TCU's home opener Big XII series against Texas Tech was a couple of weeks ago. The team went 1-2 for the series and so was I in terms of attending games. The reason I failed to attend the last two games of the series was the fact that my tailgating experience was cut short on the Friday as soon as the game began. I understand that the goal is to get the students into the game rather than in the parking lot tailgating, but the reality is that tailgating has become an American pastime and a staple in American sporting culture. Of course, we're all there to support our beloved Horned Frogs baseball team, but we're also there to support our avid love for enjoying time spent with friends in a parking lot drinking keg beer.
I enjoy peanuts and hotdogs as much as the next guy, and I don't mind sitting behind third base spitting sunflower seeds yelling, "Saaaawinggg Battaaa," but the fact of the matter is that baseball is a long game, and I don't want to sit there for three hours.
If I had it my way that Friday, I would have enjoyed the tailgate into the second or third inning, made my way into the game with a nice little buzz and cheered on my Frogs with enthusiasm to a 9-0 win. Instead, a group of police acted as cattle ranchers herding crowds of tailgaters by circling us on their bicycles telling us to get out of the parking lot. It was a frustrating scene for most of us, as the sun was out and people were enjoying themselves on a beautiful Friday afternoon.
When push came to shove, that was our parking lot, and no one was going to stop us from doing what we came there to do -- drink beer, engage with the opposite sex, and cheer on a common interest in the TCU Horned Frog baseball team. Unfortunately, the constables were not impressed by our loyalty to our craft and insisted that we leave immediately. 
Here are my concerns with this strategy:
First, this is potentially promoting drinking and driving as some people may elect to simply continue the tailgate elsewhere and catch the game on TV.
Second, this is not the way we Horned Frogs interact with one another. We treat each other with respect and trust that what the we are doing is for the common good. The idea of a tailgate may seem irresponsible and sinister to some (police), but in fact it builds camaraderie amongst the student population. Sure, there is drinking involved and that can sometimes get out of hand, but police can be watchful for misbehavior and control it rather than shutting down the tailgates prematurely. 
Either TCU can get on board with the student body's desire to tailgate past the start of the game for the remainder of season or they are going to see less and less involvement from the student population at baseball games. The next home Big XII series is April 4-6 against West Virginia. I hope to see all of my fellow Frogs out there tailgating and supporting the team we love.