Tailgating (verb)—Celebrating school sports while exhibiting a great deal of school spirit.
With only one tailgate left of the 2012 football season (where did the time go?) we at Her Campus KU thought it was appropriate to compile a list of the top 5 ways to enjoy a KU tailgate.
1. The Traditional Way:
Say you have a large amount of school work to do over the weekend, and you are deciding whether or not it is worth your time to still show up to a tailgate. The answer is…ABSOLUTELY it is worth your time. Tailgates are these precious pre-games all celebrating the same thing, your school, and to pass-up the opportunity is an insane thought. The traditional way entails all of the same fun: socializing, pictures, food and good memories. Show up to the house with all of your girlfriends, and become the motivator to make an appearance to Memorial Stadium. Sing the alma mater and jingle your keys. Take in everything that the tailgating endeavor has to offer!
2. The Sports-fan Way:
Those of you who are tried and true football fans (God bless for still cheering on our Jayhawks), have an upper hand in how a tailgate should run. Most likely you’ve been surrounded by sports events since you were just a tyke and in turn know when to turn the pump-up jams down and turn the TV up. The best way to go about a tailgate when you know you want to make it to the game is to show up roughly two hours before kick-off, turn the channel to the pre-game talk show, and constantly look at your watch. We all know that time goes by fast when a good time is being had, so do not let the time pass you by and make it to the game.
3. The Underclassmen Way:
Having been a freshman and a sophomore myself, I have come to the conclusion that tailgating only gets to be more fun as the years pass by. Underclassmen, it is your duty to make it to kick-off! Wrap your arms around stranger’s shoulders, sway side-to-side and proudly sing the alma mater. After you have had a stadium hotdog, make your way to the hill and wander from tent to tent. Off campus tailgates are not your domain at this point, your friends are either living in dormitories or chapter houses meaning alcohol is off limits. Take this chance to use our beautiful campus as your tailgate stomping ground.
4. The Upperclassmen Way:
Older, wiser, and the ability to handle a good time leads the upperclassmen of KU to have the best of both worlds. Not only can they use the campus as their oyster, but they also have the option of houses—a whole different world from the tent. The game itself is not as much a necessity as a luxury because they understand what it means to be a Jayhawk. Take all the advice from the previous ways, and apply as you wish!
5. The Best Way:
The best-way to go about a tailgate in my opinion is to: show up early, take pictures, walk to the game (merely for a hotdog), return to the tailgate and throughout the day randomly chant “Rock Chalk Jayhawk” to ensure that everyone still remembers what they are celebrating. Another vital tip to surviving a game day—make sure to take the much-needed nap!
Regardless of the way you decide to ring in the last home game of the season, as long as there is a bow in your hair and a smile on your face, it will be a guaranteed great time.
ROCK CHALK!
*May vary depending on year in college