On Saturdays all around the country, you can find families gathered around their television soaking up all of the sights and sounds of football season. For us in the South, especially right here in the heart of football country, football games are an all day (or all weekend) event. One of my favorite things about football season is all of the time that I get to spend with my husband, my kids, and friends.
Football season has always been the time that brings our college friends back to town to visit for tailgating and to go to a game and also gives us plenty of excuses to take trips (with and without kids) to visit other stadiums for away games. We started traveling to at least one away game each year in 2013 and our goal is to attend a game at every SEC stadium. This is one of my favorite traditions and it has also cultivated a love of travel as I love visiting new cities and experiencing the traditions that each school has to offer.
One of the aspects of football season that I love sharing with my kids are the rich traditions that surround football season and the gameday experience, which makes Auburn such a special place and gives families so much to do. Whether you are a seasoned tailgater or never been to a game, there’s something for everyone to enjoy.
Future For Football is the National Football Foundation’s cross-platform multi-media campaign that celebrates the positive impact football has had on millions of players, coaches, volunteers, and fans is the main mission of Future for Football and there’s lots to find in our area that does the same.
For more information and resources that come with the game of football, how to get your child involved in the sport, and so much more, check out the Future for Football website, or find them on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.
Tailgating 101
Tailgating is such a fun experience that brings everyone together to hang out in preparation for the game. Our tailgates usually have lots of food and drinks, games, and just people hanging out on campus and enjoying the gameday atmosphere. No matter how big or small your tailgate is, I have compiled some lists below that will help you get your gameday off to a great start!
Tailgating Supply List
- Tent
- Tables (1 for tv, 1 for food, 1 for drinks, extras can be for games or grilling, etc.) & Table Cloths
- Chairs (1 chair per person or have everyone bring thier own)
- TV and Satellite Service – we use the Dish Tailgater and pay only for the months we use it
- Generator, Power Strips, & Extension Cords
- Games: Bucket Ball, Cornhole, Bottle Bash, Kan Jam, Bocce Ball, Playing Cards, Spikeball, Ladder Toss, Football for throwing
- Grill & Extra Propane or Charcoal & Lighter (be sure to check restrictions on proximity to campus buildings)
- Paper Plates, Cups (Lily Jane Boutique has the cutest printed cups!), Forks, Spoons, Napkins
- Hand Sanitizer
- Cleaning Supplies: Clorox Wipes, Baby Wipes, Extra Trash Bags (the university provides large garbage cans and recycling bins throughout campus)
- Coolers & Ice
- Cooking Utensils: Spatula, Tongs, Serving Spoons
Now that you have gotten everything together, it’s time to find your spot! There are lots of options all over campus but we like to have lots of parking and lots of room so we tailgate on Mell Street. Most of Auburn’s campus opens at 4:00 pm on Friday for tailgating with the exception of the Mell Street corridor, which opens at 6:00 pm. Current Gameday maps and Tailgating Rules & Regulations are available here to help you find the perfect spot for your tailgate!
After many years of tailgating, here’s a few tips and tricks to help make your day as fun and relaxing as possible!
- Bring an empty plastic tub to put all dirty dishes and utensils in.
- Keep a bag packed with all of your tailgating essentials that you can just grab on the way out the door.
- Pack paper goods and utensils in a plastic tote and be sure to repack when cleaning up so it is ready for the next game.
- Get a casserole carrier with a hot/cold pack. It will keep food covered and hot/cold as needed without having to constantly pull things out of a cooler.
- Buy some football-themed or team-themed fabric to make tablecloths to be washed and reused. They are more environmentally friendly and won’t be forgotten!
- Make sure you find a tailgate spot close to restrooms, especially if you are tailgating with kids. Auburn has restroom trailers that have changing stations which makes it much easier for the little ones!
Tailgate Food Ideas
For tailgating, you can go as simple as can be or all out for food. Here are some food ideas that we have done that were a hit!
