How to Tailgate at a University of Florida Football Game

There's no better way to get a real taste of what college football is all about than to tailgate at a University of Florida football game. Generations of Gator fans have dedicated themselves to perfecting the fine art of tailgating, and each year hundreds of these pre-game partying groups try to outdo each other and top previous years' performances. The experience ranges from a few dozen friends around a single portable grill to fully catered affairs with up to 1,000 guests.

Instructions

    • 1

      Consider designing a tailgate party with a theme that honors (or dishonors) the opponent of the day. A recent game against the University of Hawaii featured food and drinks with a luau theme. The game against the Miami Hurricanes required attendees to show up with "food you'd stock up on for a hurricane." For the game against conference rival Tennessee, tailgaters served "food you can eat with only one tooth." If the opposing team's mascot is edible, like the University of Arkansas Razorbacks (wild hogs), you can bet dishes featuring mascot meat will be featured.

    • 2

      Observe the high-end tailgate parties that include fully catered banquets, satellite TV hookups with big screen TVs, elaborate tents and RVs worth hundreds of thousands of dollars painted in UF's school colors: orange and blue. The menus can include the finest offerings from onsite sushi chefs, barbeque and Cajun dishes from some of the area's best restaurants. These parties are invitation-only, and most attendees are family and friends of alumni and donors who have contributed a minimum of $13,000 to the school's athletic program. Many of these tailgate parties begin the Thursday before Saturday's game and continue right up to kickoff.

    • 3

      Join one of the many organized tailgate parties open to the public. Most of these feature traditional tailgate food--brauts, hamburgers, hot dogs, chicken and ribs. If you wear Gator gear--orange or blue hat, shirt, shorts or dress, and have the right attitude-a healthy disdain for the opposing team, you'll be welcome. See the Resource section below for information on these friendly tailgate parties.

    • 4

      Try the most famous tailgate libation, the Bourbon Meyer, named for the popular UF football coach, Urban Meyer. It's basically a combination of the ubiquitous southern sweet tea and Jim Beam bourbon, sometimes enhanced with a splash of Meyers' rum. Be careful, though. It's a drink that goes down very easy, but packs a powerful punch. See the Resource section for recipe links.