In the world of college football, in some places, tailgating is as essential as the football games themselves. The fans of these college football teams will go to great length to show their support for their beloved team while also enjoying the chance to party difficult at a great tailgate. All across the United States, there are games that have existed as lengthy time rivalries, and at those games, tailgating is more about showing support for these essential traditions. Elsewhere, a video game in between two teams might be more about undoing a loss from the previous year. Whatever it’s that fuels the passion of college football fans, it also strengthens the passion for tailgating.
Here is a look in the best 10 college tailgates for 2010.
According to the Bleacher Report, a college football game goes hand in hand with tailgating. The top ten college tailgates listed here are taken in the report of featured columnist Michael Pinto, as published on July 20, 2010. The information listed in the Bleacher Report was listed backwards, starting using the #10 greatest tailgate. They will be detailed in order from #1 to #10 here.
1. Georgia vs. Florida – October 30 -
This game is going to be held at the Jacksonville, Florida Alltel Stadium. This annual game is regarded a tailgate staple. It has also been referred to as the “world’s largest cocktail party,” no doubt, simply because from the ever flowing supply of alcohol.
Every year, the combined crowd of Bulldog and Gator fans exceeds 100,000 in the stadium. Tradition has it that whoever wins the game stays in the stadium for the presentation of the Okefenokee Oar although the losing team’s supporters head back again to the parking lots of wherever they were doing their tailgating. This traditional rivalry dates back to 1915 and is recognized to draw one from the biggest crowds of tailgaters in the nation every year.
2. Oklahoma vs. Texas – October 2 -
Recognized as the Red River Rivalry, this game is regarded as one of the hottest rivalries in all of sports. These two Big 12 teams have engaged in this rivalry as far back because the 19th century. With the Texas State Fair just actions away, tailgaters can enjoy a bit of fun there as well. Although Sam Bradford didn’t play last year, this year’s contest is expected to become a real big one, and fans will be eager to begin tailgating very early in the morning and carry on tailgating and partying all night lengthy.
3. Alabama at LSU – November 3
If you’re looking for a tailgate exactly where the food will shine, this is the place be.
The menu for this game’s tailgate parties is likely to consist of everything from duck to gumbo, sausage, craw fish, étouffée as well as grilled alligator. The food is sure to be infused with plenty of Cajun flavors.
4. Mississippi State at Mississippi (Ole Miss) – November 27 -
Arguably the best place in the country to have a tailgate, The Grove about the campus of Ole Miss is a huge (approximately 10 acre) expanse of land exactly where Mississippi tailgaters are recognized to congregate. The warm and friendly atmosphere makes for an interesting change of pace, and obviously the southern hospitality will flow in abundance.
5. U.C.L.A. at Washington – November 18 -
At every home game the Washington Huskies play, there is boating and tailgating on Lake Washington. Although many from the tailgaters do go towards the stadium to watch the game, many more tailgaters hang out about the water where they’ll listen to the video game about the radio or swim or boat over to another boat exactly where there may take place to become a big screen television. Tailgaters continue their partying although watching and/or listening to the video game.
6. Texas Tech at Texas A&M – October 30 -
There is a saying that football is really a religion in Texas. If you need proof of this, just take a look in the supporters. Because everything is bigger in Texas, you can expect to see loads of food at any tailgate party you find, and there will be plenty of Texas style barbecue everywhere.
7. U.S. C. at U.C.L.A. – December 4 -
This is a fabulous match up for the close from the season. The weather is perfect in Los Angeles, and what could be a better place to end the season than the Rose Bowl? A perfect mix of great weather, a great place and two great teams make for fabulous tailgating.
8. Alabama at Tennessee – October 23 -
All along the Tennessee River, literally hundreds of people tie up their boats, haul out their barbecue grills and beer and set up their tailgate parties. Both college students and other supporters flock towards the parking plenty around the stadium where they have their tailgate parties which last from dawn until dusk. The fact that the Crimson Tide beat Tennessee 12-10 in 2009 makes this an especially heated contest.
9. Michigan State at Penn State – October 30 -
100,000 people pack into Beaver Stadium on football Saturdays. About 10 to 15,000 more people pack the parking lot outside the stadium. Even though there’s now a law that prohibits drinking outside the stadium during games, people still party plenty difficult.
10. Georgia at Auburn – November 13 -
Auburn supporters are a really faithful bunch. People line up for miles, all along the road leading up to Jordan-Hare Stadium. There are even stories that float around of supporters who arrive along the road as early as Thursday and camp out there, partying until Sunday morning after the game.
There is going to be many more fantastic games for tailgating. You can be certain that the hotly contested rivalries between state schools such as Iowa and Iowa State, Michigan and Michigan State and countless others will be big games for tailgaters with fans descending on the video game town from all over the state. Another big video game is the Iowa vs. Minnesota video game where the prize is more than a game victory since the winning team gets to take home the trophy from the beloved pig Floyd of Rosedale. The game is always one from the last match ups of the Big Ten football season, and it determines where the teams will play their final Bowl video game from the season.