Week 16 -Red, White & Blue

The 125th rendition of the sacred battle known as The Army-Navy Game was played this past Saturday at Northwest Field, just outside of Washington, D.C. Army entered the match as a one-touchdown favorite after finishing the regular season with an 11-1 record, an American Athletic Conference Championship, and a Top 25 ranking. This has been one of Army’s best seasons in history. Their QB1, Bryson Daily, finished 6th in the Heisman voting and earned the nickname "Captain America." They also boast a standout offensive lineman, Paolo Gennarelli , who was named to the All-American team. Navy had a solid season as well, but few expected them to challenge Army in this game. They were led by their phenomenal QB1, Blake Horvath, who missed a few games due to injury—contributing to Navy’s losses without their leader.

I was joined by my better half, known to readers of this blog as the amazing Mrs. Tailgate, although she has a habit of announcing scores with the losing team first :). Our good friends, the Kernans from Rockville, Maryland, hosted us for the weekend and joined us for what would be my 10th Army-Navy Game in the past 14 years. What made the day especially meaningful was the tailgate. We had the privilege of tailgating with fellow officers from my Army unit (the 6-27th) from 1987-1989 and their wonderful wives.

The men of 6-27

The better halves make the picture much better

The day was crisp, with temperatures hovering in the 30s, but clear skies and no wind made for perfect tailgating conditions. The spread of food and drink did not disappoint: pepperoni bread, sausage queso dip, brats, bellinis, and a cooler stocked with Natty Bo and other lesser-quality libations (plus a variety of Scooby snacks). Our tailgate ringleader introduced me to the Jack Daniel’s version of Fireball for a nip or two. Some of these friends I’ve kept in touch with through the years; others we hadn’t seen in ages. Our fearless leader, who was our Battalion Commander back in the day, spent the afternoon with us. He went on to earn three stars in his Army career.

Scenes from the tailgate

With a 3:00 PM kickoff, we wrapped up the tailgate and made our way into the stadium to enjoy the pregame pageantry. Given the presence of the next President and Vice President of the United States, security was tight, with Secret Service agents at every gate. I write about the pregame pageantry every year, but it truly never gets old. The Navy and Army parachute teams once again landed spectacularly on the 50-yard line logo. Army Apache helicopters and Navy fighter jets wowed the crowd with flyovers. The ceremonial coin toss was conducted by outgoing Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin. President Trump appeared on the Jumbotron, much to the delight of the Midshipmen and Cadets.

Pre game pageantry 

We were seated in the lower bowl near the Navy band and Midshipmen section. Whenever the Cadets from West Point started a chant, the Midshipmen would respond with a loud “Whoop Whoop!” Curious about its origin, I was told this: the cadets’ traditional dress gray uniform has a cape component, prompting the clever Midshipmen to compare them to the flying monkeys from The Wizard of Oz. Now, I’ll never not unsee that visual!

The Midshipmen and the Cadets

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On the Field

Navy opened the game with an impressive first drive, scoring a touchdown to jump out to a 7-0 lead. It was clear they brought the energy, and Army would need to dig deep to match it. While Navy capitalized with touchdowns, Army managed just one touchdown and two field goals. Navy’s QB1, Blake Horvath, thoroughly outplayed Army’s Captain America with his running and passing. Navy’s defense stifled Army’s run game and forced Bryson Daily into three interceptions. Navy’s special teams also outperformed Army, executing a fake punt for a 40-yard gain and first down just as Army seemed poised to grab momentum.

Taking in the game

The game was “chippier” than usual, which is uncommon for such a revered contest. Navy ultimately won 31-13. For the first time ever, we left with two minutes to go and missed the teams singing their respective alma maters—a tradition you must experience at least once.

All the seniors on these teams will graduate in May and move on to their first military assignments, beginning their minimum five-year commitments. God bless America!

