Week 7 Recap - Games of the Year

As often happens in my weekend plans, I had to call a few audibles. The original plan was to attend James Madison University’s Thursday night game against Coastal Carolina, complete with some tailgating. Saturday was supposed to take me to the University of Pittsburgh for their game against Cal. However, fate had other plans. My train from New York to Maryland broke down for three hours, so by the time I arrived at my brother's house in Maryland, we barely made it to the JMU game right after kickoff. I’ll get to the game in a moment. Then, on Friday, I came down with a bug, which forced me to cancel my Pittsburgh trip and instead opt for a low-key Division III game near my brother’s house on Saturday.

The last time I visited James Madison University was during my freshman year of college when we played them in rugby. I don’t remember much about that game, but I do recall one of my high school buddies offering up his dorm room for me and a teammate to crash in. Let’s just say it was a mistake—his room was likely condemned after that weekend. Fast forward to today: walking into the stadium, we were blown away by the scene. The stands were nearly full, and it was a white-out. The student section was electric, and ESPN was there to broadcast the game live.

James Madison recently elevated its program from D1AA to D1A and is a member of the Sun Belt Conference. They have done remarkably well at the hihest level of college football and have already built a winning tradition. Unfortunately, the game wasn’t much of a contest. JMU dominated from the start, with their offense running like a well-oiled machine and capitalizing on Coastal’s mistakes. By halftime, JMU was up 29-7.

Festive Bridgeforth Stadium at James Madison University

After a spirited halftime show from JMU’s massive marching band, the students began streaming out of the stadium. By the end of the third quarter, only about 10% of the student section remained. JMU tacked on 10 more points in the second half, while Coastal remained scoreless. Final score: 39-7, in favor of the Dukes.

On Saturday, we attended Division 3 McDaniel College’s game against Muhlenberg College in Westminster, Maryland. McDaniel boasts one of the most unique tailgating setups in the country despite being a small school with only 3,000 students. As you’ll see in the photos, cars pull right up to the field—nestled in a natural bowl—and fans tailgate while watching the game from their cars and tents. They’ve been featured in multiple publications as one of the top 25 tailgates in the country. It was a picturesque early fall afternoon in Maryland with blue skies. However, the campus must’ve been on fall break because there were no students, no band, and no cheerleaders. The game itself was free to attend.

The unique game day experience at McDaniel College with my brothers and nephew.

For me, the highlights of the game were that Muhlenberg had a player named Tommy Donnelly (same as my nephew) and their 6'5" receiver, who dominated the game and looked like he could easily play for a Division I team. Muhlenberg cruised to a 31-7 victory.

Around the Country
In what many are calling the best day of football this season, epic battles played out across the nation. Penn State took on USC in the LA Coliseum in a rematch of the 2017 Rose Bowl, and once again, it was a thriller. The game ended in regulation with a score of 30-30, sending it into overtime. USC faltered in OT, failing to convert, while Penn State nailed a field goal to win 33-30. Lincoln Riley was, as usual, a bit edgy in the post-game presser.

The South Carolina Gamecocks nearly pulled off a monumental upset, falling to Alabama by just two points in Tuscaloosa. In the ABC Game of the Week, Oregon edged Ohio State 32-31. Ohio State QB Will Howard had a massive blunder by running out the clock instead of downing the ball for a field goal attempt. Meanwhile, in Boulder, Deion’s Buffs made a valiant comeback but still lost by three points to Kansas State, 31-28.

In one of the most exciting games of the season, LSU defeated Ole Miss 29-26 in double overtime. Florida also pushed their rival Tennessee to overtime, but ultimately fell 23-17. Illinois needed overtime to beat a struggling Purdue squad, 50-49, in a barn burner.In the game I was supposed to attend, Pitt edged Cal 17-15 to remain unbeaten on the season. In the Group of Five, Army continued its unbeaten streak, moving to 6-0 by demolishing UAB. For the first time in what feels like forever, both Army and Navy are ranked in the Top 25, each undefeated. And in FCS action, rogue reporter DruBaca reports that his alma mater, Cal Poly, is awful and that their coach needs to be fired.

