Publication: Thursday Tailgates by Alicia Jessop

Content : Blog post about our quest

Online Link: Thursday Tailgates Week 1, 2012

Download Link: PDF

School: Vanderbilt University / General

Date: August 30, 2012

 

Thursday Tailgates: Week 1

AUGUST 30, 2012

Great news people, college football season is here! It has been a long, hard summer without one of our nation’s favorite pastimes, but tonight, teams will take the field for the first college football game of the season.

Throughout the season in my Thursday Tailgates series, I will highlight fans traveling to various parts of the country to tailgate.  Each week, I will also feature a tailgate recipe for you to try.

Think you love college football?  Do you have plans to visit every Division I stadium?

Al Botta and Jarrett Singer are on a quest to visit every Division I stadium and tailgate there.  Each year, the two visit about four different stadiums and document their journey on their website, CollegeFootballQuest.com

Tomorrow the two are headed to Tennessee for Vanderbilt’s home opener against South Carolina.  According to Botta, they are “pulling for the upset big time!”  That should make them popular amongst other Vandy fans that are tailgating.  At each stadium they visit, Botta and Singer work to have the home team’s fans “sell” the pair on their team.  While at the Vandy campus, Botta and Singer will explore the campus, have some meet-and-greets with Vandy fans, attend an organized tailgate party at Vandyville.

Vandyville is the name for Vanderbilt’s designated tailgating site.  Fans are allowed to gather three hours before the game and are encouraged to don all gold.  Along with tailgating, the area features scheduled events, such as inflatable games, live music and a giant screen upon which fans can watch other games.  One hour and five minutes before kick-off is when the “Star Walk” takes place, where fans in Vandyville cheer on the Commodores as they enter the stadium.  All in all, the event sounds tremendously organized and fun for all ages.

Hopefully Botta and Singer will have some pictures to share for next week’s Thursday Tailgates and will keep us apprised of their journeys.