Your guide to tailgating

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Tailgating before a football game is about the simple pleasures of life.

“(You need) the three ‘B’s,” said Troy junior John Raymond. “Beer, burgers and brats.”

Although simplicity may be the best policy, there are some things that are absolute necessities for a successful, enjoyable and safe tailgate.

Colors, cups and cuisine

Tailgating is, at its core, about celebrating before a football game and showing school pride. As such, maroon and gold apparel is essential for any Central Michigan University fan.

“You need to dress in maroon and gold, and you need good food and music, and that’s really all you need,” said Ypsilanti sophomore Tristan Nelson.

Nelson said tailgating is best kept simple, but it is fine if people want to take their celebrations above and beyond.

“Tailgating is all about having fun, and if having fun means bringing your RV and Cornhole (game), then more power to you,” he said.

Along with food and apparel, a few drinks is customary for the 21-and-up crowd.“I’m not saying you have to drink, but if you want to have a few beers, that’s your right as a 21-year-old adult,” said Richmond senior Carl Fraser.

Dearborn sophomore Justin Straub said for tailgating, quality of beer in almost inconsequential.

“Just buy whatever saves you the most money,” Straub said.

Discretion and patience

This year CMU’s new tailgating regulations restrict the amount of alcohol an individual can bring to six beers or one pint of liquor, and no glass bottles.

“You can bring it in plastic, you can bring it in a metal container, you can bring it in a milk jug, as long as it’s not glass,” said CMU police chief Bill Yeagley. “(In the past five years) the amount of injuries to tailgaiters have increased, and the majority of those are cuts from broken glass.”

Yeagley said the main concern of the new regulations was public safety, and police and medical instances in the tailgating lot from the past five years were analyzed.

“We had the ambulance in there a number of times on alcohol overdose,” Yeagley said. “A good number of people who were injured were highly intoxicated. You start to see the pattern.”

Director of Athletics Dave Heeke said those tailgating need to be aware.

“All of our fans should make responsible decisions about their behavioral patterns,” Heeke said.

Straub said the alcohol policy would be difficult for police to enforce, without becoming overly intrusive on tailgaters.

“There’s no way they could regulate that without being up in everybody’s business, and that would ruin tailgating for everybody,” Straub said.

Fraser, a member of Sigma Tau Gamma, said the fraternity will be tailgating on Main St. then walking to the game, to show displeasure with the new policies.“I can see where the university’s coming from … but I think it hurts the students because our tailgate is a very unique experience.”

Nelson, a senior representative of Phi Kappa Tau, said the fraternity will be attending the official tailgate in Lot 63, to show support for the school and the football team.

Yeagley said he hopes people will come and give the new procedures a shot, and the CMU Police would be open to feedback after Saturday to adjust procedures for future games.

“I would encourage people to come down and evaluate it,” Yeagley said. “From a police perspective, we’re going to judge how it goes as well. We want people to come, we want people to enjoy themselves, but we want to keep them safe in the process. It’s a balancing act.”

Yeagley said he would consider holding on-campus meetings for students to come and share their thoughts and feedback on tailgating procedures.

Tips about changes

With the new regulations being enforced on Saturday many tailgaters are scrambling to make all their last minute plans, but there are some other things you can’t forget.

One aspect that participants may neglect until it’s too late is parking.

“Purchase parking passes for the lots in advance,” Heeke said. “Advance purchases not only ensure your place in the student lot but are also available at a discount.”

Once your able to get into the tailgating atmosphere what is there to do next? Lansing senior Kiel Webber said there is plenty of things to do all around.

“(Participate in the) yard games and barbecues,” Webber said.

Another change is the university is bringing a live DJ to blast music over the proceedings, but tailgaters need to take care to not do the same. New rules enforced will also not allow external speakers into tailgating.

But other rules still will be enforced too. Adam VanderPols, a Lowell junior, said to keep a wary eye around you to make sure you know what is going on.

“Open intox, be careful about that. Keep everything under control,” VanderPols said.

Heeke, said another change made will be the addition of a full-tailgating announcement that the game is beginning.

“(The big siren) will blow off so they know it’s time to get into the stadium and root for the Chippewas,” Heeke said.