UNR Tailgaters before the big win over Oregon State

Bieber Award
This week’s Bieber could’ve easily gone to my brother Brian for two offenses: first, forgetting to tell us that his wife had packed us a “tailgate in a cooler” with all kinds of goodies until we were already on our way home from the game on Thursday night. And second, offering to cook me breakfast on Sunday but not extending the offer to his wife, who was sitting right next to me. However, since Brian already won a Bieber earlier this year, I’ll let him off the hook. Instead, this week’s Bieber goes to Kirby Smart, the UGA coach with one of the worst haircuts in the country and an extremely punchable face. During Georgia’s closer-than-expected game against Mississippi State, Smart was caught on camera shoving the Mississippi State quarterback after he ran out of bounds. Was it a mistake? Some will say he was not aware of his actions. I say no way. I’ve watched the video a dozen times—it was egregious. He should face repercussions for assaulting a minor. As someone on my Mount Rushmore of most hated coaches, it gives me great pleasure to award him this week’s infamous Bieber Award.

Ginger Award
Nothing “badass” jumps out this week, so the Ginger gets put back in the cupboard.

Next Week
I’m taking a long-overdue weekend off to hang with my family at the West Coast headquarters. In two weeks, I will be back in Boulder for my final family weekend not only for CU, but my last one as a parent forever.

Happy Tailgating!

Week 6 Recap: Upset Saturday

Did I Stay or Did I Go Now?

 As I mentioned last week, I was considering taking a break to get some rest and recovery this weekend. By Friday morning, however, I was itching to attend another game. So, I made the decision not to go to Gainesville but to head to Tallahassee to watch Clemson take on Florida State. In past years, this might have been billed as the ACC matchup of the year, as both teams have enjoyed long periods of success (with a few off years for FSU). This season, Clemson had one loss but was improving, while Florida State was struggling. I was joined by one of my college roommates, Skinny Gallagher, and his lovely wife, who live in Tallahassee.

We popped in and out of several tailgates, spending the most time at the DFNS tailgate, where we enjoyed Guthrie’s chicken tenders and cold Yuengling beer. What’s that? How much did I pay for my ticket to the game? $0, once again. I play the waiting game, and usually, good things happen. 

Tailgating and the Doak

Once inside the stadium (my third time at Doak Campbell), I noticed significant construction underway. The upper half of the west side of the stadium was devoid of seats due to ongoing renovations, part of a massive transformation that’s set to be completed before next season. The fans were fired up, and the Tomahawk Chop and chant were in full force. Chief Osceola threw the spear into the middle of the field before kickoff to a thunderous roar. As for the action on the field, the game was never in doubt. Clemson jumped out to an early lead and maintained control throughout all four quarters, despite Florida State’s attempts to narrow the gap. In my humble opinion, Clemson is good this year, but not one of their best teams (though they do it right, according to my friend Jack). Meanwhile, Florida State just isn’t very good. Although the game didn’t bring the same excitement I had witnessed at previous weekends’ matchups, I give FSU fans props for sticking with their team and staying for most of the game, even when it was clear they wouldn’t come away with the win. Clemson took the W behind an improved QB1, Cade Klubnik, and a stingy defense, with a final score of 29-13. 

Action inside the Doak

Upsets Around the Country Let’s start with the action in Bryan-College Station, Texas. Missouri, ranked No. 9 in the country, traveled to take on Texas A&M. While they were a slight underdog according to the oddsmakers, many expected Missouri to win. However, if you bet on Missouri, you’re not happy today, as they were waxed by the Aggies, 41-10, bringing their rabid fans back down to earth.

 In Seattle, in a rematch of last year’s national championship, the mighty Michigan Wolverines fell to the Huskies of Washington, 27-17. Dixon Street in Fayetteville, Arkansas, was rocking last night after the Hogs knocked off No. 4 Tennessee in a monumental upset. In Minneapolis, the Trojans from USC were knocked down by the Minnesota Gophers, 24-17. 

Two mild upsets also took place: SMU clipped the wings of the Louisville Cardinals in Louisville, and Boston College fell to the Wahoos of Virginia in Charlottesville. However, the biggest upset of all happened in Nashville, where Vanderbilt knocked off Alabama for the first time since 1984. In celebration, students carried the goalpost three miles from campus, down Broadway, and threw it into the Cumberland River. That’s just what you do in Nashville—or maybe throw chairs off rooftop bars for grins. I wouldn’t want to be Kaelan DeBoar today in Tuscaloosa. 

