The Swamp on game day and BYU

[TexTechCoug]

I attended a tailgate and most of the Florida/FSU game.

90,000 in a stadium is pretty impressive, especially in a closed bowl with very steep sides. Even as it turned into an embarrassing offensive debacle the crowd noise was stunning. It was nice to honor the seniors before the game.

BYU will never have a meaningful tailgate culture because there isn't any ethanol allowed. Tailgating starts early and the entire campus was blanketed with tens of thousands of fans from both teams, and the one common theme was lots of alcohol. Tailgating is a way of enabling fans to get thoroughly inebriated at a location near enough to the stadium that you don't need to drive. Don't get me wrong, it was a lot of fun and very social, but even with my friends who are MD's they were actively working on getting more than buzzed. Additionally, more than a few of the fans were risking getting thrown out in order to sneak in more alcohol.

The fans were great, except I was in thestudent section and there were two or three guys who seemed to be emotionally disturbed, one who spent a quarter of the game calling a girl in FSU gear a slut at the top of his voice. Have to admit I'd take sober less profane students, but the trade off is much more inhibited and quiet.

Cool venue, good time, lousy game, and something that can't ever happen at BYU for very obvious reasons.

[BoylenOver]

We have CUFers that tailgate at BYU games. And DDD is an expert on CFB atmosphere/experience, but he doesn't drink.

Alcohol is a factor, but it's not the only factor.

[TripletDaddy]

Tailgating is a way of enabling fans to get thoroughly inebriated at a location near enough to the stadium that you don't need to drive. Don't get me wrong, it was a lot of fun and very social, but even with my friends who are MD's they were actively working on getting more than buzzed. Additionally, more than a few of the fans were risking getting thrown out in order to sneak in more alcohol.

Just my opinion, but tailgating is about loving your school, being a football fan, showing pride, wanting to be a part of the tradition, eating good food and hosting visitors from the opposing team.

The best memories at tailgates involve some or all aspects of the items listed above. The drunken boorish behavior plays a small part in the entire experience, but those folks are morans anyway. The vast majority are there to enjoy themselves responsibly and rep the school. I would go as far as saying most fans do NOT enjoy drunken hooligans, even if they are supporting the same team.

I've attended tailgates in the PAC, WAC, MWC, B12, B1G, SEC, ACC, and Big East (probably others, too). Without exception, my memories are almost entirely of fun, good people, good food, and game day vibes.

If BYU never reaches those game day heights (and it might not), it will be for lack of dedication, not lack of inebriation. Our brothers to the North are working on establishing a strong game day/weekend presence and almost none of it involves getting stupid by noon.

[TexTechCoug]

I don't disagree that lots of school spirit and good food is available, but denying the role that alcohol plays seems interesting.

My invite to this tailgate mentioned that "beervrages" would be provided. Lots o very nice people offered me beers as well. Like I said, great game day atmosphere, but just like I saw in Big12 country the drinking started early and lasted all day.

Karaoke is a chance to sing and have a good time, it also happens to be more successful with social lubricant in the form of drinking. I honestly think tailgating would be a shadow of itself minus alcohol.

[MarkGrace]

I took a good friend of mine to the Idaho game that is more or less lapsed LDS but loves BYU. He shared with me his idea that the stadium needs to have a fan section where you're allowed to drink, and they should call the area Outer Darkness. He said if BYU made this move he and his little brother would be season ticket holders.

[Danimal]

I think that a tailgate can be completely enjoyed without alcohol -- there's the food, the atmosphere, the trash talking -- but I doubt that schools would have major tailgating like we see today without alcohol. I think that most tailgaters are there more for the social component than for the football and the socializing could not be pulled off on that scale without lots of booze.

[doctorcoug]

even with my friends who are MD's they were actively working on getting more than buzzed. .

que horror

[TexTechCoug]

que horror

I think you assumed a value judgment for me that I wasn't making. If a couple of adult men want to drink heavy on the weekend at a party/tailgate that is fine, heck I offered to drive them afterwards but they were headed to a bar until the wee hours.

I was just using it as an illustration that the drinking isn't limited to a) undergrads b) the unclean masses. The drinking is part of the main event for everybody.

[dabrockster]

Having been to many tailgate parties and attending Game Day multiple times, you are wrong to think alcohol is the main reason for tailgating.. It has more to do with the program and how good they are and their tradition. Sure people drink but it is not about getting blasted and making an ass of themselves. In fact many of the tailgate parties I have attended and see are more of a family affair then a bunch of Dudes acting all High-schoolish and stupid..


But again. You are talking about "The Swamp" so I see where this is more driven by assphats...

[lambdacoug]

I agree 100%. Alcohol is not the reason for tailgating, nor the main attraction, but it adds to the fun and makes the whole experience more fun. I've tailgated both before and after leaving the church and drinking alcohol. There just isn't much comparison.

[Moliere]

There's no way LSU gets the tailgating crowd they do (easily the largest ive seen) without alcohol. Also, the Grove would not happen without alcohol.

Diehards will always tailgate, but the sheer size of tailgates are directly influenced by alcohol. Take away the booze and the numbers would drop off, the only question is by how much. My guess is at least 50%.

[Pheidippides]

There's no way LSU gets the tailgating crowd they do (easily the largest ive seen) without alcohol. Also, the Grove would not happen without alcohol.

Diehards will always tailgate, but the sheer size of tailgates are directly influenced by alcohol. Take away the booze and the numbers would drop off, the only question is by how much. My guess is at least 50%.

Probably true, but I didn't see anybody getting sloppy drunk at all. Shockingly, most people seemed to be enjoying responsibly.

[dabrockster]

There's no way LSU gets the tailgating crowd they do (easily the largest ive seen) without alcohol. Also, the Grove would not happen without alcohol.

Diehards will always tailgate, but the sheer size of tailgates are directly influenced by alcohol. Take away the booze and the numbers would drop off, the only question is by how much. My guess is at least 50%.

There is a difference in social drinking vs. going to to sloshed.. I do not see the majority of the people tailgating go for that purpose.. Drinking is a part of it.. But not THE reason for it..

[lambdacoug]

Probably true, but I didn't see anybody getting sloppy drunk at all. Shockingly, most people seemed to be enjoying responsibly.

Most people do drink responsibly, it isn't shocking at all. The point of drinking at a tailgate isn't to get sloppy drunk (unless you are the stereotypical college frat boy or an alcoholic), though it is a lot more fun when one person does, well, fun for everyone else.

EDIT: And periodically, drinking with friends with the intent of getting sloshed, is pretty fun too. My friends and I get together once a year or so with that intent, oh the stories that can be told...

[YOhio]

There are too many constraints on BYU fans to have a strong tailgate culture. A sizeable portion of BYU fans have younger kids, Saturday activities, and time-sucking church callings which influences their ability to hang out in a parking lot all day Saturday. There's also the reality that Mo's have smaller disposable income due to tithing and larger families, which makes it harder to spring for the additional cost of the activity. Combine this with other factors, lack of school cooperation, no alcohol and no tradition of tailgating and you get the BYU gameday experience.