Last week I talked about 8 reasons why summer ending isn't always a bad thing and in that article, I mentioned holidays, fashion choices and even social circles that come along with the beginning of fall. Although I didn't fail to mention college football on the list the one thing I didn't mention was tailgate season and that was because it deserves its own article. After the Nittany Lion's destroyed Akron last weekend 52-0 and an upcoming battle against Pitt, I thought it was only fair to give a special shout out and dedication to the second best season to start every fall, tailgate season.
Each fall semester we get to enjoy seven weekends where the hordes of passionate Penn State football fans crowd the small mountain town of State College to eat, drink and rally behind our No.4 Penn State Nittany Lions. In this article, I want to highlight some of my favorite reasons for tailgating each year.
1. The Combo
Last week I mentioned hoodie season and that applies no less when we're talking about tailgating season. When the weather chills out just enough to allow you to stand in fields full of well over a hundred thousand football fans and still be wearing a hoodie there's one fit every guy looks forward to wearing and I call it "the combo."
The combo is simple, boots (most likely timbs), jeans or khaki's, a hoodie and your favorite football jersey to match the team's white or blue that weekend.
2. The Food
Burger's, Dog's, BBQ (oh my). If you're a foodie like myself then walking around the fields on game day is heaven. There is just something about the smell of grass, grilled animals, and beer on a Saturday afternoon to really get you excited.
3. Shot Ski
There will always be an Alumni Dad who's down to drink with the boys. He's normally sporting a beer koozie, the cooler's full of the same beer he's been drinking since college, a table full of liquor and a shot ski only a few off-balanced steps away.
Find you an Alumni drinking buddy who will pressure you into a near death experience before the start of the game, who will show you life doesn't end after college and if you're lucky he'll introduce you to one of his daughters.
4. New Friends
Everyone who's frequented the tailgate fields over the years has had an "uh-oh" experience on the tailgate fields and has completely forgotten where they're at. Luckily at a school like Penn State just about any tailgate, you stumble into has at least one or two friendly faces willing to give you directions, a bottle of water or a couch where you can sleep it off.
5. The Boys
We've all heard that Saturday's are "For the Boys" and it's true. There's something special about going out with your boys on game day. It's not the same as going to study on campus with all your friends or getting a big group to go out to the bars with. Nothing brings your squad together better than tailgates, beer, and football.
6. The Girls
You may or may not be familiar with hearing a girl referred to as a "Nebraska 8" or a "Mississippi 9" which basically it's a saying that means a girl is more attractive in some regions than she is in other's (for example a Nebraska 8 would be a Los Angeles 4, etc.) Today I'm coining a new term and that's a "Beaver Stadium 11."
For some reason a Penn State halter top, jean shorts and a pair of Nittany Lion ears gives the women tailgating outside of Beaver Stadium the ability to just slay anyone and everything in their path. Saturday may be for the boys but Saturday night after the game is a good time to get your heart broken by a "Beaver Stadium 11."
7. Open Bar's
The sheer amount of alcohol that inhabits the tailgating fields surrounding Beaver Stadium is astounding and people's willingness to share is even more so. I'll always remember one of my friends tailgates where my friends and I frequently attempt to make an appearance on game day because he and his parents have this amazing tradition called Saturday communion. Which is when every hour during game day, on the hour, every one attending the tailgate takes a shot of Jagermeister. You can imagine why this is so much fun when there's a night game and you get to the tailgate fields at noon.
8. The Chill
Lastly, after hours of eating, drinking and making friends on the Beaver Stadium tailgate fields it's game time. This is when you get to experience the true reason Penn State fans are so dedicated to their team and that's the Chill. The Chill is nothing short of its name, it's that spine tingling and chest warming feeling you get from the pure energy flowing through State College on Saturday's.
Whether it's your first game day as a freshman or you've been attending game's for the past 40 years, there is always one moment on game day where some aspect of what you're involved in gets to you. It can be the "We Are" chants echoing all around, the excitement of being back at your alma mater or that Saturday's fan rendition of "Dear Old State" after a win over Pitt.
