Tailgating Trivia



The Origin of Tailgating v1.0
Tailgating dates back to the very first college football game between Rutgers and Princeton in 1869, when fans traveled to the game by carriage, grilling sausages and burgers at the "tail end" of the horse. Today tailgating is a part of most athletic events, especially college football.

The Origin of Tailgating v2.0
It all began at Yale in 1904. At least that's what they'll tell you. Is it true? Well, other schools claim the honor, but the Yale story has been verified by, you guessed it ...Yale.  Seems there was a train made up of private railcars that brought fans to a Yale game. The train stopped at the station and the fans had to walk the distance to the stadium. When they arrived at the stadium, they were hungry and thirsty. So the idea was born to bring along a picnic hamper of food for the next game. And so Tailgating was born. Necessity the mother of invention, right? Well, so they say. 

World's Biggest Tailgate Party

The biggest tailgate party we know of is the Florida-Georgia game in Jacksonville.  They call it the World's Largest Cocktail Party.  Fans begin arriving on Wednesday for a Saturday game.  And the party does not stop with kick-off.  It keeps going...through half-time, through overtime.  Sometimes they are still partying on Sunday afternoon!

Bowl Games

Although the BCS (Bowl Championship Series) is only 4 years old, the first Rose Bowl Game was played in 1902, while the Sugar and Orange Bowls orginated in 1935.  The inaugural Fiesta Bowl took place in 1971.  Penn State has the most victories in Fiesta Bowl history, winning all 6 games in which they played.

The biggest bowl game of them all!  SUPERBOWL

Superbowl history began, unsurprisingly, with a rivalry between two competing football leagues: the National Football League (NFL) and the American Football League (AFL).  The NFL had long dominated the sport, and by 1960 had already gobbled up three other AFLs.  However, the new AFL was stronger than its predecessors and had deeper pockets; by the mid-1960s it had captured a significant portion of the NFL's fans. It wasn't long before people began to wonder what it might be like if the best teams in the two leagues had a real championship bowl game to determine the best football team on the planet. Soon after, the Superbowl began.

RECIPES

Beer Brats

Place your Brats over charcoal, low heat. Of course you have poked holes in them. Turn them frequently.

While they are grilling, heat enough beer to cover Brats in the container. Keep grilling until Brats get shriveled up. At this point place the Brats into the hot beer and keep hot, never boiling. When the Brats reconstitute, that is swell back up, drain and enjoy your favorite way.

I go all the way and use a good quality dark beer but, any beer, except light, will do. You can do this with Italian sausage but reconstitute in a dry red wine. ENJOY!


Parking Lot Punch

Make two days in advance:  Boil 2 cups water and 3 cups sugar, chill

Make on day in advance:  Blend and freeze...one 46 ounce can of unsweetened pineapple juice, one 12 ounce can of frozen orange juice concentrate, one quarter cup fresh lemon juice, three bananas, ripe but not over ripe.

Just before service:  Combine with 4 quarts of ginger ale

Hint:  Yes, use the whole quart of simple syrup!  Mardi Gras Shrimp Pasta:  1 lb of fresh pasta, 8 tsp butter, 3/4 cup chopped green onions, 1 1/2 tsp chopped garlic, 1 lb peeled shrimp (large) or crawfish tails, 1 cup heavy whipping cream, 1/8 to 1/4 cup sherry, to taste, 2 tbs Joe's Stuff or any all purpose seasoning blend.

Cook pasta according to package directions.  Drain and chill by running under cold water.  Add oil to keep separate.  Melt butter in a large skillet and saute onions for 2 to 3 minutes.  Add garlic, Joe's Stuff and shrimp or crawfish.  Saute 2 to 4 minutes, or until shrimp or crawfish are almost cooked.  Add whipping cream and sherry to taste.

Cook for 2 to 3 minutes over medium heat until sauce thickens.  Add pasta to mixture and toss well.  Serve immediately.  Not so chill chill.

