The Wake

Walking into the parking lot for the Gophers tailgate party on Sept. 20th, I expected to see a crowd of maroon-and-gold-wearing college students hitting beer bongs and attempting keg stands. When I got there, however, I found there was much more to tailgating then students and booze. Grandparents, children and grandchildren brought lawn chairs and charcoal grills to relax and spend time with family and friends before the game. Students grilled burgers, hot dogs and chicken; drank beer; and played games. Several tailgaters brought Gopher-inspired maroon-and-gold horseshoe and beanbag toss set-ups for themselves and passersby; others stuck to Frisbee or pickup football games. Tailgating not only brought together a group of Gopher fans before the game against Louisiana-Lafayette, it gave a needed respite to students and families after a hectic week.

Besides showing up to barbecue, alumni showed their support in several other ways. For example, the alumni band plays in the parking lot before every home football game. University alumnus John Devries has played with the band for 11 years. He said the band includes current university students and alumni ranging from their early 20s to their mid-70s. This eclectic group of ambassadors volunteers their time to raise school spirit before every home game. Not only did their playing rouse the crowd, it also displayed the lasting commitment to school and community these volunteers share. As the band played, the members’ children, wives and husbands cheered and danced nearby. The “U” community flourishes only with this type of dedication and support from alumni and students alike.

A second group of alumni shows their school spirit in a quieter, yet equally visible way. Brian Bade stakes out the parking lot in his custom-made Gopher van. A 1996 graduate, Bade has owned football season tickets since high school. He bought the van for $600 four years ago and decorated it to celebrate the Gopher tradition. The van is covered with maroon house paint and detailed with gold lettering and vinyl Gopher decals. Inside, the van hosts a memorial to late Gopher football coach Jim Wacker. The van pays homage to Gopher football past and present. Bade and friends feel it is important to support their alma mater and said they enjoy relaxing and spending time with friends. Each home game, Bade tailgates with 10 to 15 friends. The group travels to Wisconsin and Iowa games in the van, too. Their creative decorating efforts proved wildly successful in 2001 when they won the Minnesota division of an “Ultimate Tailgating” contest. Their prize? An all-expense-paid trip to the Super Bowl in New Orleans.

The van’s counterpart is an ever-present student bus owned by Andy McNamara, a fifth-year agricultural education major, and fellow Gopher fan Nick Kurtti. The van, painted with maroon stripes and decorated with a Gopher flag, is filled with pictures of past trips and other memories. The two fans have driven the bus to around 20 Gopher football games, and even taking it to South Padre, Texas; the Gophers’ bowl game in Nashville; and to Twins’ games in Kansas City and Detroit. On this particular day, McNamara and Kurtti had been tailgating most of the day–before the Twins’ game in the morning and then for the Gophers. Avid Gopher fans, they said they tailgate because it’s a good way to socialize and promote school spirit before the game.

With all these Gopher fans in one place, I couldn’t resist asking fans their opinions on the stadium issue. All of the students I interviewed agreed that the Gophers need a new stadium. An overwhelming majority preferred the university build an outdoor stadium so students could enjoy the weather and the game. As one student put it, “The Dome sucks!”

Most students I spoke with believed T. Denny Sanford’s proposed donation is the university’s only hope for a new stadium. Ben Collins, an architecture senior, said, “[The administration] should do whatever possible to make the donation work.” None of the tailgaters, however, thought the “U” should enact a policy requiring a mandatory student monetary contribution. Some students said they have enough financial burdens, like higher tuition, and they don’t want to pay for a stadium that will be built after most of them have graduated. Others compared the stadium plan to Coffman Memorial Union’s recent renovation, which used money from students who only had the union for a semester or two their entire college careers. Many suggested that voluntary donations from local businesses, alumni and “U” supporters would be a better option.

As a senior at the university, I have only been to three Gopher football games, two just this year. I never felt that I was missing out by not attending games or tailgating during my first three years at the “U.” Now, I know different. Going to games and tailgating bring students together to celebrate school pride.

So instead of just sitting at home or going to the same old house parties this fall, head to the football games and tailgate. Season tickets cost $40 for eight games, but tailgating is free! You can ride the free, “U”-sponsored Metrodome shuttle and walk to the parking lot (on the corner of Portland and Washington Aves.) to enjoy the camaraderie, see the alumni band, barbecue and mingle with fellow Gopher fans. Some tailgaters never even make it to the games–they have too much fun in the parking lot (though this attitude will surely end once the Big Ten schedule begins). I can’t imagine a football experience without tailgating. It creates a great sense of pride to see families and students barbecuing and hanging out together to celebrate the Gopher tradition. Plus it’s a good way to meet new people and see friends you’ve missed during the week. I highly recommend making tailgating part of your University experience.