From Dylan Rider at Editors Column:
“In my eyes, going to a football game always meant going to a tailgate.
The relationship between a game itself and the pregame tailgating is incredibly strong, especially if the two aren’t already synonymous in North American sports culture.
For those unfamiliar or totally uninterested in sports, tailgates are held before the games and usually consist of drinking, barbecuing, grilling, listening to music and playing games. These are held for all sports, but it’s football where it’s most popular…
…There lies the unheralded beauty of the tailgate. No matter the size of the event, be it University of Michigan or Ferris State University, there’s a strong sense of community that lives in the tailgate. This uniquely American tradition is like no other. Two sides, in opposition, show up to the same place on gameday to flaunt their team’s colors. Those opposing sides end up drinking, eating or playing either together or side-by-side.
It’s most certainly human nature. The idea is even biblical, as it’s written that “a man hath no better thing under the sun, than to eat, and to drink and to be merry.”
What’s my point after everything I’ve said, you may wonder. It’s simple: tailgate. If there’s one single thing you do at this or any university, make sure it’s a tailgate.
Sure, sports isn’t your thing? Well, have a beer. Drinking isn’t quite your fancy either? That’s fine, try this crockpot chicken. I can go on and on about the universal pull that a tailgate can offer. Even if the food, the drinks, the games and the music won’t do it for you, there will always be camaraderie.
If there’s one thing I’ll regret not doing as much as a student, it’s going to tailgates. Not for the beer or the food or the game of cornhole that I’m awful at. It’s just the environment.
The crisp fall breeze is here. Alongside it is the game of football. That game of football brings forth a community that’s unique to the stadium they engulf. You won’t see that community any better than at a tailgate.”
Analysis
Dylan Rider’s description of the beauty of tailgating is exactly what I’m after. It’s a moment of escape for a lot of people- no work, no struggles, just hot food and a cold beer with your best friends enjoyed in the company of a kind community that shares your interest. It’s a rare thing to find such a devoted and welcoming community as a college tailgate setup. His idea that it is tied to human nature feels true, there’s food, drink, socializing, and everything we might want or need for a pleasant day out.
