In the South, there’s only one thing that rivals college football itself: the pre-kickoff party.
Determining the exact origin of distracted driving is nearly impossible. Some date back to November 6, 1869, when Rutgers and New Jersey (later Princeton) met in the first college football game. Some credit Green Bay Packers fans with folding the tailgates of their pickup trucks into makeshift seats before games during the team’s inaugural season in 1919.
The debate over who has the best tailgating tradition is as old as the sport itself, and the creativity is as diverse as the fans themselves. From Bebo Boulevard (Texas) to the Tiger Walk (Clemson) to the Vol Navy (Tennessee) to sailing outside Husky Stadium (Washington), the options are endless.
of tradition Operating deep in the South, few do it the way Ole Miss and LSU do.
It’s a few hours before kickoff. Ole Miss is hosting LSU in its biggest game of the season, drawing tens of thousands of fans to The Grove, a 10-acre property in the heart of campus surrounded by oak trees. The lawn area was transformed into a sea of red and blue tents decorated with chandeliers and elaborate decorations.
Expectations build for The Walk of Champions, one of the longest running programs tradition As coaches and players step off the bus and pass through the historic archway on their way to the stadium, they are greeted with applause and cheers of “Hotty Toddy.”
Elizabeth Heiskell, a caterer from Oxford, Mississippi, is the central figure. She has become a Globe regular since marrying her fan base and wouldn’t want it any other way.
“This is a beautiful space in the middle of campus with gorgeous trees that will be here forever,” Heiskell said. “There’s really no other place like it. It’s not like dropping a tailgate in a parking lot. I mean, it’s so green and beautiful.”
Like most Globe-goers, Heiskell is dressed appropriately for the event. She wears a red and white blouse, gold jewelry, and great red sunglasses to tie the whole look together. This isn’t just an outfit she put together. Game day attire has been carefully selected.
“Of course, everyone gets dressed up. I mean, we shop all year long for game clothes,” she said. “If they say it’s a red game, honey, we’re all going to wear red.”
The pregame buzz is felt at Vought-Hemingway Stadium, where about 68,000 fans are watching. Ole Miss Hold LSU for a while 24-19 victory.
Two weeks later, the crawfish are boiled, the chandeliers and elegance of The Grove are replaced by Cajun spice, and the group moves 530 miles south to Baton Rouge.
Just finished a bye week, LSU Squirrels. Host South Carolina Home field advantage is alive and well in Death Valley thanks to its loyal fan base.
Wayne Breaux, a fisherman from New Iberia, Louisiana, begins preparing for game day Thursday night. He drives to a condo near campus on Thursday night, reserves a spot on Friday, and begins setting up early Saturday morning. After 35 years, his tailgates have become very appealing. Breaux regularly welcomes coaches and recruits for soccer, basketball, and softball.
“Tailgating is an event in itself. Even if they don’t have tickets to the game, many people will come out and enjoy the atmosphere, the camaraderie and the camaraderie,” Brough said. “I love the game of football, but the distracted driving was a close second.”
Like any good tailgate, Breaux’s setup revolves around the menu. His spreads include speckled trout, redfish, steak chips, pork loin, and of course jambalaya and boudin.
“We have one rule,” Breaux said. “If you leave here thirsty or hungry, it’s your fault, not mine.”
___
Get voting alerts and updates on the AP Top 25 all season long. sign up here and here (AP News Mobile App). AP College Football: https://apnews.com/hub/ap-top-25-college-football-poll and https://apnews.com/hub/college-football
