Always an Aggie:: What Kind of Tailgater are You?

Oh, there's a game today? You can still score with creativity and a little planning.
Stop by the convenience store for a disposable cooler, drinks and prepared foods.
Keep food portable (sandwiches and pizzas, for instance). You'll have fewer supplies, so less mess.
Know the lay of the land. Grab a map for the best routes, spots for food and drink and pit stops.
Microwave your eats in the student union, then duck into the college bookstore for team towels or blankets.
Once you're set up, don't be afraid to scavenge. Beginners typically bum off fellow fans.

The fight song has been in your head all week, and you started prepping last night.
Show up three or four hours before the game to claim a hot spot.
Know who's doing what. Assign tasks like grill master, garbage collector and bartender.
Have a game-day kit with everything from first-aid supplies to toilet paper and ponchos.
Bring two coolers (one for drinks, one for perishables) and a grill. Pack tables, tents, chairs and, if you have one, a portable TV. On a given Saturday there can be over 50 games you don't want guests wandering off for updates.
Taking inspiration from teams, mascots or cities, theme your spread. Tint drinks with food dye and opt for individual apps (so everyone's not crowded around a bowl of Guacamole).

You've been wearing a team jersey since diapers and can recite stats like the ABCs.
Take enough food for before and after the game. It'll make the parking-lot-exodus traffic jam much more fun.
Have checklists of what needs to be done, packed and cooked. A list of guests' phone numbers is also handy.
Bring more of everything. Think multiple TVs, towable smokers and grills, and hammocks for pregame naps.
Fanatics are all about the finishing touches, if you really want to be the Clark Griswold of tailgaters, throw in a shade canopy and synthetic turf.
Organize some tailgating activities. A ring toss, trivia game, horseshoes -- whatever keeps people entertained until those ribs are smoked to perfection.

Clean as a (ref''s) whistle

Have plenty of garbage bags. Tape them to trees and tent poles, keeping them off the ground so they don't attract bugs.
Clean as you go. Done with tongs and ladles? Wash and stow them away now. It'll save crucial minutes later.
When draining melted ice water from the coolers, reserve some for rinsing nondisposable items, hands and faces.
Scrape down grills before heading to the game, but save the major cleaning for when you get home.

Who starts their tailgate when the sun comes up? We do! Make the most of the wee morning hours with these time-saving tricks.

Day before:

Choose groceries that do double duty. Salsa will work for Scrambled Egg Burritos with Tex-Mex Salad and with chips; sausage can star with eggs and with peppers in hoagies later.
Cook ahead. Assemble breakfast casseroles, like Mini Ham and Egg Casseroles or Cheddar and Chile Egg Casserole (bake them off in the morning) and stock up on heat-and-eat goodies like Cinnamon Raisin Rolls.
Pack (checklist in hand). Don't forget coffee and blankets or space heaters for the morning chill.

Day of:

Set the alarm to play your team's fight song -- it'll make 5 a.m. more bearable.
Make early-morning calls to the notorious snooze-button slappers in your crew.
Mind the time: Allow an hour for breakfast, prep and packing and a half hour for setting up the tailgate.
Prioritize! Set up important stuff first.
Leave the last half hour of the tailgate for cleaning and getting to the stadium.

Friday, September 12, 2014