The number of remaining home games is dwindling or, depending on where you go, the season may have already ended. This end of an annual era brings many hearts great sorrow. Putting your Game Day best back away until next season brings a certain depressing vibe. Tailgating brings joy to everyone throughout campus and without it, college is not the same. Trips like these down memory lane can almost make you emotional at times. Such as the endless times that fraternity and sorority tents sheltered everyone from the scorching sun or torrential rain (at Western, it’s either one or the other, no in between), and coozies concealed everyone’s favorite beverages.
The most memorable tailgates of the year include the family weekend tailgate, celebrated by some but enjoyed by all, the homecoming tailgate, or the biggest attendance marker of the year, and the terrible weather tailgate (if you attend my school there were a few of those). No matter which tailgate was your favorite, we all love looking back on the highlights.
The first tailgate -- It’s likely that the sun is shining and it feels like the heat of a thousand suns, but that never stopped anyone from having a killer time. Since it's the first game, there is bound to be a big turn out, and larger crowds always lead to more excitement. Plus, you are together with all of your best friends celebrating the thing you love most... college football. What could be better?
The food -- Super greasy of course (probably Bojangles), to balance out all the alcohol in people's systems. You will never forget all those times you found yourself rotating through tents and sampling spreads.
The playlists -- Anything is fair game, from Kanye West to Alabama, and somehow you seem to know the words to every single song played. Every tailgate has the girls piled in the back of a truck drunkenly singing Toby Keith at the top of their lungs. Whether you were one or a witness, memorable moments like those will be missed dearly.
Game attire -- Whether you are the cowboy boots and dress type or the XL tee and baseball cap type, or (for the boys) the button downs versus the painted chests type, we all love the game the same. Plus, it has always been a beautiful thing knowing practically anything is acceptable.
Homecoming -- Everything seems to multiply when it comes to homecoming. The tailgate begins twice as early, and students and fans find ways to get even more rowdy than usual. The attendance numbers practically triple, and people you've never even seen before come crawling out from under their rocks to cheer on their school.
The final tailgate -- When everyone cheers as loud as they can and pre-games 10 times as hard. The last home game means going out with a bang. Frats hire DJs, everyone caters in the best food, and a fair amount actually stay for the entirety of the game.
Now there is basketball to look forward to, and there are always other reasons to throw celebrations, but nothing will be as exhilarating as the football lot tailgates before your favorite team plays.
