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DEL.ICIO.USWhat are your favorite tailgating destinations?
Fans hit the road for college football. How far will you travel to follow your team this fall?
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
College football officially kicked off this past weekend, and fans of UGA and Ga. Tech were lucky to find their faves home for the season openers. As Georgia’s teams begin to take their games further afield to places like Columbia, Jacksonville, Chapel Hill and Blacksburg, many Atlantans will also follow.
Whenever football fans hit the road to follow their teams, they’re sure to find a small city of revelers parked outside each stadium — eating, drinking and counting down the minutes until kick off.
In our neighborhood, we know some Florida State University grads who drive to Tallahassee nearly every weekend to see the ‘Noles play there. Others rave about tailgating on The Grove at the Ole Miss campus in Oxford. And many a Georgian will converge to party in Jacksonville the weekend of the Georgia-Florida game.
While a true fan can tailgate anywhere, some schools have definitely elevated tailgating to an art form. In addition, certain university towns have more entertainment options after the game ends - making the journey more inviting to the away-game traveler. Four SEC schools recently made the ESPN Road Warrior’s list of 10 Best College Tailgating Scenes. Louisiana State University claimed the crown, as Ole Miss (#2), Tennessee (#3) and Auburn (#10) rounded out the list.
If you’ll need to take to the skies to follow your team’s schedule, check out Air Tran’s football deals. The airline recently announced special air fares to help transport football fans to some of the nation’s most anticipated college games - including Jacksonville and Phoenix, Ariz. (for UGA’s matchup against Arizona State).
Tell us … Will you be traveling to any away games this college football season? Which ones? Do you find some schools are more travel-worthy? Do you fly or drive? Where do you stay when you get there? (I always think of huge RVs filling the student parking lots for tailgating in Athens.) What’s your favorite tailgating school, and do you have a special spot where you tailgate there? Which campus/town offers the best post-game entertainment?
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By Jeff
September 3, 2008 7:58 AM | Link to this
My favorite place to tailgate is in the parking lot behind the Prettiest Little Stadium in America, Paulson Stadium at Georgia Southern University. The atmosphere is electric and the tailgater’s are passionate.
We are heading to Western Carolina as we do every other year. My friends have a cabin in the mountains that is 10 minutes from campus and the leaves are just beautiful that time of year. GATA Eagles!
By ERKSEAGLE
September 3, 2008 11:11 AM | Link to this
Bigger is not always better.
Paulson Stadium is also my favorite home tailgate. My favorite away destinations are Western Carolina with the fall leaves, UTC in Chattanooga, and Furman in Greenville, SC.
GO EAGLES!
By Theresa
September 3, 2008 6:13 PM | Link to this
hey Keith — We were always amazed by the tailgating at Penn State. We didn’t go to college there but lived in the town for several years. They arrived in several days before the game and their RVs filled several large farm fields — I mean huge ones by the stadium. They had serious (midwestern) food cooking too — lots of Brats —-They were die-hard and stayed outside to tailgate even when it was snowing and freezing, which State College often is. Penn State fans are some serious fans.
I have a fake aunt who does a very classy tailgate at Ga. Tech. They pay for the good parking lot close to the stadium. SHe has a linen table cloth with little bees on it. She always has it catered. Very fancy food going on at this tailgate party.
The whole concept of eating in a parking lot doesn’t make a whole lot of sense to me — I’d much rather eat on North Campus at UGA or some settign like that.