For some, Saturday is a day of rest at the end of a long workweek. For many Penn State football fans, Saturday means rising early, eating, drinking and getting pumped up. Seven Saturdays a year, a massive amount of land is converted into tailgating heaven for game-goers and those craving a tasty treat from the grill. Here are some tips for a top-notch tailgate.
1. Plan ahead
Figure out who's in charge of what; miscommunications may lead to empty bellies.
"Most of the work is in the planning, like anything in life," said John Winarchick, Class of 1974, who helps coordinate a large tailgate.
Case in point: one fan described in detail her "gooey gooey banana upside down cake," but the treat would be impossible to enjoy because it was sitting in her driveway at home.
2. When in doubt, always bring more.
"The thing that makes us most proud is that we've never run out of food," Linda Rohrer, Class of 1967, who hosts themed tailgates. Rohrer's tailgate has five core planners to "make sure we have the bases covered," she said, adding she normally brings enough food for 15 to 20 people. At their Labor Day style picnic after the Coastal Carolina game, the crew served up 36 hamburgers and 20 hot dogs, along with four large subs, popcorn chicken and other goodies such as cookies, a Penn State cake and a blueberry buckle.
3. Serve the usual tailgating staples.
Burgers and beer are always a hit, but don't be afraid to spice things up.
Rohrer's tailgates are themed based on the opponent for each game. For example, there will be "Philadelphia foods" like cheesesteaks and soft pretzels for the Temple game, she said. According to her 2008 tailgate brochure, which she sends out to attendees of the tailgate, this week's Oregon State game will have an "East Eats West" theme with "West Coast food (southwest, northwest or in between) and wine."
4. Don't forget the veggies.
Remember your non-carnivore friends.
While Winarchick has seen 500 burger buns come and go in one day, the tailgate also has vegetarian dishes like macaroni and cheese and at least one pasta dish with artichoke hearts and sun-dried tomatoes for something "a little bit lighter," Winarchick said. Veggie burgers are an easy way for vegetarian fans to enjoy tailgating-type fare, but bring foil to separate them from the meat on the grill.
5. Condiments are key.
These can be dealbreakers when it comes to burgers and hot dogs.
People love certain condiments, so make sure to have a variety on hand. For example, more than one mustard is crucial, as the standard yellow doesn't suit everyone's taste buds.
6. Have non-alcoholic beverage options.
Not everyone can handle beer at 8 a.m., and others don't drink alcohol at all. If starting early in the morning, have some juice and coffee on hand to provide energy for the long day ahead. Also, make sure to have lots of water to keep everyone hydrated. Drinking alcohol and rowdy shouting makes it easy to get dehydrated on game days.
7. Be courteous of visitors.
Fans of opposing teams often drive far distances to be here and should be treated with respect.
While Winarchick's tailgate has a core group that usually attends, he gladly welcomes new friends each time. "We try to look for people from [the] visiting team who have nowhere else to go," he said. "When you feed people for nothing, it's amazing how many friends you meet."
8. Don't be afraid to invite others to join.
Other students, alumni and their friends and families may want to partake.
More people make games like flip cup more fun and contribute to a great atmosphere. Bob Correll Jr., a 1963 graduate of Penn State Berks, can be seen in a tall blue and white hat serving up burgers to passersby at Winarchick's tailgate.
"If I had my way I'd feed everybody that came to the game," he said. He has also jazzed up his menu, at one tailgate serving "four pheasants in a pan with [their] necks tied together at the center" with stuffing, apricot nectar and applesauce.
9. Keep hot foods hot and cold foods cold.
"Keep proper foods separated, [and] refrigerate properly," Correll said. "Stay away from cold foods with a mayonnaise base, [which are] very hard to keep from spoiling."
Instead, Correll uses oil and vinegar dressing on pasta salad.
10. Keep the area clean.
Beaver Stadium makes it easy for tailgaters to keep the area clean and recycle bottles and cans.
Tailgaters should clean up what they brought and leave their recyclables in a bag at tailgating spot, where they will be picked up.
11. Arrive early to claim a good spot.
"That's a key thing," Winarchick said.
Sure, it's tough waking up at 7 or 8 a.m. for a noon game, but there's only one more this season -- the Temple game on Sept. 20.
12. Wash your hands often.
Keep soap, warm water and paper towels on hand.
While this may sound extreme, think about it. Lots of drinking equals lots of porta-potty use, which equals no soap, and water, which equals germy hands in food that ends up in more than one mouth. Antibacterial wet wipes are an easy method of removing bacteria. Wipe hands thoroughly for 20 seconds. Hand sanitizer is deemed useless by some experts. See http://www.foodsafety.psu.edu/tailgating/uk135.pdf for more information.
13. Play some good pump-up music.
The fight song is always good. Obviously, it's up to tailgaters what music they want to set the atmosphere, but keep in mind the preferences of everyone else.
Winarchick's tailgaters hear a Sirius satellite radio jam band station, which offers "an eclectic selection of jam bands throughout the day," he said. "It's the mood we want."
