Tailgating 101: from the gate to the grill

The stands packed to capacity, the wild cheers of fans as the ball is passed from player to player until it reaches the end zone for a touchdown.

After coming off a 7-6 2010 season, with the Sun Belt Conference Championship and their first-ever bowl game win against Toledo, the Golden Panthers are ready to hear their fans rattle the cage against their first opponent, North Texas, Sept. 7 at 7 p.m. in the Football Stadium.“I’m super excited for the game,” said Anson Lewis, a senior marketing major. “Coming off an amazing bowl game, I’m pumped to start this season off and hopefully make it to another bowl game!”

While the game will be intense, the fans ranging and the dazzlers as dazzling as ever, not all the fun starts at kick-off time. If you get to the stadium just a couple hours before the game, fans will find that the party has already started.

By 5 p.m., just east of the stadium, the festivities will already be in full swing. From fraternities, to the Alumni Association, to a variety of clubs and students, everyone with team spirit will be decked out in blue and gold and getting psyched up for the game.

“I’m trying to get ahead on all my homework so my whole day can encompass football,” said Tiffany Disney, a junior and prelaw major.

Tailgating is not only a tradition, but it is a great way to kick off the Fall semester and get into the team spirit with great food, good friends and fans.

“Tailgating sounds like an opportunity to get away from the classroom setting and be able to enjoy the college experience with your fellow students,” said freshman Bryan Villeta, a psychology major. “It is a big school, and we all have busy schedules, but we come together for events like these and stand up with our school to root on our team.”

Being a part of a university like FIU means more than just going to class. The football games provide an opportunity to let loose, have a great time and build up some excitement while connecting with fellow classmates.

“My first tailgate was freshman year, and it was really something. There’s a ton of people that go — lots of food. There’s music and free stuff,” said Jennie Campa, a sophomore and TV production major. “During my first tailgate, one of the fun experiences was body paint and dancing to the music that you hear from all the different parties.”

Sure enough, fans will always find plenty to do at the tailgates. One important thing to remember, though, is that when the time comes to do some tailgating, fans leave their worries, stress and inhibitions at the door.

“I expect to meet new people while tailgating and going bananas with them at the game, not caring how foolish we look, because we’re showing our pride,” said Villeta.

Be sure to look out for Roary, the mascot, roaming the tents, high-fiving fans and striking poses for pictures. The marching band, which is always out in their khaki uniforms, will also put on a show just before the game with the Dazzlers. There will be freebies and giveaways, so make sure to look out for those, too.

With all the excitement, do not forget the essentials every good tailgate needs.

“They should bring food, drinks, friends and dress up for their team to support them. Also, they should bring stuff like footballs and Frisbees — any activity that you can do outdoors. Or if anything, bring music to dance to,” said Campa.

And of course, along with the festivities come the basics; students are not unfamiliar with the Miami heat, so while there will be plenty of shade under tents to hide from the sun, it is always a good idea to bring some water, hat and sunglasses to the game.

Villeta may only be a freshman, but he seems to already have what it takes. “I’ve never been more excited about anything. I’m going to be attending every home football game, and going to be looking forward to meeting new people at each game and making friends that will last a lifetime.”