It’s hot. I mean, not absurdly hot. But it’s another Arkansas summer. We have hit the “dog days” so to speak. 
Which of course means it’s time to start thinking about football season. The preseason rags are hitting the newsstands, and the punditocracy nationwide is starting to look at the upcoming college football season. While this is far from the best time of the sports year, it is indeed the calm before the storm.
I recently found myself daydreaming about the upcoming football season. The Razorbacks appear to be in position for a much stronger season than the 2008 campaign. That of course is good news, but the really good news is that tailgating season is drawing nigh. At this point of the summer, I am not quite certain which of the two excite me more.
There really is nothing quite like an SEC tailgate. Of course, I have no basis of comparison since the only other Division 1 (I still refuse to call it FBS) game I attended was the 1982 Texas/TCU matchup in Austin. Before you get all hot and bothered, I was 6-years-old at the time and living in Austin. Blame my folks.
But I do know the SEC is the best football conference by any conceivable measure, and tailgating cannot be an exception. From the rich tradition of Ole Miss’ Grove to the 100,000 fans that descend on Baton Rouge each gameday, no other conference in America offers the unique flavor of barbecue, the greatest and smartest fans in the country, and by far the best product on the field each week.
Our group of tailgating friends have been together for years now, and we seem to have it down to a science. The heartiest of the bunch arrive at the spot by 10:00am for the 6:00pm kickoffs – much earlier for the 11:30am starts. By the time I arrive (usually coming straight there from Little Rock), the first course has been served, and we are waiting on brats and burgers to come off the grill. Beers have been on ice for hours, leading to a wonderfully cold refreshment upon arrival. Most importantly, the satellite has been positioned to collect the greatest signal from the heavens – ESPN’s College Gameday (presented by the Home Depot – I expect a big orange check for that).
Tents dot the yard with dozens of other Hog faithful practicing the same rituals. Washers and Baggo are being tossed, wobbly spirals fill the air, and the sense of a new beginning courses through the veins of the true believers. Each kickoff leads to the possibility of seeing something special.
Our group of friends first hit Fayetteville 15 or more years ago, and each football season allows us all to recapture our youth for the day. As a new father, I hope to instill this sense of hope and excitement in my daughter. Life’s endless grind and relentless stress melt away each Saturday in the fall at least for a few hours. The games often leave us frustrated, occasionally leave us elated. But the tailgate remains the rally point for everyone with their optimism.
The promise of another trip provides the excitement needed to get through these long, hot summer days. Only eight more weeks until we all reconvene for another season. Sometimes the clock just moves too slowly.
This entry was posted on July 16, 2009 at 9:41 pm and is filed under Commentary.
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It’s almost here.
Posted by Brett Kincaid on July 16, 2009
It’s hot. I mean, not absurdly hot. But it’s another Arkansas summer. We have hit the “dog days” so to speak.
Which of course means it’s time to start thinking about football season. The preseason rags are hitting the newsstands, and the punditocracy nationwide is starting to look at the upcoming college football season. While this is far from the best time of the sports year, it is indeed the calm before the storm.
I recently found myself daydreaming about the upcoming football season. The Razorbacks appear to be in position for a much stronger season than the 2008 campaign. That of course is good news, but the really good news is that tailgating season is drawing nigh. At this point of the summer, I am not quite certain which of the two excite me more.
There really is nothing quite like an SEC tailgate. Of course, I have no basis of comparison since the only other Division 1 (I still refuse to call it FBS) game I attended was the 1982 Texas/TCU matchup in Austin. Before you get all hot and bothered, I was 6-years-old at the time and living in Austin. Blame my folks.
Our group of tailgating friends have been together for years now, and we seem to have it down to a science. The heartiest of the bunch arrive at the spot by 10:00am for the 6:00pm kickoffs – much earlier for the 11:30am starts. By the time I arrive (usually coming straight there from Little Rock), the first course has been served, and we are waiting on brats and burgers to come off the grill. Beers have been on ice for hours, leading to a wonderfully cold refreshment upon arrival. Most importantly, the satellite has been positioned to collect the greatest signal from the heavens – ESPN’s College Gameday (presented by the Home Depot – I expect a big orange check for that).
Tents dot the yard with dozens of other Hog faithful practicing the same rituals. Washers and Baggo are being tossed, wobbly spirals fill the air, and the sense of a new beginning courses through the veins of the true believers. Each kickoff leads to the possibility of seeing something special.
Our group of friends first hit Fayetteville 15 or more years ago, and each football season allows us all to recapture our youth for the day. As a new father, I hope to instill this sense of hope and excitement in my daughter. Life’s endless grind and relentless stress melt away each Saturday in the fall at least for a few hours. The games often leave us frustrated, occasionally leave us elated. But the tailgate remains the rally point for everyone with their optimism.
The promise of another trip provides the excitement needed to get through these long, hot summer days. Only eight more weeks until we all reconvene for another season. Sometimes the clock just moves too slowly.
This entry was posted on July 16, 2009 at 9:41 pm and is filed under Commentary. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. Both comments and pings are currently closed.