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Around the Country

After returning to the Kernan compound, we enjoyed pizza and Greek salad (courtesy of our friend Patrick) just in time to watch the Heisman Trophy presentation. Colorado’s two-way Iron Man, Travis Hunter, edged out Boise’s Superman, Ashton Jeanty, in the closest vote in 15 years.

In FCS Quarterfinal action:

• #1 Montana State demolished Idaho on Friday night.

• The University of South Dakota bested UC Davis (who we watched the previous week).

• Perennial powerhouse North Dakota State defeated Mercer.

• South Dakota State walloped Incarnate Word.

In Division III, Salisbury State (MD) lost to powerhouse Mount Union, while Johns Hopkins (MD) advanced to the semifinals, where they’ll face Mount Union next weekend.

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Bieber Award

Marshall University, where all three of my brothers spent part of their college years, just won the Sun Belt Conference championship. This victory earned them a berth in the Independence Bowl against Army. However, their head coach Charles Huff left the team the next day after the school failed to renew his expiring contract after the season. He accepted an offer from Southern Mississippi University to be their next coach. In protest, many loyal players entered the ever-growing transfer portal, leaving the team so depleted that Marshall had to withdraw from the bowl. Louisiana Tech has replaced them.

Blame lies with both the administration for failure to execute a new agreement for Coach Huff, and the players for abandoning their teammates and fans. There’s no gray area here. For the first time in Bieberdom history, the players and administration of Marshall University share the infamous Bieber hardware. They’ve earned the nickname The Blundering Turd—a play on their team name, The Thundering Herd.

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Ginger Award

During the Celebration Bowl between HBCU conference champs Jackson State (SWAC) and South Carolina State (MEAC), an incredible moment occurred. After a Jackson State punt return, a flag was thrown. Fans assumed the 28 yard return would be nullified. However, the before announcing the call, the head referee Rory Bernard took the mic, gave a shoutout to the military veterans, and snapped off a crisp salute.

If the day wasn’t already patriotic enough, this moment was the icing on the cake. Thank you, sir—and enjoy your first Ginger Badass Award!

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Next Up

I’ll be manning multiple screens from the West Coast headquarters this weekend. We’ve got the opening round of the inaugural 12-team FBS Playoffs, plus the FCS and Division III semifinals on various streaming services.

We won’t be attending a live game… unless I’m otherwise persuaded!

Happy Tailgating!

Conference Championship Weekend - The Field Is Set

As conference championship weekend approached, I couldn’t bear the thought of staying on the couch for a second straight Saturday. So, I kidnapped Mrs. Tailgate and headed to the UC Davis second-round FCS playoff game against Illinois State. UC Davis entered the game ranked #5 in the FCS, enjoying one of the best seasons in program history.

We met up with old friends from our former California hometown for a pregame tailgate. They’re part of a UC Davis Super Fan group, and the vibe was lively. The early December weather was picture-perfect, with temperatures near 60°F and slightly overcast skies. It was my third visit to UC Davis, and the on-campus UC Davis Health Stadium, which opened in 2007, never fails to impress.

UC Davis Tailgaters

The Aggies were led by All-American running back Lan Larison, who is in the midst of a record-breaking season. Despite being favored by 11 points, the Redbirds drew first blood, scoring the opening touchdown. But their momentum was short-lived as the Aggies’ offense ignited. Quarterback Miles Hastings threw for over 400 yards, while the defense employed a “bend-don’t-break” strategy, surrendering yardage but allowing only 10 points. UC Davis dominated, winning 42–10, and advanced to next weekend’s quarterfinals against the University of South Dakota.

Top L- R - Aggies on the move. Larison gets a breather, Aggies take the filed, the "Banda" is back!

As if one game wasn’t enough, I ended the night at the NorCal Division 2 State High School Championship. The high school in my new town, just four years old, defeated a team from Santa Clara, earning a spot in the California State Championship next Saturday. Let’s just say I slept well that night.

The Twelve Bridges Rhinos take Nor Cal State!

