell you, there were some people doing some serious partying. Nothing obnoxious, mind you, just good-natured tailgating in the middle of the parking lot. There were burgers on the grills, brauts, krauts, whatever. It was being cooked. I tried to sneak through there unnoticed, but the blue and gold I was wearing made me about as invisible as The Incredible Hulk. But the folks up there invited me over for some kind of mini-burger that tasted like pork sausage on a bun, and let me tell you it was -- delicious.

There's a certain science to tailgating. Go to a Cowboys game at Texas Stadium, for example, and you'll find all food groups represented in some form or fashion. And, I might add, some food that doesn't belong in any food group.

Most places we go, if there are tailgaters, it's most hamburgers, hot dogs, maybe some barbeque. You know, it all depends on how much you want to eat before a game, and how much you're willing to spend to make it all happen. With the food, I mean.

I actually thought about hosting a little tailgate this past Saturday for the Tigers' game against Sul Ross. I typically arrive at Ornelas Stadium about three hours or so before a game, anyway. That's probably way too early, but I don't work well under pressure. If I can get everything set up and ready to go well ahead of time, trust me, my day goes much, much better. If I'm rushed because of time, well, it doesn't go so well.

I was thinking about setting up a tailgate, getting there a couple of minutes earlier than normal, and seeing what might happen. Then it hit me about Thursday of last week -- what kind of tailgate can you have at 8 in the morning? Kickoff for our first two games at home this year have been moved to 11 a.m., to help with the brutal East TexaS heat that pounds on our fans and press box in the middle of the afternoon in September.

Eggs? Bacon? Pancakes, maybe? The ideas starting popping into my head. But somehow that didn't fit my definition of a tailgate. I was having visions of burgers and hot dogs, maybe some sirloin, you know, anything that smells good on the grill and tastes even better. And despite my physical appearance, I don't do much red meat in the mornings.

My tailgate would probably have been reduced to Frosted Flakes. So I declined. But I'm thinking about the future.

I've thought about suggesting a tailgating contest at some point, where we appoint a committee in true Baptist fashion to survey the various sites around the stadium for the best fare. Maybe we could get a sponsor of some sort to donate something like a barbeque grill or something, and at the end of the year make it worth everyone's while. I don't know.

Or maybe I'm just trying to envision a place that is hopping on game day, getting ready for the Tigers to chomp somebody to bits. Trust me, it's not the reason Saint John's has won all those championships, but it's a lot easier to get ready to play when you've got 50 barbeque grills smoking out there a few hundred yards away, whetting your appetite.

Or maybe, just maybe, I'm being selfish and just want to smell it myself. Hmmm. I can taste it already...