Its almost that time of year. The heat of summer is at its height and fall seems like it will never arrive. I can’t wait. Only 5 weeks left until the absolutely best time of year!
I am of course talking about COLLEGE FOOTBALL!!! I love college football. Some of my fondest memories at Wisconsin were Saturday game days. What I love even more than the games, is what happens before, during, and after the games! I am of course talking about tailgating! Tailgating is where two of my favorite things (sports and food) collide. Throw in taking pictures of tailgaters, then you have all my interests in one place! In celebration of college football season beginning again, I am going to recount what I saw during 14 of the most exciting weeks of my life.
By recount, I mean countdown. Here are my 5 favorite things about College Football Tailgating…
At number 5….
The Stadiums!
If you think its strange that a building would be one of my favorite parts of college football, then obviously you haven’t been to a college football stadium recently.
Outside the stadiums is where the majority of the tailgating takes place. But what makes college football stadiums so special? Their diversity. Some can be right in your back yard.
If you are a student at Wisconsin or Alabama, you can have a stadium right in your back yard! More importantly, on game day, you have made an additional 80,000+ new friends!
Or your stadium could be on the water like in Tennessee
and Washington
This allows you to bring your tailgate onto a boat for boat or sailgating!
Does your stadium have a place to keep your pet tiger next door?
Well LSU does. Mike the Tiger has a gorgeous habitat right next door to Tiger Stadium. These are only a few of the things that make College football Stadiums great. In my mind the most impressive feature of college football stadiums are their size! The largest college stadiums dwarf pro stadiums. The best part is they are still growing and expanding! The top five are all over 100,000 in capacity! Of the 5 largest stadiums in the country I have been to
5. Alabama – Bryant-Denny Stadium
4. Ohio State-Ohio Stadium
3. Tennessee-Neyland Stadium
2. Penn State-Beaver Stadium
1. Michigan Stadium
“The Big House” In Ann Arbor, is the largest stadium of them all, it is listed at holding 109,000, but has recorded a capacity of 113,000. It is a place that I must visit. I have seen some big stadiums, but until I have stood in front of the largest stadium in the country, I haven’t seen them all. Stadium size does influence the tailgating crowd, so if Michigan has the biggest stadium, will that be the best tailgating?
There is only one way to find out.
That’s right, you guessed it. I am headed out on another tailgating tour this fall! Last years tour brought me to 14 games in 14 weeks (13 were on the schedule. The ACC Championship game I will share with you soon). Here is this years line up!
Tailgate 2011 Schedule
Sept 3 Boise St @ UGA Atlanta, GA
Sept 10th Oregon St @ Wisconsin Madison, WI
Sept 17th Auburn @ Clemson Clemson, SC
Sept 24th LSU @ West Virginia Morgantown, WV
Oct 1st Alabama @ Florida Gainesville, FL
Oct 8th Central Mich @ NC State Raleigh, NC
Oct 15th Hampden Sydney@ Emory Henry Emory, VA
Oct 22 Samford @ Appalachian State Boone, NC
Oct 29 Miss St @ Kentucky Lexington, KY (Horse race tailgating also)
Nov 12th Miami @ FSU Tallahasse, FL
Nov 19th Nebraska @Michigan Ann Arbor, MI
Nov 26th Clemson @ USC Columbia, SC
In the coming weeks, I will continue my countdown of my 5 favorite things about college football as well as some announcements about what is in store for this season (there are some big things planned, so you will want to be sure to check them out)
If you will be at these games I would love to meet you and see how you tailgate! Send me an email
taylor@taylortakesataste.com
Hang in there football fans, it is almost the best time of the year!
How exciting! Congrats! I don’t see Texas on that list…must be a mistake ?
Oh snap! Carolina Clempson! And yes, there is a P in Clempson — just wait, you’ll hear it when you get to Columbia. I can’t believe you saved the best for last. GOOOO GAMECOCKS!!!!!!!
Glad to see NCSU and Emory & Henry on that list! ?
That sounds busy and hot! I’m a UT Austin person too.
Love that you are doing another tour! So jealous of your travels. And remember if you ever need an assistant, you know who to call haha!
Hoping to make it to the AU-Clemson game… wearing Orange and BLUE. War Eagle ?
Looking forward to having you in Tallahassee. FSU vs Miami games are always very interesting! Go Noles!
GO BLUE! There is absolutely nothing nothing nothing in the world like being at The Big House on a Saturday afternoon in the Fall! And to see the first Big Ten match up of Michigan vs. Nebraska — priceless! They get 113K in there by giving you a seat big enough for about half a butt cheek. We always bought 4 seats for 3 people. No matter though b/c a Nov 19th game could be cold and rainy (or snowy) so everyone just huddles together for warmth.
Hail to the Victors! Enjoy Ann Arbor!
(And I am delighted to see that you didn’t bother to make the trip to Columbus!)
Thanks Camille, I am looking forward to my first experience with the big house!
The Big House is pretty cool, but it’s a shame you’re missing the other [better] stadium up in East Lansing, MI…. ;P
Just kidding. I hope you have another fun-filled season of tailgating! Can’t wait for the photos!
Thanks Kaitlin! East Lansing is one of the few big ten college towns I have yet to go to (never went there for a meet in college) They will definitely be on the list next season!
Eep! That’s exciting! I’ll try to keep my festivities for that game to a minimum just in case ?
I am so pumped for football season! It’s my favorite time of year. (Roll Tide!!)
Add number 6 to that biggest list and you’ve got probably the best, Darrel K Royal – Texas Memorial Stadium. I’m surprised I haven’t seen more fighting words in the comment and I’ll do my best to keep calm. If you haven’t made it down to Austin to see a Texas game though you really should one day. There’s no doubt the Texas OU game is a big one but our games on home turf are quite exciting too. Ok I’m done with my advertisement. This has got me wanting to head back up to Austin for some games though. I cant wait to see what you share from your tour.
Russell,
This could be true. Due to financing issues, I won’t be able to make it to Austin this season, but it is definitely on my places of tailgates I must attend! I have heard great things ans Austin is one of my favorite cities in the country!
I was flipping through my “Taste of Home” last night when I saw your picture and article about last year’s tailgating tour! I thought, “Hey, I read his blog!” Very cool!
Thanks! So glad you liked the article!
My hubbie does sportscasting so in one way I hate to see the football season start. Tickled you are coming to Lexington KY…Go BIG BLUE. Have a great season!
Taylor, followed you all last season, and really looking forward to this season as well! You do a Great Job of showing a piece of the tailgaing experience at each school. I am an LSU Alumni, and I will be attending that LSU @ West Virgina game. Hope to see you out there! Oh, and I wanted to give you a heads up. Not sure if that is a typo on the first game, BUT BOISE ST. AND GEORGIA ARE PLAYING IN ATLANTA not Athens. They are playing in the Chick-Fil-A Kickoff Classic. Just thought I would give you a heads up.
Thanks Joe that is a typo there! Thanks for checking it. I was thinking Atlanta, but so used to typing Athens when its comes to UGA. Thanks for catching that! I had a blast tailgating at LSU last season, looking forward to seeing them at WVU.
Still waiting to see the UW vs. Anyone @ the Rose Bowl added to the list…
hey have you ever thought of coming and covering a game at Missouri? just asking… you should have been there last year when we played OU for homecoming it was a blast.. i was there.
Clint,
I haven’t been to Mizzou yet, but I definitely want to one day! Hopefully next season I can!
its unfortunate you chose NCSU during fall break…many students will be out of town that weekend.
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