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Around the Country

This weekend marked conference championship showdowns for all nine conferences:

• On Friday, Boise State, powered by Ashton Jeanty’s standout performance, defeated UNLV 21–7 to claim the Mountain West title and secure a guaranteed invite to the College Football Playoff. Jeanty has my vote for the Heisman. Boise will play in the Fiesta Bowl on December 31 in Glendale, Arizona. 

• Army, led by QB Bryson “Captain America” Daily, dominated Tulane to win the AAC Championship and earned a spot in the Independence Bowl in Shreveport, Louisiana. I personally think Army should have been considered for the playoffs, but perhaps I am biased.

• Jacksonville State, coached by our old friend Rich Rod, routed Western Kentucky 52–12 to claim the Conference USA title.

On Saturday, the Power Four games delivered real entertainment:

• Big 12: Arizona State rode the talents of Cam Scattebo and Sam Leavitt to crush Iowa State. The Sun Devils, earning a first-round playoff bye, will play in the Peach Bowl on January 1.

• SEC: Georgia edged Texas in an overtime thriller, 22–19. Georgia will also enjoy a first round bye and will play in the Sugar Bowl on January 1st. 

• Big Ten: Oregon outlasted Penn State in a high-scoring shootout, 45–37. Oregon is the number one overall seed going into the playoffs earning a bye and will play New Years day at the Rose Bowl.

• ACC: Clemson scored a victory over SMU with a 56-yard game winning field goal, 34–31. Clemson will play in a first round playoff game at Texas on December 21st.

Other Group of Five action saw Marshall overwhelm Louisiana 31–3 in the Sun Belt championship, while Ohio bested Miami (Ohio) to claim the MAC crown.

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College Football Playoff Bracket

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Bieber Award

It’s annual soapbox time!

As the regular season concludes, we’re seeing the annual migration of players and coaches leaving their teams early. Whether it’s portaling, chasing bigger NIL payouts, or accepting coaching gigs elsewhere, this trend is disheartening. If you’ve committed to a program, finish what you started—especially for bowl games.

For players, leaving prematurely should come with consequences, like repaying scholarships or NIL earnings. For coaches, bolting before the season concludes should result in forfeiting their entire year’s paycheck. It’s unacceptable to abandon the team before completing your commitments. This week’s Bieber Award goes to the culture of “quitters” in college football.

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Ginger Award

A longtime blog follower recently shared uplifting NIL stories. Notre Dame QB Riley Leonard has been using his NIL money to support teammates who didn’t receive NIL deals, and Oklahoma’s Danny Stutzman has done the same for walk-ons.

While I’m still skeptical of NIL’s long-term implications, stories like these showcase its potential for good. Kudos to these players—and others like them—for putting their teammates first.

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Next Up

Mrs. Tailgate and I are heading back east for the Army-Navy game next Saturday. We’ll be tailgating with a mix of Army and college friends. If you haven’t seen Army play this year, tune in to watch Captain America in action.

Happy Tailgating!

Week 14 - Tensions Run High!

And so we’ve reached the end of the regular season for Division 1A college football (lower division playoffs are already underway). It feels like just a few weeks ago I was driving over the High Sierras for the Zero Week game at the University of Nevada, Reno. As I mentioned last week, I planted my ample arse on the couch for most of Saturday, soaking in countless rivalry games and sending silly memes to my inner circle.

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Around the Country

On Friday, after Colorado dominated Oklahoma State, the Big 12 had four teams vying for a spot in the conference championship. Determining each team’s path took something resembling an Albert Einstein formula. With ASU crushing Arizona early on Saturday, the Sun Devils secured the first slot in the Big 12 title game. Iowa State took care of business with a win over Kansas State, but they needed BYU to beat Houston to secure their place. Fortunately for the Cyclones, that happened. The Big 12 Championship is set: Arizona versus Iowa State next Saturday in Dallas.

