Get Ready to Tailgate
Jennifer Roblez
Friday, September 14, 2007
Ice down the drinks, fire up the grill, grab a Hornet T-shirt and head for the parking lot.
It’s almost time to eat, drink and be merry at tailgating festivities before ESU’s first home football game kicks off at 1 p.m. Saturday. The Hornets go up against Southwest Baptist University and the spotlight also will be on Family Day.
“We can’t wait for game day,” said Hornet alumni Joe and Linda Snyder, who were picking out ribs at Price Chopper on Thursday. “You can’t play college football without tailgating first.”
Don Weast, assistant athletic director for media relations at ESU, said pregame ticket sales had reached around 3,000, which was an “unheard of” number.
“It’s exciting,” Weast said this morning. “We want people to have a great time.”
He said tailgating rules were tweaked and there’s something for everyone from young children to rock ’n’ roll fans.
“The amazing thing to me is that most games start at 1 p.m. or 2 p.m. but there’s always one group that sets up at 8 a.m. or 8:30 a.m. (for tailgating),” Weast said. “They’re ready to go, got the grill going.”
Individuals can tailgate in the designated areas and there are two other big venues for fun: Festivities get underway between 10:30 a.m. and 11 a.m. at the Black Hole and the Watering Hole.
The Black Hole, a new attraction north of the Student Recreation Center, is designed for students and is sponsored by the Union Activities Council, the E-Zone and KISS 103.1 FM. There will be chances to win $103.10, free giveaways and plenty of free food from Planet Sub to the first 100 visitors. The band Cardinal Trait will provide the music.
The Watering Hole, presented by Waters True Value on the Milton Tennis Courts, costs $15 a game or $60 for a season ticket. It’s a sports bar-like atmosphere serving smoked pork loin, smoked walnut and apple chicken sausage and other tasty food and beverages. The Rolling Radio Show will provide music from Mix 104.9 FM. Hornet Fest will be held in the west end of the Milton Courts with inflatable games for kids beginning at 11 a.m. as well.
After the game, the International Food Festival starts at 4 p.m. on the Morse Hall lawn. In addition, the Fourth Annual ESU Football Traditions Barbecue will be held at the Jenkins Ranch north of Emporia. A social hour begins at 5 p.m. with the barbecue scheduled to go from 6 to 11 p.m.