Tailgating requires the following items:
- One grill
- One keg
- One football game
- One backyard full of the people you love
I had the pleasure of going to my first official tailgate for the Auburn/LSU matchup, and as I was welcomed into a lively backyard with hugs and smiles, I decided it was something that needed to be properly documented.
An explanation of the culture tailgating can only be properly done through the empirical. Close your eyes and imagine the following: the sound of candid laughter, blaring iHomes and shouted count-offs for keg-stands; the sight of a crowded beer pong/flip-cup table; and the scent of barbecue and sweet jambalaya tinging an perfect day.
Believe me, for a word that is thrown around as recklessly as a football, it was a perfect Saturday afternoon, with all the Aubeauties and LSCuties looking absolutely exquisite.
But I digress.
Orange, blue and gold-adorned people walked their dogs down Magnolia, kids and babies with Auburn and LSU face paint threw around a football and even a few hostile jeers from diehard fans were everywhere--all in good sport though.
As I watched generations of families and friends that I consider as my own kinfolk rally together for this three-or-so hour game of strength and endurance-the endurance is key, for at this point, it's safe to say, we had been drinking--I remember sitting at a table and talking to one of my good friends from LSU, who had traveled all the way down for the weekend along with his family and many of his friends, that even if you were not a big football fan, you have to admit that you couldn't help but be swept up in this ancient and festive novelty we know as the tailgate.
Only in America.
I say only in America because nowhere else will you witness people devoted to their collegiate teams take time and pride to just kick back and watch, as one of my friends called it, "the best spectator sport."
Coming from the perspective of a multicultural household, my parents never had experiences like this when they were growing up in India. I remember trying to explain to my mom exactly what a tailgate consisted of, but I realized to truly know is to be here. To be walking down Glenn and see people comfortably camped on the side of the road, with their TV generators and beers in hand, screaming at pass-interference calls. It's comforting to know that in a society where our future looks more unsure by the minute that we can still take time out of our week and appreciate the simplicity and spirit of a tailgate.
I remember one of my teachers last semester talking about the working culture of America. From establishments being open 24 hours a day to working a 60-hour week and only getting paid for 40, we are constantly taught by society and culture to be working--to be independent--that not constantly earning money is irrelevant. Whereas in countries such as Spain, they indulge in siestas and take time out of the day to shut down, relax and recuperate.
Obviously, these siestas have their advantages and disadvantages, but I do believe we have our own versions of siestas, and they are known as tailgates. So come down here, join your family and bring a couple of chairs.
Gautham Sambandam
Sophomore
Pre-journalism
Plainsman Volunteer
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