In the Big Ten, Ohio State entered as a 23-point favorite over hated rival Michigan. The Wolverines, who had won the previous three matchups, seemingly owned Ryan Day and the Buckeyes. This was supposed to be Ohio State’s revenge game, right? Not so fast. The Wolverines found their groove at the right time and stunned the Buckeyes in the Horseshoe with a gritty 13-10 win. The most fight Ohio State showed came after the game—in a post-game brawl. The loss not only embarrassed Ohio State but also eliminated them from the Big Ten Championship. Penn State will now face Oregon next Saturday night for the title.

In the SEC, the scenario was simple: Georgia had already secured its spot and awaited the winner of Texas vs. Texas A&M. This was the first meeting between these two storied rivals in 13 years, ever since A&M left the Big 12 for the SEC. Texas physically dominated the Aggies, winning 17-7. The Longhorns will now face the Bulldogs next Saturday afternoon in Atlanta. And let’s not forget Georgia’s own battle—a marathon eight-overtime thriller on Friday night against Georgia Tech in the game known as “Clean, Old-Fashioned Hate.”

In the ACC, SMU had already locked up a spot in the conference final and awaited either Clemson or Miami next Saturday in Charlotte, NC. Clemson, playing a non-conference rivalry game against South Carolina in the Palmetto Bowl, lost 17-14, but the outcome didn’t affect their path to Charlotte. Miami, however, needed only to beat Syracuse to secure their place—and didn’t. So, the ACC title game will feature SMU against Clemson.

Notre Dame traveled to Los Angeles and defeated USC 49-35, putting the finishing touches on a remarkable regular season following an early loss to NIU. The Fighting Irish will host a first-round College Football Playoff game on December 21.

In Group of Five action, Boise State secured home-blue field advantage for the Mountain West title game and will host UNLV next Friday night. Boise’s Ashton Jeanty ran for over 230 yards again, capping off one of the best seasons ever by a running back. Meanwhile, Army narrowly defeated UTSA to claim home-field advantage against Tulane in the American Athletic Conference championship, also set for Friday. Both Boise and Army remain in contention for the College Football Playoffs as the non-Power Five entrant.

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Bieber Award

This week's dishonor goes to a large swath of college football teams for bad behavior during and after several rivalry games. Most of us have seen the aftermath of the Michigan-Ohio State game, where a brawl ended with police pepper-spraying players. The police officers who resorted to pepper spray share in this award, as their actions seemed excessive. The chaos began with Michigan attempting to plant their flag on Ohio State's midfield logo, sparking tensions.

But that wasn’t the only ugly incident. Nationwide, there were seven additional post-game brawls, several coach-versus-coach altercations, and plenty of individual antics. A player from Colorado celebrated a touchdown by mimicking a dog taking a leak. A Kentucky player left the field during the game to go order some food from a concession stand. Meanwhile, even the Arizona and Arizona State mascots got into a legitimate fistfight!

What’s going on? Are we seeing the long-term effects of Dr. Fauci’s 8th booster shot? A full moon? Spiked breakfast cereals? Or are TikTok and Instagram fueling a need for outrageous antics to maintain notoriety? Whatever the reason, the sheer amount of poor sportsmanship earns this week’s collective Bieber Award.

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Ginger Award

Although this feat occurred last week, it didn’t reach the DFT press corps in time. The Ginger Award goes to Cal Berkeley equipment manager Trevor Skogerboe for his heroic and athletic actions. After Cal’s victory over Stanford in The Big Game, an on-field celebration erupted. Amid the chaos, an overzealous fan attempted to steal a Cal helmet and run off. Skogerboe, channeling his inner cheetah, sprinted after the thief and delivered a picture-perfect Jack Lambert-style tackle.

The video of this legendary moment went viral. During Cal’s weekly film session, head coach Justin Wilcox praised Skogerboe for his speed and tackling ability. Along with his newfound fame, Skogerboe takes home this week’s Ginger Award for his remarkable feat.