Short & sweet version (extended directions below) 2 lbs ground beef, 2 tsp Lawry's seasoned salt, 1/4 tsp garlic powder, medium sized shite onion diced, 12 oz can diced tomatoes, 6 oz can tomato sauce, 6 oz can tomato paste, 16 oz can black beans (drained and rinsed)

16 oz can kidney beans (drained and rinsed) 4 oz can green chillies, 1 tsp cayenne pepper, 2 tbsp chili powder, 1 tsp Tabasco sauce, 1/4 tsp garlic powder, 1 1/2 cups water, 2 12 oz bottles Sam Adams, 1 tsp salt, 1 tsp black pepper.

Brown beef with 1/4 tsp garlic powder, onion, and Lawry's seasoning, drain, and add to crock pot, add the remaining ingredients (including the beer).  Allow the chili simmers for 2-3 hours.  Serve with mild cheddar and sour cream.

Ingredients needed from the store:  12 pack of Sam Adams, 2 lbs ground beef, Lawry's seasoned salt, garlic powder, Tabasco sauce, med sized white onion diced, one 12 oz can diced tomatoes, one 6 oz can tomato sauce, one 6 oz can tomato paste, one 16 oz can black beans, one 16 oz can kidney beans, one 4 oz can green chilies, cayenne pepper, chili powder, salt and pepper.

Open a beer...drink about half.

Dice the onion, finish the beer and open another one.

Multi task by drinking the beer & browning the beef with 1/4 tsp garlic powder, onion and Lawry's seasoning.  Drain the beef, add the diced tomatoes, sauce and paste to crock pot, then the ground beef, drink more beer then add the remaining ingredients a follows:  1 tsp cayenne papper, 2 tbsp chili powder, 1 tsp Tabasco sauce, 1/4 tsp garlic powder, 1 1/2 cups water, 2 12 oz bottles Sam Adams, 1 tsp salt, 1 tsp black pepper.  Prior to adding to the mix, drain and rinse both the black beans and the kidney beans, sit back and have a few beers while the chili simmers for 2 or 3 hours.  Invite your friends over (tell them to get more beer) and serve the chili with mild cheddar, sour cream.


Boiled Peanuts
4 lbs. green peanuts in the shell (raw peanuts are the same thing. Make sure the peanuts are not the planting type that have been treated with insecticide - just a tip, not a warning from personal experience.  6 to 8 quarts of waterr, 8 to 10 tbs salt to taste but remember you can always add more

Wash green peanuts and place in a large pot with water and salt. Cover and bring to a boil. Boil slowly for 90 minutes to 2 hours. Keep the water briny and add water and salt as needed. See if they are done after 90 minutes. Peanuts should be soft but not mushy. Rinse in tap water. Drain well. After cooling the boiled peanuts may be frozen in zip-lock bags. When ready to serve, simply reheat to a boil and drain. I prefer them cooled after the first boiling.



Tailgating Tips:

  1. Dress in team colors and show team spirit!
  2. Plan your menu and do prep work a day or two before
  3. Make a list of the items you want to take along.  Don't forget plates,napkins, utensils, trash bags, sunscreen, first aid kit, etc.
  4. Plan to arrive 3 to 4 hours early.
  5. Find a good spot to park.
  6. Park near a grassy area or at the end of a parking row - this gives you more room for serious tailgating!
  7. Fly a flag on a very high pole so friends can find you.
  8. Decorate your tailgate site with team pennants or other team stuff
  9. Meet your tailgate neighbors.  Bring a football to get your own game going.
  10. Food should be ready 2 hours before game starts.
  11. Leave area clean.

Top 10 Must Haves:
 
  1. Jumper cables
  2. Toilet paper - The MVP (most valuable product)
  3. Trash bags - A good tailgater cleans up the mess. 
  4. Extra ice
  5. Rain gear
  6. First aid kit
  7. Sun block
  8. A friend - Change the life of a friend, bring them to their first tailgate party.
  9. Comfortable shoes
  10. Antacid - Remember defense wins championships!


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