Tailgating has been a tradition among football fans for countless years. What’s better than setting up some music, your portable barbeque pit, and tossing the pigskin around before watching your favorite team play?
Although it may seem that a few hotdogs and laughs aren’t worth the arduous effort that preparing and cleaning up require, it’s not as hard as you might expect. By following these steps and listening to Paly’s greatest tailgaters, you too can become an expert for football seasons to come!
There are really only a few materials that are absolutely necessary when tailgating. These include a barbeque, lawn chairs, music, and games. However, if you are among the lucky few without a budget, there are many more supplies and decorations that would enhance any tailgating experience.
Barbeque- Food is the number one essential for tailgating. The recommended tailgating foods include hotdogs, hamburgers, chips, drinks, and dessert.
Lawn Chairs- People will also need a place to sit and relax. If lawn chairs are not in your budget, sitting in/on your car or the ground are other options.
Music- When conversations get dull, you’ll be happy to have your ipod speakers or portable stereo at your disposal. If tailgating from your car, a car stereo or radio will work. Tailgating experts, seniors Aly Seedman and Megan Dazey recommend "any music that pumps you up, like Queen."
Seedman and Dazey began seriously tailgating at the beginning of this football season. Their first experience was on the soft/base ball field last spring.
" I decided to hold a tailgate before the first couple of away games. It was a great way to get people to the games and get everyone excited," Dazey said.
Seedman and Dazey also suggest blankets, lighter fluid for the BBQ and car paint as extra materials for the ultimate tailgating experience. Games are also an important asset. While waiting for the hotdogs to cook, a Frisbee, football, or other games help pass the time as well as boost enthusiasm before the football game.
"Catchphrase is a must-have game for all entertainment purposes" says Dazey. The catchphrase game comes with a hand-held electronic timer, which shows a random word that a member of your team must try to guess. It is much like an electronic version of taboo.
Above having enough materials, is having enough time and the right location. Dazey and Seedman advise to account for traffic, whether the game is away or home. Carpooling is also important because it saves the environment and its more fun to go in groups anyway. If you are tailgating at an away game, be prepared for harassment. It’s very possible that there will be tailgaters from that team as well. The last and most important tip is to have fun. Bring a camera to capture the awesome moments!