Whether you are a freshmen or a super senior, you are absolutely pumped for the first home game of the season. With that comes tailgating. Tailgating is a token piece of Saturday football in Happy Valley. It’s a great opportunity to bond with friends and family while enjoying home-cooked food and the some of the best beer Pennsylvania has to offer.
Below is a guide to tailgating. At least skim the rules below and take the advice to heart in order to make the most of your game day tailgating experience.
1. Be responsible. If you are going to drink, be responsible. No one wants to end up in cuffs and miss the game. Being blacked out may sound fun, but forgetting that you actually went to the game isn’t. If you want to drink, take it easy. There are only so many football games to attend as a student and you should remember them all.
2. Dress the part. Did you know that WE ARE… Penn State? Wear Penn State gear. If for some reason you don’t have PSU apparel, get some. For the white out game, wear white. Don’t be that a**hole in blue while we are playing Michigan.
3. EAT! Make sure to eat all the food tailgates have to offer. If there is buffalo chicken dip, take it. Eat it all with no regrets. When parents and alum visit, they always bring the best treats for everyone to enjoy while mingling with others. If you are drinking, make sure you eat because we all know drinking on an empty stomach is never a good idea.
4. Check the weather. Be prepared for the unexpected. There is nothing worse than being at a tailgate when it starts to rain. Bring a hat or a hoodie to keep yourself dry. I would’t suggest bringing an umbrella because you’ll have no where to put it come game time. If it’s cold, which happens towards the middle of the season, wear layers. It’s better to be taking things off then being stuck in the middle of the fields shivering.
5. Charge your phone. Try to go to the game with a phone that is pretty charged up. There is barely reception in Beaver Stadium, so your battery will drain quickly. If your phone dies while you are in the middle of making plans near the baseball field, you may be stuck wandering for an hour trying to find your friends.
6. Make the most of your tailgating experience. You only get so many game days as a student to tailgate. Therefore, make the most of you time in Happy Valley. Don’t get so drunk that you can’t remember the game. Enjoy a few beers with your friends and cherish the memories.
Tailgating can be one of the best things game day has to offer in Happy Valley. Have fun with the people that matter. Get excited to cheer on your favorite college football team in the best collegiate stadium in the world.
