WITH VIDEO: Not many students attend tailgate outside Kelly/Shorts Stadium, Main Street
"Tailgate today looked like an empty parking lot, exactly how it looks during the school day," said Taylor senior Deanna Celsi while tailgating Thursday night.
Celsi said she was surprised by how few people turned out to tailgate outside Kelly/Shorts Stadium before the Central Michigan University football team took on South Carolina State in the first home game of the season.
"CMU used to be known for its tailgate and every group on campus was represented — now, there's no one here," Celsi said. "Even Main Street was dead today."
Tyler Wardle, Roseville sophomore and member of Phi Kappa Tau fraternity, was hanging out with friends outside his fraternity's house at 906 S. Main St. Wardle and his friends were one of the few groups on Main Street.
"Today's the day I've been waiting for all summer," he said. "We're starting on Main Street and heading over to tailgate later to support the CMU community."
Wardle said he still has a good time at tailgate, despite the rule changes, and is excited for the season.
Saginaw senior Matt Mielock said he was disappointed to see so few students tailgate for the first home game.
"I don't know if it's still the tailgate rule changes, but students might be intimidated to come out because of them," he said.
Mielock said he usually goes to Main Street rather than the tailgate lot because it is more exciting.
CMU Alumni members also noticed the changes in the student tailgate atmosphere.
"The changed tailgate rules seem to have had a big impact for students," said Joe Bowen, Mount Pleasant resident and 2003 CMU alumnus. "Nothing's changed on our side, though. You can drink beer on the student side or you can come eat a real meal like shrimp cocktail and bruschetta on our side."
Lloyd Sanders, Bay City resident and 1983 CMU alumnus, said he was wondering where all the students were. He said tailgate was a lot wilder when he was at CMU and there was more people and more partying.
"It sure has changed," Sanders said. "It's a lot more mellow, especially for opening day. The changes are good for less accidents, though."
CMU Chief of Police Bill Yeagley said no new tailgate rules have been put into place this year. He said though attendance is down from previous years, medical runs are down, too.
There was five to 12 medical runs before changes to tailgating rules two years ago, he said.
He said he would love to see more students coming back out to tailgate.
"If they see what it's actually like, they'd see it's not so bad," Yeagley said.