In other action, both Army and Navy remained perfect on the season, going 5-0 and defeating their respective combatants. In the late game featured on ABC, Miami once again slipped by an opponent they were supposed to beat—allegedly with the help of their friends in black and white stripes. ESPN College GameDay was in Berkeley for the first time ever, where it was reported there was a certain haze and smell in the air that had never been experienced at an ESPN GameDay before. In D2 action, the mighty Bobcats from Frostburg State improved to 5-0 by mauling West Virginia Wesleyan. 

Top L -clockwise - Mahoney's cheering on the U, Ziesings at the Blue, Andy Reid at Penn State, Buckleys at South Carolina

Bieber Award - In a week with good behavior and no Darwinism events, we have no awardee for the first time in a while. 

Ginger Award - This week’s Ginger Award goes to my buddy, Chris Desimone, one of the Dons of Danville. Last week, while Hurricane Helene was trashing the Southeast, Chris was the only one of my crew from California who made it in for the Alabama-Georgia game. As if that feat wasn’t impressive enough, I received a FaceTime from him yesterday morning, and he was at ESPN College GameDay in Berkeley at 7:00 a.m.! Mind you, if you’ve ever seen Back to School with Rodney Dangerfield, Chris was a dead ringer for Rodney, looking like the oldest student in the crowd. He even took a page out of my book, crashing a GameDay hospitality tent and rubbing elbows with some big names. When interviewed by local news and asked why he was there, Chris said he thought he was at an ANTIFA rally and was promised free donuts for participating. At Chris’s advanced age, he didn’t stick around for the night game but instead went home and took successive power naps throughout the day. Regardless, I’m proud he showed up to represent and teach the young kids how to stay vigorous. Next time I’m back in Cali, Chris, I’ll personally present you with your very own Ginger Award. Congratulations, old friend. 

"You my boy Blue"

Next Up - On Thursday night, I’ll head to Harrisonburg, VA, to watch the undefeated, “Group of Five” darling, James Madison, host Coastal Carolina. On Saturday, I’ll make my way to the Rust Belt city of Pittsburgh to watch the Pitt Panthers take on the Cal Bears. Happy Tailgating!

Week 5 Recap: Dixieland Delight Indeed!

As predicted, Hurricane Helene threw a wrench in our plans last weekend. The Dons of Danville were supposed to fly into the Redneck Riviera on Thursday for some beach time before heading up to Tuscaloosa for the Alabama vs. Georgia showdown. Unfortunately, Panama City Beach airport shut down all incoming flights that day, leaving the crew scrambling. Only one Don, Chris DeSimone, managed to fly directly into Birmingham on Friday. So, I made the call and drove up to Birmingham for the night, where we grabbed dinner at Saw's Juke Joint and enjoyed some stellar barbecue. My prayers are with those affected by the storm especially in the North Carolina mountains and Eastern Tennessee.

Saturday started early. I needed to be on campus at the University of Alabama by 9:00 a.m. for my live interview at 9:45 a.m. on Sirius XM Radio's Jimmy Mack Show, channel 146, broadcasting from our tailgate. Afterward, we strolled over to catch a bit of ESPN College GameDay. Terry Saban, Nick's wife and a revered figure among the Crimson Tide faithful, was the guest picker.

Dan on the Jimmy Mac Show, Joe and Dan repping Tailgate Connect!

Back at the B.U.T.T. tailgate, hosted by Randy Darby, we welcomed over 100 guests through Tailgate Connect®. The food, catered by Shelly’s Kitchen, was phenomenal—baked chicken, loaded potatoes, buffalo chicken dip, green beans, and an assortment of beers and cocktails. The DJ kept the energy high, and the people-watching was top-notch as tens of thousands passed by, many stopping to dance to the tunes. The campus buzz was as electric as I've ever felt, with anticipation through the roof for both teams.

The B.U.T.T. and the Goodyear blimp in the sky

Brad showing the horse soldier bourbon, Randy Darby the Legend, Butch Ferguson, played for the Bear.

Best ESPN Gameday sign, the gate in full swing, the fellas taking in the ESPN scene.

