Tailgating: A southern college football tradition
Whether you have attended a Southeastern Conference (SEC) football game or not, chances are that you have heard the stories of the rows of tents and all the people crammed under them before the start of the game. Tailgating has been a long-standing tradition of southern football games and a kickoff isn’t complete without first eating a meal of BBQ and fried chicken surrounded by all your friends.
Tailgating may look a lot different this Fall with face masks and social distancing putting a damper on some activities. But hopefully we’ll still get to participate in at least a few of my favorite aspects of this southern-style fun!
Tents and Traditions
The SEC is known for having decked out tailgating tents and fans who are dedicated to them. For the Saturday games, some schools such as Mississippi State University have services that will begin setting up tents on Wednesday. At other schools dedicated fans will wake up before the sun rises on game day to secure their spot. Regardless of where you are, each school has diehard fans and time-honored traditions. For instance, Texas A&M has “The Midnight Yell” where the Aggies start a celebration at midnight on gameday by packing into Kyle Field. Other traditions include “Kickoff on the Quad” at the University of Alabama and the 22 Cockabooses surrounding Williams-Brice Stadium at the University of South Carolina. Wherever you go, each school has their own traditions that make their tailgating experience special and different from any other school.
Snacks and Screens
However, there are some parts of tailgating that remain the same throughout the South. For starters, no tent is complete without a table filled with an impressive spread of food. No matter where you go, chances are that you can find a tent with enough potato salad and corn dip to feed an army. Another common aspect is the TV’s. Certain tents will have large TV’s set up so that fans are able to watch other football games either before or after the big one they’re dressed for, which leads me to another similarity.
Fashion and Fanatics
Regardless of the town, there are always decked out members in the crowd. From checkered overalls covered in white and orange at the University of Tennessee to bright blue pants at the University of Kentucky, no clothing is too outlandish. Some fans also like to go the opposite route and stand out for wearing less clothing, partnering with a group in which everyone paints their chests and faces with their school colors and a slogan for how their school is going to beat the opposing team.
Something else that unites fans is the school mascot. Every school has one and every fan is proud of it. At Auburn University, where their fight chant may be “War Eagle” for the eagle they release to fly around the stadium before kickoff, their mascot is actually Aubie the Tiger. As different as all the schools may be, they still have some similar aspects which bond them together.
Home Away from Home
With all of the colorful tents and devoted fans, everyone has their own tailgating experience. For me, my story began before I was even born. A majority of my mom’s side of the family went to Mississippi State University, so growing up I had a baby cowbell necklace and watched many of the games. I was unable to attend some of the games in person, but every time I stepped onto the Junction, the central point of MSU tailgating, I felt something special. I have always known MSU is a unique place filled with some wonderful maroon-and-white wearing folks, so when I decided to attend the fine university, I could hardly wait for football season. Now my family is a part of a tent with many other families from home. Whether it’s blazing hot or pouring down rain, we would not miss a game for the world. Being able to tailgate with friends made in college as a student is an incredible experience that I would not trade for the world. I had always enjoyed tailgating, but after becoming a student, my love for it grew even more.
While the universities in the SEC are rivals, tailgating is something that fans of any school live for and look forward to every fall. It is a great way for old friends to reconnect, families to bond, and fans to enjoy delicious food and delightful company. No matter the school, tailgating is a wonderful experience for fans across the south and one of the best parts about SEC football.
About the author
Mary Nielson Clinton
Mary Nielson Clinton is a student at Mississippi State University studying Public Relations and Marketing and will graduate in May 2022. In her free time, she loves to spend time with friends, volunteer in the Starkville community, or get involved in her incredible campus. She is a big fan of her Australian Shepherd named Rusty and is a tour guide for MSU, among other things. She is honored to be a Pearson Campus Ambassador on her campus and has enjoyed every second of it.
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