As the college football season starts, what better way to spend an autumn afternoon? We attended 18 games in 14 consecutive weekends last year, plus the national championship game. |
Beer and brats are Wisconsin staples, and brats soaked in beer are preferred, |
Find a tailgate spot with a view of majestic Ohio Stadium, |
On Game Day, the Grove, a shaded 11-acre park in the middle of the Ole Miss campus, is filled with medieval-style tents as many tailgaters hire students or locals to set up as early as 6 a.m., |
Set against the beautiful San Gabriel Mountains, this stadium is home to UCLA's Bruins, |
Set against the beautiful San Gabriel Mountains, this stadium is home to UCLA's Bruins. Footballs and Frisbees fill the air in the acres of open space surrounding the stadium. Wide aisles on the grounds make it easy to walk amid a diverse selection of tailgate fare, including hot dogs for purists, but also sushi, tofu and tamales. |
Tailgating can be challenging if you don't have a parking pass (scalped for as much as $200), |
The bash leading up to the University of Florida vs. the University of Georgia game is billed as The World's Biggest Cocktail Party, |
The Red River Shootout (the rivalry between University of Texas and the University of Oklahoma) has been a fixture here, set against the backdrop of the Texas State Fair, since 1929, |
The Red River Shootout (the rivalry between University of Texas and the University of Oklahoma) has been a fixture here, set against the backdrop of the Texas State Fair, since 1929. Big Tex, a giant denim-clad cowboy in size-70 boots, welcomes you to this tailgate/fair extravaganza. Game Day isn't complete without a 'corny' dog, available on the midway. |
The rule on tailgating here: There are no rules, so plop your canopy down, set up your lawn chairs, fire up the grill and party, |
The rule on tailgating here: There are no rules, so plop your canopy down, set up your lawn chairs, fire up the grill and party. On game day, tailgates spring up in front of dorms, in parking lots and along walkways, and everything is decked in red and black. |
Tradition and sports intertwine at West Point, where the Academy overlooks the Hudson River, |
Tradition and sports intertwine at West Point, where the Academy overlooks the Hudson River. The full-dress cadet parade is a must before kickoff, and the Long Gray Line performs precision drills and patriotic music in full dress on The Plain. Tailgating at Buffalo Soldier Field is serious, with candelabras and champagne. |