People keep asking, "How much did I pay for my game ticket?" Well, let’s just say, knowing someone like my good friend Alabama Al helps. What would’ve cost $500-$600 on the open market, we snagged for $200 each—Row 16, 20-yard line behind the Alabama bench. And the perks didn’t stop there. We had a front-row view of Hank Williams Jr., Kid Rock, John Daly, as they were in front of us for the 2nd quarter on the Bama sideline. Even  former President Donald J. Trump was in attendance for this epic game. The security presence was intense, with Secret Service agents seemingly everywhere.

The F18 flyover, the flight crew, Hank Jr. and all his rowdy friends!

As for the game, well, what a rollercoaster! Alabama dominated the first half, jumping out to a 28-0 lead, leaving many viewers assuming it would be a blowout. Jalen Milroe was unstoppable, and his favorite target, 17-year-old phenom Ryan Williams, looked “uncoverable.” But Georgia, under Coach Kirby Smart, made all the right halftime adjustments. Carson Beck, who struggled in the first half, came alive, leading the Dawgs to three second-half touchdowns. Georgia cut the lead to 34-28 and even took a one-point lead late in the game.

Battle in the trenches, the crew, Lt. Dan and Forest reunite, the celebs.

However, Milroe and Williams had one more trick up their sleeve. Williams broke away for a stunning go-ahead touchdown, leaving Georgia with less than two minutes to mount a final drive. That drive ended with an interception in the end zone, securing Alabama’s victory in what’s already being called an instant classic. We managed to beat the traffic and headed back to our hotel in Birmingham, high on the adrenaline of such an epic day.

Around the Country
Friday night delivered two big games. Virginia Tech got robbed in the final seconds of their game against Miami, with a controversial reversal of a Hail Mary touchdown that many believe was ACC interference to preserve Miami’s playoff hopes. On the same night, Rutgers knocked off Washington, going 4-0 for the first time in my lifetime. The biggest upset came when Kentucky stunned Ole Miss, thanks to a botched field goal. Arizona shocked Utah in Salt Lake City, and Oklahoma squeaked by Auburn despite lacking much offense. Meanwhile, Boise State’s Ashton Jeanty continued to put up video game-like stats in their win over Washington State.

In FCS action, Montana beat Eastern Washington in a thriller on the “red inferno,” and in D2 action, Frostburg State improved to 4-0.

Bieber Award
Plenty of candidates for this week’s Bieber Award—Hurricane Helene, the ACC’s bad call, or even me for forgetting to mention Mrs. Tailgate during my Sirius/XM interview—but none come close to what former UNLV QB1 Matthew Sluka did. After leading UNLV to a 3-0 start, Sluka demanded $100,000 in NIL money, allegedly promised to him. When UNLV refused, Sluka quit on his team midseason. The slippery slope in the world of NIL that Sluka possibly has created will have effects that are far-reaching for a long time unless guardrails are put in place ASAP. Poetic justice was served when UNLV’s backup led them to victory on Saturday. Congratulations, Sluka—you’ve earned this week’s Bieber Award. Enjoy your new Bieber hardware, because it’s probably the last trophy you’ll see in your college career.

Ginger Award
This week’s Ginger Award goes to The Final Mile, a charity that supports truck drivers and their families during times of need, especially when a driver passes away far from home. Two gentlemen from the organization, Randy Dye and Brad Bentley, were part of the 25-person group from the truck driving industry attending the B.U.T.T. tailgate. We ran a raffle Saturday to help raise money for The Final Mile. Please consider visiting their website and making a donation: The Final Mile. This is one badass organization.

Next Up
After six straight weekends of games, I’m seriously considering taking a breather. October is going to be packed with travel, and I might need to recharge. That said, if I can be persuaded, I could be tempted to drive to Gainesville, Florida, for Saturday night’s Gators vs. UCF showdown. What do you think? Should I take the weekend off, or keep the streak alive?

Happy tailgating!

 We Coming… Part Two: Back to Boulder

And so back to Boulder I went! This time, for my final Dad’s weekend to hang out with my beautiful #3 and her crew of Buffs. Sko Buffs! I’ve written so much about Colorado over the years that it’s tough to add anything new, other than to say that the stadium, campus, and flatiron mountain backdrop are perhaps the most beautiful in all of college football. This Saturday was no different, with another great late-summer day in the high altitude of Boulder, CO.

Beautiful setting with my beautiful daughter!