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Next Week

I’ll make the trek to UC Davis as the Aggies host the Illinois State Redbirds in the second round of the FCS playoffs. Not sure who’s coming with me, as it seems all my rowdy friends have settled down.

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Happy Tailgating!

Week 13 - The road is long, with many a winding turn

Back to Norman, Oklahoma, I went to visit #2, soon-to-be GS #3, SIL, MIL, FIL, and my dog, who resides there. The Oklahoma Sooners hosted the mighty Crimson Tide from Alabama in a 6:30 PM primetime showdown. For those following my polygamy of fandom, my Sooner allegiance dates back to the 1980s when I lived there, solidified further during #2’s college years in the Baker Mayfield era.

The big highlight of the day was the tailgate behind the President’s House, just off the main campus. This gathering, which we also attended in 2021 for the Nebraska game, is hosted by a group of friends and fraternity brothers from the 1980s. Key figures like Roscoe, Stewart, Kent, and Wheels were in attendance, expertly managing the grills and bar. Over 100 people joined in, including some Tailgate Connect® guests. The menu featured gumbo, hot links, and hot dogs, complemented by a full bar with nearly everything—except mulled wine.

An awesome day in Norman, Oklahoma.

Family and friends at the tailgate.

Instead of joining 90,000 crimson-clad fans in the stadium (where it’s tough to tell OU and Alabama supporters apart), we opted for a quieter experience: grabbing pizzas and heading back to #2’s place for a watch party. What unfolded was nothing short of miraculous. OU delivered one of the most dominant defensive performances I’ve seen, shocking the nation—and themselves—by defeating Alabama 24-3.

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Around the Country

It was a third straight weekend of chaos and upsets across college football:

• Big 12: BYU and Colorado lost their grips on controlling the race for the Big 12 Championship. ASU, led by standout running back Cameron Skatteboo, edged BYU in Tempe, though not without drama. A premature field-storming by fans (before confirming the clock’s final second) caused a 13-minute delay. I hear there are remedies that can help with premature celebration. Meanwhile, Colorado laid an egg at Arrowhead Stadium, falling flat against Kansas losing 38-21 .

• Big Ten: just Google it, Kurt Cignetti and the Indiana Hoosiers lost to Ohio State and their dog kicking coach Ryan Day. Penn State narrowly avoided an upset against Minnesota eeking out a 26-25 victory.

• ACC: Cal bested Stanford in The Big Game, 24-21.

• SEC: Ole Miss’s playoff hopes were sunk in The Swamp by the Gators, losing by a touchdown. Auburn claimed a thrilling four-overtime victory over Texas A&M, 43-41.

• Notre Dame continued its surge with a dominant 49-14 win over previously undefeated Army, leaving only USC standing in its way to a playoff berth.

• FCS Action: In “The Rivalry,” Lehigh trounced Lafayette 38-14.

• 

  Three generations of O'Connors rooting on their Devils

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Bieber Award

This week’s winner might have committed the greatest Bieberism in award history. Alabama backup linebacker Keanu Koht inexplicably decided to send unsolicited and explicit text messages—including photos only a urologist should see—to the daughter of Alabama head coach Kalen DeBoer. Not sure if this kid has CTE, was sniffing model airplane glue, lost a dare, or whatever, regardless, what the heck you doing son? While we may never know, the consequences were swift: Koht is no longer an Alabama linebacker, and it’s doubtful any coach’s with a suitable daughter will want to recruit him. While awaiting his new colors at Last Chance U, he can polish his new Bieber hardware.

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Next Up

Taking a break this weekend to Griswold the house and enjoy some football from the comfort of home.

Happy Tailgating!

Week 12 - Chaos Continues

For the second time this season, I made my way down to "The Gulag" at San Jose State. The Spartans were hosting one of my beloved teams in my polygamy of fandom: the Boise State Broncos. Boise State is led by All-American and Heisman candidate Ashton Jeanty, who currently leads the nation in rushing yards.

