tailgating

I woke up on Saturday and was very excited because I knew exactly what the day entailed: food, friends, family, and football. My parents decided that since I am a senior, they should take advantage of tailgating at McDaniel before I graduate. They have been here once before, but since it was over a break, there weren’t a lot of people on campus to stop by. This time was completely different, since a lot of people stopped by and hung around our tent for a while, including our President, Dr. Casey, and his wife, Robyn!

I knew my parents were coming prepared with lots of food, snacks, and drinks. However, I didn’t expect everything that they brought. My mom decided that she would bring her pink tent (she uses it for her business), so that everyone would be able to find us easily. We tailgated in style under the pink tent with chairs and blankets as well. They also brought a South Jersey staple: Philly soft pretzels! It was like having a taste of home, because nobody makes soft pretzels like people from Philly do! Also on our table overflowing with food: two different two-foot long hoagies, three bags of chips, and all of the necessary condiments. Not to mention, we had a cooler full of different drinks that we could enjoy throughout the game.

The whole experience was such a blast. Not only was it a gorgeous day outside, but it was a lot of fun to hang out with my friends and family while watching the Green Terror play. We ended up getting a spot next to another family from New Jersey and my dad made friends with all of the people around us. There was even a puppy to play with at the tent next to ours! The entire time was full of laughs, good food, and of course, entertainment from the football game. While it was an exciting game, it was not a pretty ending. McDaniel had done very well throughout the entire game and Dickenson tied the game at the very end of the 4th quarter and then ended up winning during overtime. Regardless of the score of the game, tailgating at McDaniel is still a fantastic experience that everyone should take part in during their four years here. Go Green Terror!

Everyone thinks they understand tailgating. But do you understand McDaniel tailgating? As one of the last bowl shaped stadiums on the east coast, McDaniel tailgating is unique. Students, parents, alumni, and the community gather for not only football games, but for field hockey and lacrosse games too. Everyone fights for a prime position to park their car, set up their tent, and cookout. Organizations and Greek life paint their symbols and letters on the field to denote their specified areas. All of the fans in McDaniel gear wander from area to area, playing corn hole and sharing on the good times. The best are the Saturdays when almost all fall sports teams have home games. You can wander from facility to facility cheering on the McDaniel student-athletes, enjoying the weather.

The experience is definitely something that you need to see for yourself. If a school with just 1,700 undergraduates can draw crowds of up to 12,000, we must be doing something right. We were also voted by the Weather Channel as the number 6 tailgating school in the nation – a list mainly made up of all large southern state schools. A new stadium is going to be completed and dedicated in time for homecoming on November 3 and will feature concessions, bathrooms, and training facilities inside.

Unfortunately, the football team only has four games this year, so plan your visits accordingly! You definitely don’t want to miss tailgating on the Hill!

Stories from the Hill

Tag Archives: tailgating

Tailgating: McDaniel Style