True to form, I played my usual waiting game on tickets (which is a strong strategy, by the way). I snagged two tickets for me and my stepbrother, Brennan Huff, at just $83 each—before fees. No one else got their tickets for that price! Stick with me on game day, kids. I know what I’m doing.

Pregame Festivities

The pregame was hosted at  the house known as “The Chateau” on the Hill just off campus. The spread featured three types of homemade dips, chips, crackers,chocolate chip cookies with a football in the middle,  cold beer, seltzers, and gold Jell-O shots. Plenty of collegiate activities took place, including beer pong and cornhole—played by both the kids and the overgrown kids. Many people I have met over the three plus years # 3 has attended CU Boulder popped in and out throughout the day making it a very special event. After four solid hours of pre-gaming, we made the ¾-mile walk to Folsom Field to watch the Buffs take on the Baylor Bears. With Colorado now back in the Big 12, this renewed rivalry had some extra spice to it.

Clockwise top L-R - Don't challenge a pro, blurred vision, elder abuse, Pual Newman and his G-daughter and  me and #3

The Core Four and their dads! 

On the Gridiron

The first half was a back-and-forth affair in a light drizzle. Buffs QB1, Shedeur Sanders, was running for his life as the Colorado O-line resembled the French defense in WWII. On both sides of the ball, Travis Hunter played like an All-World talent, boosting his case for a Heisman invite. Despite Hunter’s heroics, Baylor went into halftime with a 24-17 lead and plenty of momentum.

In the third quarter, Colorado tied the game, only to surrender another Baylor touchdown. With the Bears up 31-24 and only two seconds left in the game,  Shedeur unleashed a 43-yard Hail Mary to LaJohntay Wester, sending the game into OT. It felt like a flashback to Doug Flutie’s famous 1984 Hail Mary against Miami.

In OT, the Buffs scored on their first possession. Baylor had a chance to answer, but on the 2-yard line, the Bears' runner fumbled the ball through the back of the end zone. Game over! The students rushed the field before security could stop them.The play was under review which temporarily stymied the celebration. Once confirmed, the security team in yellow was trampled! The heavy drizzle felt refreshing in one of the most thrilling finishes I’ve seen live.

Clockwise top L-R- The gang, the first field storming, Dale Doback and Brennan Huff, best jacket ever!

Around the Country

• ESPN College GameDay was in Norman, OK, for Oklahoma’s first SEC game against Tennessee. Tennessee coach Josh Heupel was QB1 for the Sooners back in 2000 when they won their last National championship. He also was their offensive coordinator a decade ago and was fired and replaced by the traitorous Lincoln Riley. I am sure internally he felt like he had a lot to prove coming back to Norman for the first time since then. The Sooners looked awful on offense, and QB1 Jackson Arnold was benched midway through. Tennessee walked away with a 25-15 win that didn’t even feel that close.

• The aforementioned Lincoln Riley’s Big Ten debut with the USC Trojans was knocked down a peg, losing to Michigan in the Big House. This matchup used to only happen in an occasional Rose Bowl.

• In a heavyweight Big 12 matchup, Utah impressed on the road with a big win over Oklahoma State in Stillwater, OK.

• In Baton Rouge, the Tigers did the mauling on the Bruins, winning by two touchdowns.

• Clemson and Miami dominated NC State and USF in the ACC in respective beatdowns.

• Navy shocked the Group of Five darlings Memphis with a drubbing in Annapolis.

• In the wildest scoreline of the week, James Madison beat UNC 70-50 in what looked more like a basketball game.

• Don't look now, but both Florida and Florida state scored wins this weekend cooling down those red hot seats for both of their coaches for the time being.

• FCS powerhouse North Dakota State handled Towson with a 41-20 victory.

Bieber of the Week

Last week’s Bieber Award went to the guy who ran out of gas. This week, we have a new awardee. During the third quarter of the Colorado-Baylor game, I saw a blur out of the corner of my eye, as a very intoxicated young lady shot down the steps near our seats like a cannon clown at a circus.. She failed to navigate the stairs, careening down them like a cannonball, before bouncing off the metal bleachers with a nasty thud. As people rushed to help, all she could say was, “Where’s my cell phone?” No doubt, she was trying to text while walking down steep, wet steps. Congratulations, unknown drunk girl, you may have incurred a concussion but at least you’ve earned this week’s Bieber Award!

