What does tailgating mean to me? Well, it is only my favorite time of the year. For a rowdy individual like myself, tailgate season is my calling. I live for fall semester. Summer is over and as painful as it is to go back to endless school work, I do have this unreal season to look forward to.

It's 6 a.m. My roommates are still in bed, but the frat houses start rallying in an hour. So, naturally, I make four strong coffees (one for each roommate), play some obnoxiously loud music, get out an insane UCF outfit and get hyped for my day ahead. "GET UP!!!!" Yes, that is the first thing all my roommates will hear the morning of an early tailgate. I need to annoy everyone enough to make them realize that we are about to have the most amazing day ever.

I look at the weather to find that it is going to be 82 and sunny. Florida, I love you. I open my closet and decide what to wear. Black or gold today? How about both? High Socks? Yes. I bring out one of my awesome "Cuts by C and R" customized shirts and am prepared for all the compliments heading my way.

When I first got to UCF, school spirit was lacking! I would get to Memory Mall, Lake Claire and the frat houses to find girls wearing black dresses and boys wearing dull UCF polos. Meanwhile, I was decked out head to toe in UCF gear. I got weird looks and saw girls whispering about how ridiculous I looked. As a northerner coming to UCF, I was raised looking at girls tailgate outfits from Indiana and Syracuse. They all wore bright school colors, tattoos and sick shoes. Coming to UCF was something way different, these people were not proud to represent our University. It was time to make a statement and it was time to give tailgate season a makeover.

Last fall, I decided to start a shirt business. My friend Rachel and l started to cut, dye and add embroidery to classic UCF tees that we bought from Walmart and Target. We called it "Cuts by C and R." We made these shirts into halters and crop tops with bleach and studs. Usually, shirts like these sold for a fortune at other schools. I made sure to use fair pricing to accommodate my buyers. I told everyone that during this special time of year, UCF needs to look the part! We would sport them during the first couple tailgates and girls went wild over them. Yes, It is possible to look trendy and spirited at the same damn time.

It is such an exciting feeling watching girls jump from house to house, from tent to tent, from field to field wearing our customized shirts. I feel so much better looking overly-obnoxious tailgates knowing that the student body is joining me! It was about time I saw the tailgate a little more colorful and a lot more spirited. How is our football team supposed to play well if students aren't proud to represent UCF? For a change, we are repping hard, and I am proud to be a part of it.

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