Bourbon Trailgating

Year five of my Labor Day college football experience with college buddy Jim Tubby Devine is now in the books. A flight into Chicago and a five-hour drive in a convertible clown car down to Cincinnati kicked off the now annual ritual. With games and tailgates at the Universities of Cincinnati, Kentucky and Louisville along the Bourbon trail over a five day span, pacing ourselves would be key. But then again maybe not.

What's a tailgate without Dad candy whiskey?

First up was the University of Cincinnati matchup up against UCLA on Thursday night at Nippert Stadium on the city campus.  We were hosted by Tailgate Connect® tailgate hosts; The Den and the Red and Black Brigade. The Den had a tricked-out tailgate trailer that has been in the organization for a dozen or so years. They also had a DJ ripping out tunes to get the crowd rocking. The Red and Black Brigade had a great bar set up and one of the few shady spots on the grid on this hot late afternoon. Cold Beer and grilled protein and a sense of excitement not felt since the Brian Kelly era of Bearcat football. Tailgating takes place in the heart of campus called Sigma Sigma Grid. Tents only for the most part unless you were in the tailgate alley row where trailers are allowed. We were accosted by the lovely Cheerleaders (feeling like creepy Uncle Joe again) and entertained by the Marching Band. 

Upper left, Justin Nutting of Red and Black, Brandon Trame of the Den, The Den's rig and me terrorizing a Bruin fan.

Creepy Uncle Tubby

Nippert Stadium which has been around for over 100 years was rocking as the fans and students had high expectations after last year’s 11 -win season. A great smaller stadium nestled in between a number of structures right in the middle of campus provides a perfect college football setting. We entered in time to see their tradition of the Marching Band running down the steps to take the field before kickoff. Not only did they serve beer in the stadium, they had the beer man selling it to you in your seats. The power 5 UCLA Bruins out of the PAC 12 looked significantly larger and meaner. Their fans whom we sat amongst have also set their sights high for the season. This would be Chip Kelly’s second season at the helm after returning to the college ranks. Despite the size difference and alleged talent advantage, the Bearcats thoroughly dominated the action on the field outgaining the bigger Bruins by a large margin offensively. The final score of 24-14 was not indicative of the mauling the Bearcats put on the Baby Bears. Questions abound on whether the game has already passed old Chipper by. 


Day two was a quick hour drive down to Griffin Gate Resort in Lexington for a day of rehydration, a few beers, pool time and a giant steak dinner in order to prepare for the following morning tailgate at Kentucky. Up and at it early Saturday AM, we ubered the 5 miles down to the massive parking lots surrounding Kroger Field at Commonwealth Stadium. Thanks to another college buddy Dino Manzoni (Baltimore Crime Family Member), we connected with Tommy Lynch and his crew for a great morning tailgate in the green lot next to the stadium. Cold Budweiser product including a 10:30 AM beer chug ala John Belushi, live streamed on Facebook, grilled venison and beef burgers, ribs, wings and other great chow was consumed. 

Tommy Lynch, Mike, Jamie and Kim our hosts with the Belushi Twins.

We entered the stadium a little late to catch the singing of My Old Kentucky Home which is the big game day tradition for Wildcat football. The Catz are coming off their first ten-win season in like ………forever! All Americans Benny Snell and Josh Allen have moved on to the NFL leaving major talent and leadership voids. Regardless, this historic basketball school has set the bar of expectations very high for 2019. The Wildcats were facing MAC conference power Toledo in sweltering heat on this day. Toledo jumped out to an early lead and for the most part outplayed Kentucky throughout the first half. The teams went into the locker room all knotted up at 14 apiece. If they sold beer in this stadium, they would have made a killing for this game. I was thirsty! Within 15 minutes, one third of the crowd went to seek shade in the concourse and watch the game from there. A big plus was that the grand old stadium had chick fil A for sale. We took advantage of that. Kentucky’s size and speed were too much for the scrappy Rockets in the second half as they pulled ahead and never relinquished the lead. Final score had the Cats on top 38-24. Back to the hotel pool for rehydration and rejuvenation. 

"They took the bar, the whole 4u@$^ing bar!

It was time to say goodbye to our anchor spot for the long weekend and leave Lexington for Louisville on Monday afternoon. Louisville was hosting Notre Dame for the 8 PM Eastern game. The Cardinals were coming off a disappointing 2018 campaign and coach Bobby Petrino was no more, having been replaced by Scott Satterfield. In 2018, Notre Dame ascended into the coveted CFB CFP. They would be returning 14 starters. On paper this would not be a great matchup. But first thing fist, we went to another awesome Tailgate Connect® tailgate called the Collision Course Crew headed up by Wild Bill jones, Craig Pennington, Bryan, Garrett, Kevin, Justice and a posse of too many great folks.  