Ginger of the Week

After last week’s Bieber fiasco, I’m redeeming myself with the Ginger Award for my ticket-buying prowess. Through six games this year, I’ve paid a grand total of $120! Prior to this Colorado game, I had 5 games for $37. My secret is playing the waiting game and scoring deals. Anytime I have pulled the trigger too early, I have been burned. If you recall, last year, Mrs. Tailgate earned the Bieber Award for buying tickets way too early! Now I am going to be in the doghouse again.

Next Week

The Dons of Danville, along with our token Scotsman, are headed to the Shack near 30A for some pre-gaming before making the trek to Tuscaloosa for the Georgia vs. Alabama showdown. Hangover cure has been shipped in bulk to my house as a preventative measure. There’s also  Hurricane Helene brewing in the Gulf that may impact our plans, so stay tuned for updates.

Happy Tailgating!

Week 3: Purple Haze

 41 years ago, I embarked on an infamous road trip from Frostburg State University in Maryland to East Carolina University in Greenville, NC for a long weekend. During that trip, my college roommate and I somehow managed to convince everyone we met that we were Dan Marino and Todd Blackledge. At the time, Marino and Blackledge were graduating seniors from the University of Pittsburgh and Penn State, respectively, and were gearing up for the NFL draft. We told people we were in Greenville for an NFL scouting workout. It worked like a charm! 

This past weekend, after a few days in Charleston, South Carolina, Mrs. Tailgate and I drove up to Greenville, NC for my return visit after 41 years to meet up with my siblings and other family members. I failed to heed Mrs. Tailgate’s advice to stop for gas, and five miles from Greenville, my car decided to side with her, running out of gas on the highway. That’s how the weekend began, but fortunately, it wasn’t a bad omen for the rest of the trip. Friday night was filled with a hotel happy hour, followed by pizza and beer in town. Greenville, as I had been told, rolls out the purple carpet for football weekends.

East Carolina University (ECU) is part of the American Athletic Conference and plays its games in the 50,000-seat Dowdy-Ficklen Stadium. This was my first visit to the stadium, another one off the list! ECU is known as the Purple Pirates, and the game day swag—pirate flags, costumes, and more—adds to the school’s strong spirit. Their opponent this past Saturday was their cross-state rival, the Appalachian State Mountaineers. While Appalachian State represents the mountain region of North Carolina, ECU represents the coastal region, and their rivalry has been building over the last decade.

Pano shot of Dowdy Ficklen Stadium

Notable former players from ECU include former NFL quarterback Jeff Blake and Super Bowl-winning linebacker Robert Jones of the Dallas Cowboys. One of my old Army buddies, Trey Johnson, was also a wide receiver for ECU back in the early ’80s. In classic fashion, I decided to wait for ticket prices to drop instead of accepting my brother’s offer of an $80 ticket. Luck was on my side, and I scored three free tickets for myself, Mrs. Tailgate, and one of my sisters. By game time, had my brother waited, tickets were down to $9 on StubHub.

The chefs grilling protein

On game day, we set up our tailgate near the baseball stadium. Family members, including my siblings, in-laws, and second cousins, joined in. Unfortunately, my brother Brian was back at the hotel nursing a man-cold and missed the fun. With four vehicles parked together, we pitched our tent, blared the music, fired up the grills, set up corn hole and got the party started. The menu included Old Bay chicken wings, Sis’s beer brats, cheeseburgers, skewered anchovies, chips, brownies, and much more. Ice-cold Natty Boh and margaritas were the drinks of choice. The weather couldn’t have been better—overcast skies and a light breeze made for a perfect early fall/late summer tailgating atmosphere.

Revving up the tailgate

My long lost son mini me, sister in law Judy and my sibs.

The walk from the tailgate to the stadium allowed us to soak in ECU’s game day energy. The excitement, passion, and pageantry rivaled that of any Power Five school. I was impressed with the dedication ECU puts into their game day experience.

The game day crew!

 In the stadium, we settled into our free seats just in time for the Purple Pirates' entrance, set to Jimi Hendrix’s "Purple Haze" with purple mist billowing across the field. There was even a flyover of two F/A-18 jets. Allegedly, Vice Presidential candidate Senator J.D. Vance was in attendance, with sniper teams stationed in high perches for security.

