Throw an Epic Tailgate Party This Football Season with Our Top 5 Helpful Tips

By Meghen Jones

Do you know what time it is? Yep, that’s right. College students across the country are getting into gear for the best season of them all: football. Whether this entails donning your school colors through the forms of costume and body paint or cheering on your team at a scheduled pep rally with your closest friends in tow, there’s nothing better than a little pre-game fun before the main event.

Although there have been multiple arguments on how the NFL “annihilates college football from a strategic standpoint,” the truth remains that college football is one of the popular and beloved sports in the United States, and this is not changing anytime soon.

With that being said, many college football fans love a good pre-game celebration to start game day off on the right foot, which is why it makes perfect sense for you to host a tailgating party. I mean, come on, there’s nothing more exciting than a bunch of like-minded students and faculty rooting for the university’s team. It’s the truest and purest form of camaraderie, and you won’t find it many places in the post-college world.

However, the thought of hosting a full-fledged tailgating party can be a bit stressful, but per usual uCribs is coming in clutch with our Top 5 Helpful Tips in throwing the most epic tailgating party that your college campus has ever seen.

Pump Up the Volume with the Right Music.

If you’re a die-hard fan for your university’s football team, then “the hype” of gameday comes naturally to you. While there’s absolutely no doubt that you’re already pumped up for the big game, we, at uCribs, are always looking to take celebrations to the next level, and nothing says “party time” like a solid playlist of all the latest and greatest tunes. Plus, thanks to apps like Spotify, it’s simple for anyone to make the perfect soundtrack.

Now, while we fully support including your school’s anthem or chant, don’t feel the need to limit yourself in terms of genre. Instead, create a team spirit-inspired playlist with songs that will get everyone in the mood. And depending on how much your guests are vibing to your pre-selected songs, they just may do “The Floss” on the walk to the stadium!

Create a Game Plan for Your Festivities.

Ultimately, game day itself is like one, big epic party. With everything going on around campus and beyond, it can be a little nerve-wracking to plan a party that will distinguish your event from all the others occurring on gameday. Our best advice? Save the comparisons and apply your unique personality and quirks to your party planning.

Yeah, we all know how frustrating the process of planning any sort of event, whether it’d be a birthday parties, sorority and/or fraternity social, or campus organization outing. When planning a tailgate party, simply think of it like any other event you’ve planned in the past. It all starts with creating a checklist of important to-do items, which may include, but shouldn’t be limited to: nailing down a budget for party expenses, selecting an appropriate venue, and purchasing all the necessary items you need to succeed. But, take a deep breath, and handle it like any other day spent on a college campus: one step at a time.

Provide Your Guests with Plenty Food to Munch On.

Football goes hand-in-hand with snacks! And let’s face it, we’ve all been to that party where you’ve forgone dinner in expectations of having a little something to munch on. But, there’s a real-life horror movie unfolding before your eyes because there aren’t any snack trays for miles, or if there were any, they were devoured well before you arrived fashionably late. It’s pretty upsetting, right? Well, don’t let down your guests in the same ways you’ve been disappointed in the past!

Get an early start by beginning your snack preparation the night before, which can include shopping for all the ingredients you will need for the next day, marinating your meats for the grill, or chopping up all your ingredients for your mom’s killer potato salad recipe. Keep in mind that simple, finger-friendly appetizers are usually a favE such as loaded nachos, stuffed jalapeno poppers, or buffalo chicken wings.

Bonus Tip: Don’t forget the cheesy décor to showcase the love of your school, either! Having your party decked out with school banners, color-coordinated table covers, labeled cups, and other swag is the perfect way to show off your school spirit and encourage it in others! Plus, it never hurts to have a good, overall set-up with plenty of comfortable seating and TV screens, if necessary.

Show Good Sportsmanship.

We all know that sinking feeling you get when your team loses. We see the image so clearly now: your heart shattered into a million pieces on the pavement while your mind is deciding what to contribute to the fiery conversation happening on social media. No one is trying to be dramatic, but it’s literally the worst feeling for any sports fan, especially when you have such a personal connection to the team, but truth be told, we’ve all been there at some point.

Sure, it’s much easier to add less-than-friendly post-game banter to that comment thread, but it’s much more important to display good sportsmanship, whether online or in-person. So, if your school happens to win the game, be kind and tell the opposing team that it was a good game, or if you’re on the losing team, it’s better not to let your emotions get the best of you. We promise you’ll feel better when you wake up tomorrow, and it’s a brand-new day!

Don’t Be Afraid to Throw a Post-Game Celebration, Too!

After all the pre-game celebration shenanigans and cutting up at the game itself as you cheered your team to victory (…or tried to, anyway), there’s only one way to end the afternoon or evening, and that’s with a bang. Take your tailgating extravaganza to the next level with a post-game party.

For example, you can close your night out with your closest pals, in addition to some sweet treats. We suggest serving some cute, bite-sized desserts that are built around the theme of football! Like their grab-and-go appetizer predecessors, tailgate party desserts are usually mobile-friendly and easy-to-eat. Themed cookies, brownies, cupcakes, fruit bars, quick breads, and cookies are typical, time-honored front-runners. Nothing says “recap time” like a confectionary concoction of your choosing, plus some good conversation with your team’s biggest fans.

Tailgating is the perfect way to bring students, staff, and alumni closer together in order to celebrate two things we all love: our university and college football. With these helpful tips, you are bound to become the designated tailgate party host before (and after!) each game.

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