The C3 Crew

We were given a tour of their amazing refurbished tailgate trailer complete with a full bar and four flat screen TVs. We were honored to be asked to sign their guest plaque that was affixed to the wall. There was also a full bar outside, a DJ and more food than your grandma could force you to eat. Pulled pork, wings, ribs, brisket an assortment of sides were served up as well. We were treated to beer, bourbon and ball dropping apple pie moonshine. I still can’t see straight! The Collision Course Crew recently lost two very important people tragically. They were given a toast and a tribute by one of their members. We met their super fan who covers himself in body paint and paints a beak on his nose and wears a big bird wig. We talked with so many people that have great stories about their passion for tailgating and Cardinals football. Once again, we have made some new friends for life.

The C3 rig

Jello world!

Sights and sounds of the tailgate

Wild Bill Jones and a stray Irish fan

Tubby and Bron Bron

Birds of a feather

As Dusk started approaching, it was time to make the trek into the stadium along with 59,000 other people. It was announced that this was the largest crowd in Louisville history. It was black out night in Cardinal stadium (formerly Papa John’s) to add to the already loud buzz in the air. Notre Dame received the kickoff and scored easily on its first possession. However, Louisville answer right back with a scoring drive of their own. Much of the rest of the first half was like an Ali/Frazier match with each side punching and counter punching and staying in the fight. Although Notre Dame was heavily favored, Louisville under new management was not about to roll over for the Fighting Irish. It was not until late into the third quarter that Notre Dame took full control of the game and went on to win by a score of 35-17.  Hail to Hail to Old Notre Dame……..

With the game ending after 11 Pm at night, that meant the long epic weekend was over and it was time to return to our parallel universes.


Around the country - Old Macky is back in town! Ancient Coach Mack Brown stepped back onto the gridiron for the first time this decade at one of his former schools, the University of North Carolina. He succeeded in getting a big rivalry win over the South Carolina Gamecocks. He cried afterward and even attempted to dance doing his geriatric gyrations in the locker room. It was also good to see the Mad Hatter Les Miles chewing blades of grass again, this time in Lawrence, KS. He too earned a victory for the Jayhawks. Upset of the day goes without saying, whereby the 25-point favorite Tennessee Volunteers lost at home to lowly Georgia State. Boise State’s come from behind win over Florida State in Tallahassee was reminiscent of the Broncos of years past. Choke of the day was Oregon surrendering a significant lead and losing on the final play to Auburn. Jalen Hurts was simply amazing in his debut with Oklahoma and his potential run for the Heisman. Jake Fromm was steady as usual in UGA’s conference win over Vandy.  Many Power 5 schools dropped games to non-power 5 schools putting blemishes on their prestigious conferences.

Mrs. Tailgate with Everybody's All American Cristian Luciano and #3 at UW game

Don't let this happen to you, go to www.tailgateconnect.com!

Bieber – Pretty easy choice for me. Do you have that one friend who talks a big game, but never actually shows up at anything? Then they have the nerve to criticize you all weekend long on social media from the secure confines of their safe space? Kind of like the guy who makes fun of all his friends on the dance floor but is too afraid to go out there himself (oh wait, that would be me. I hate dancing and it is fun to rip on those dorks). Well anyway, I digress, the days leading up to our epic Labor Day trailgating adventure, college roommate Chip Shrek Hayden threatened to join us. He then proceeded to make very “my dog ate my homework” excuse in the world to not go. All we heard was blah blah blah. So as predictable as day turning to night, once again the repeat offending Ogre did not show. Instead, he took shots at us all weekend on Facebook and even made some lame attempt to encourage us to come to his home state for college football. Why would we do that knowing he wouldn’t even be allowed to go to those games? Along with some crayons and playdough we are getting for your safe space, Sir Shrek you will take possession of this week’s Bieber hardware. Own it with honor son!


Ginger – goes to the Jackson State Mascot. After a tussle for the ball in the end zone between players from Bethune Cookman and Jackson State, the mascot decided to take matters into his own paws. A JS player had apparently scored a touchdown, but the BC defenders tried wrestling the ball away from him. The Mascot, a Bengal Tiger was having none of it. The large predator bull rushed the pile and starting mauling helpless Jackson State Wildcat players. After the Cat fight, the big Tiger was given an unsportsmanlike 15 - yard penalty. He then proceeded to preen and purr for the camera. A hate crime investigation is now underway. Mr. Tiger, your team may have lost but you my furry feline friend are this week’s badass of the week!


Next week – headed to Austin, TX Saturday AM for National Tailgating Day at the famed Texas Horn- Ball Tailgate. We will be joined by 3,000 guests wearing purple and burnt orange along with our friends from Tailgating Challenge. They will be live streaming on social media throughout the day and raffling off prizes. I will leave the tailgate in Austin and make my way down to San Marcos for Texas State’s home opener against the Wyoming Cowboys.

Happy Tailgating!

Dan