Clockwise from top left: The flyover, the Williams clan, Real Housewives from Greenville and Mrs. TG and Sis.

The game kicked off with a resounding roar—or should I say “Arrrrgggg!”—from the Purple Pirates, who quickly jumped out to a 16-0 lead over a stunned Appalachian State. But from the second quarter onward, Appalachian State dominated both through the air and on the ground, while also holding ECU’s offense in check. App State managed to score 14 points in the second quarter, only trailing 16-14 at halftime. They took the lead in the third quarter, going up by five points, but a field goal in the fourth quarter narrowed the margin to two. Appalachian State ultimately emerged victorious, 21-19. Despite the loss, it was an exciting game, and we stayed until the very end.

Scenes from Dowdy -Ficklen

Around The Country:
ESPN College GameDay was in Columbia, South Carolina, where the Gamecocks hosted the LSU Tigers. In a close contest, LSU came from behind to win 36-33. The ABC game of the week saw Georgia narrowly escape Lexington, Kentucky, with a 13-12 win over the Wildcats, led by former Georgia quarterback Brock Vandagriff. In Fort Collins, Colorado, Deion Sanders took receipts again as the Buffaloes defeated in-state rival Colorado State for the second consecutive year. 

The upset of the day took place in Seattle, where Washington State took down big brother Washington in the Apple Cup. Mississippi State followed Notre Dame’s lead by inviting a “guaranteed win” opponent, Toledo, to Starkville, only to lose in stunning fashion. Boston College gave Missouri a scare in Columbia, but fell six points short. Notre Dame rebounded from last week’s disaster by steamrolling Purdue, 67-6. Florida State’s season officially became a dumpster fire, as they were throttled by Memphis, dropping them to 0-3 on the season. 

Best sign at ESPN Gameday

Roll Tide Rectors in Madison with friends

Bieber Award:
This week, you get to choose the Bieber Award winner:

• Candidate #1: Some guy running out of gas five miles from Greenville on Friday.

• Candidate #2: My brother Brian, for overpaying for tickets and missing the tailgate with his "man cold."

• Candidate #3: Our old friend, Kevin “OC” O’Connor, the head Sun Devil. Big OC drove through cattle country in Texas before the Arizona State vs. Texas State game, only for a longhorn to attack and damage his rental car. The damage was so bad that the rental agency didn’t believe him.

Kevin!!!!

Please vote by submitting your choice in the comment section below. One vote per person, please.

Next week:
I’m off to Boulder, CO for my final Dad’s weekend to watch the CU Buffaloes take on Baylor. It will be a bittersweet trip as #3 is in her final year, marking the end of this cherished ritual for me. I might also catch a game at Division II powerhouse Colorado School of Mines in Golden, with a stop at Coors Brewery for some pre-gaming!

Happy Tailgating!

Week 2 DFT: Double Header Death March Down South

Greetings DFT Nation! I hope everyone enjoyed another thrilling weekend of college football action. For reasons I still don't fully understand, I decided it would be a good idea to tackle not one, but two college games in a single day, both down in South Florida. The main event was my first-ever visit to Florida International University (FIU) at the newly renamed Pitbull Stadium, where FIU hosted Central Michigan. Kickoff was at 6:00 PM in Miami.

The bonus game for me was Army at Florida Atlantic University (FAU) in Boca Raton. This was my second time at FAU in just over a year. Whoever thought it was a good idea to have a noon kickoff in South Florida in September clearly needs their head checked. Nonetheless, I was joined by my trusty game day companions, long time buddies Sparky and Ouzie. We set up a poor man’s tailgate under a giant banyan tree in the parking lot, with a simple but delicious spread of Publix subs aka “Pub Subs” and Yuengling beer. The temperature was in the low 90s outside of the stadium and over 100 inside, with off-the-charts humidity. We saw fans bailing on the game before the opening kickoff!

Los Tres Amigos

Once inside, it was clear we wouldn’t last long. After Army took a 14-7 lead at halftime, it looked like they had the game in hand. Sure enough, the Caissons went rolling along to a 24-7 victory over FAU. When Ouzie started getting woozy from the heat, we knew it was time to bail. We retreated to the hotel pool for a cool-down session and to catch some games on TV.