Joining me for our pregame soiree were several of the Dons of Danville, a DruBaca sighting along with part of his Dru Crew, and we were even graced by an appearance by the Yeti in the tailgate lot.

When you lose a bet to an Eagles Fan, Yeti and Crazy George and the classy pre game parking lot soiree attendees.

For the first time in perhaps forever, the newly redesigned Spartan Stadium (aka The Gulag) was sold out. However, in their infinite wisdom during the redesign, they reduced seating by about 13,000, leaving the total capacity at just 21,000. In fact, the price of the ticket was 3 x higher than I have ever paid at a SJSU game.

Despite Boise State being favored by 14 points, San Jose State came out of the locker room ready to play. It was evident this team spends a lot of time perfecting their tackling. For the first half, they effectively bottled up All-American Ashton Jeanty and went toe-to-toe offensively with Boise State. San Jose State’s own All-American, Nick Nash, who leads the nation in receiving yards, put on quite a show with some acrobatic catches.

Jeanty takes a handoff, the harvest moon over San Jose and the Gulag on display.

Through almost three quarters, the teams traded blows until Jeanty broke free for a 36-yard touchdown, giving Boise State the lead for good. The game remained competitive until Boise stopped San Jose State on a critical fourth down, preventing them from cutting the lead to seven. Boise finished the game with a pick-six for a final score of 42-21. Jeanty finished with 159 yards on the ground and three touchdowns. Nash had nine grabs and a touchdown.

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Around the Country
In the SEC, down in the Swamp, the Florida Gators handed LSU an upset defeat, eliminating LSU’s playoff hopes. In Athens, Georgia, the Dawgs held off the Tennessee Volunteers 31-17 in the ABC Game of the Week.

In Big 12 action, a mediocre Kansas squad upset previously undefeated BYU 17-13 bringing more chaos to the playoff picture. A surging Colorado Buffaloes team forcibly dismantled a free-falling Utah squad at Folsom Field, 49-24 (say that five times fast).

#3 and her wing girl taking in their last home Buffaloes game.

In the Big Ten, No. 1 Oregon squeaked past lowly Wisconsin 16-13. Meanwhile, in ACC action, Louisville traveled to The Farm at Stanford and left with their red tails between their talons, losing to the Cardinal 38-35. A couple of boneheaded defensive plays by Louisville gifted Stanford the upset.

In FCS play, No. 2 Montana State edged out No. 4 UC Davis 30-28 in a thriller.

The Donnelly Boys at Navy Tailgate

 Members of the SJSU 1990 Raisin Bowl Champions

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Bieber Award
This week’s Bieber goes to yet another "I'm taking my ball and going home" quitter. At the start of the season, Boston College quarterback Thomas Castellanos was on fire, playing exceptionally well. Over the past month and a half, however, a mix of injuries and subpar play led to him being benched two games ago. When informed he’d no longer be the starter, he promptly quit the team and entered the mythical transfer portal.

Boston College superfans were so thrilled to see him go that they threw a celebration party for his backup, now the new starter. It’s another example of this generation expecting the world on a silver platter. When adversity strikes, what will they do? In Castellanos’ case, the answer is clear: celebrate with his new Bieber hardware!

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Ginger Award
This week’s Ginger Award recipient shall remain nameless to preserve HIPAA medical privacy laws. Let’s just say one of our crew was on a hospital gurney in the ER less than 18 hours before the tailgate. When he heard  we were going to tailgate and go to the Boise State/San Jose State game, akin to a European soccer flopper, he made a miraculous recovery, joined our group, and even took charge. He picked up the chow, drove the bus, and bought the tickets (OK, we reimbursed him, but it makes for a better story). Here’s to you, unnamed tailgate bro!

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Next Up
I’m headed back to the Palace on the Prairie in Norman, Oklahoma, to watch the Sooners take on the mighty Crimson Tide from Alabama.

Happy tailgating!