Even my phone camera was steamy!

After cooling off, Sparky and I (absent the aforementioned woozie Ouzie) made the 45-minute drive down to FIU’s beautiful campus. FIU is part of Conference USA, and Pitbull Stadium (recently named after the rapper) seats exactly 20,000. It’s a perfect enclosed lower-bowl stadium with room to expand. We didn’t have time for a proper tailgate, but I was impressed with the energy in the tailgating lot and the Greek houses all had tents in the common next to the stadium, where students were tailgating in full force. 

FIU’s head coach is Mike McIntyre, known for reviving struggling programs at San Jose State and Colorado. The Panthers jumped out early and often against Central Michigan, taking a commanding 28-8 lead into halftime. The marching band, though small, brought great energy, but I could have done with less piped-in music, which takes away from the college football atmosphere.

The highlight of the game came in the 3rd quarter during a video board look-alike contest. They showed a picture of Pitbull on the board, then panned the crowd to reveal the real Pitbull, wearing his signature white blazer in the stands. I thought for sure with my bald head and suave and debonair aura about me, that I would have won that look alike contest. In the second half,  FIU kept pouring it on, winning 52-16, sending the Chippewas on their own "Trail of Tears" back to Mount Pleasant, Michigan.

Action from Pitbull Stadium

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Around the Country:

First, I must apologize for missing Boston College’s upset of Florida State last Monday night in last week's write-up. By the time that game was being played, I had already published last week’s recap. On Saturday, Texas steamrolled Michigan in the Big House, leaving Big Blue feeling blue. There was no luck of the Irish as Notre Dame suffered the shock of the season, falling to Northern Illinois 16-14 in South Bend. They are now known as” NIU owe me $1.5 million” for allowing me to whip your ass on your home field in a guarantee game. Iowa State edged Iowa on a game-winning field goal to secure the Cy-Hawk Trophy. Boise State pushed highly ranked Oregon to the limit but came up short in a 37-34 thriller. Oklahoma State survived a double-overtime slugfest against Arkansas, winning 39-31. The Cal Berkeley hippies upset the good ole boys from Auburn in a stunner down on the plains. Lastly, Deion and the Colorado Buffaloes got ruled by Matt Rhule and the Nebraska Cornhuskers in a rematch of last year's game. Both of his coveted sons were injured in the contest and the huskers shucked the buffs in a big way. Be careful what you say to create future bulletin board material there coach!

Navy Dog and his G daughter

Frank and Friend of Frank at Rutgers

The Eagle Tailgaters raising a toast to BC

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Bieber Award:

We had plenty of worthy contenders this week! We could nominate whoever scheduled FAU’s noon game, which was brutal in the South Florida heat. Then there were reported freeloaders at a Navy tailgate, who ate and drank without offering so much as a shekel. But the biggest Bieber goes to DirecTV and Disney. Due to their squabbling over carriage terms, millions of people have been without ESPN or ABC for nine days. I know the back-and-forth involved in these negotiations from my years in the industry, and this standoff reeks of stubbornness and arrogance on both sides. This fiasco personally affected me when I couldn’t watch the late games at my hotel because they use DirecTV. So, for being the first-ever dual Bieber Award recipients, congratulations, DirecTV and Disney! Maybe this will be the nudge you need to settle things.

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Ginger Award:

Love him or hate him, it’s hard to argue against Nick Saban being the greatest college football coach of all time. He’s had success everywhere, from LSU where he won a national championship, Michigan State where he made the spartans relevant again, and of course, at Alabama winning 6 national championships. Last year, I had the privilege of seeing him coach one of his last games at Bryant-Denny Stadium, and this Saturday, Alabama honored him by naming the field after him during the game against USF which they won. Coach Saban, you’re a legend, and now, you’ve earned the Ginger Award as well for being a badass in the world of college football.

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Next Week:

Mrs. Tailgate and I are heading to Greenville, North Carolina, to meet up with my siblings where East Carolina University will host Appalachian State. It’s the battle of the coastal vs. mountain regions of North Carolina, we’ll be tailgating and taking in all the game day action as I am told that Greenville rolls out the purple carpet on game weekends. Also, don’t forget if you are looking for a tailgate on your travels, be sure to check out https://www.tailgateconnect.com/ 

Happy tailgating!