- Low Country Boil
- Taco Bar
- Sandwich Bar
- Hot Dogs & Hamburgers
- Pulled Pork BBQ Sandwiches
- Grilled Meats (Everyone brings their own!)
and of course, all of the fixings, sides, and dips – Corn Dip and Mexican 7 Layer Dip are my specialties!
Traditions
War Eagle Road: Be sure to drive 35 mph down North Donahue Drive near the Big Red Barn and experience the musical road that plays Auburn’s Fight Song as you drive over the bumps in the road.
Football, Fans, and Feathers: On Fridays before home games at 4:00 pm, the Southeastern Raptor Center offers fans an opportunity to see a raptor show where they will experience a variety of birds of prey. The cost is $8.00 per person and tickets are available on their website.
Locker Room Tour: The football locker rooms are open to the public from 4:00 pm to 6:00 pm every Friday before a home game for tours. Enter thru Gate 10 and be sure to take advantage of the photo opportunities inside the locker room and in the stadium!
Toomer’s Drugs: Be sure to stop by during the day to get a cup of lemonade. Toomer’s is famous for their freshly squeezed lemonade! This is also a great place to pick up souvenirs and they also have ice cream!
Colors for Theme Games: If you are headed to the game, be sure to check social media to see if there are specific colors to wear for that weeks game! White Out, All Auburn, All Orange, and True Blue are some of the typical game designations, and occasionally we stripe the stadium in orange and blue!
Auburn University Bookstore Buttons: Stop by the Auburn University Bookstore on campus (on the bottom floor of Haley Center) and pick up a gameday button! They have cute sayings and are game specific so you can collect them all season.
Shakers: While you are at the bookstore, be sure to grab a shaker!
Tiger Walk: Tiger Walk starts at the intersection of Donahue Drive and Sanford Avenue. Coach Harsin leads the football team down the street and into the locker room among thousands of excited fans. Tiger Walk starts 2-2.5 hours before Kickoff, but get there early to get a good spot and if you’re lucky, your kids might get a high five from their favorite player.
Spirit March/4 Corners Pep Rally/The Auburn University Marching Band: After Tiger Walk, the Band splits into smaller pep bands marches to the intersection of Donahue and Roosevelt for a short pep rally before entering the stadium. After entering the stadium, the band marches around the field, playing “War Eagle” and “Glory to ‘Ole Auburn” before returning to their area beneath the stadium to prepare for Pre-Game. The Pre-Game performance by the band is always electrifying as they run out of the tunnel and perform several songs to prepare for the main event – the football game!
Eagle Flight: To commemorate our battle cry, “War Eagle!,” and to spotlight the Southeaster Raptor Center and their rehabilitation efforts, an eagle, currently a bald eagle named Independence circles the stadium and lands at mid-field as the crowd screams Warrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr Eagle, Hey! This is one of my personal favorite traditions and is sure to give you chills!
Toomer’s Corner: After an Auburn win, be sure to head back to the two Oak trees directly across from Toomer’s Drugs. This is where Auburn fans gather and roll the trees to celebrate the victory!
As you are enjoying all of the traditions, be sure to be on the lookout for everyone’s favorite tiger, Aubie! Aubie loves kids and loves taking pictures!
Tips for Taking Kids
- Bring lots of snacks and drinks, especially for the long days of tailgating.
- Bring games for them to play. This will give them something to do and also be an activity that the whole family can participate in.
- While at the game, be sure to keep an eye out for Aubie! He changes costumes throughout the game and there’s no telling what he will be up to!
- Strollers are a must for gamedays and can be checked in at the Guest Services booth inside Gates 2 and 14.
- Tiger Babies offers several pods inside the stadium for nursing mothers – they are located at the following locations: between Sections 12 & 13, between Sections 50 & 51, between Sections 42 & 43, between Sections 102 & 103, and in the Nelson Club.
- Check stadium map before you head to the stadium for easy access to food, restroom, Tiger Babies, etc.
- Sensory bags are available at the Guest Services booth inside Gates 2 and 14, which include headphones and tactile items that can lessen sensory overload.
- Bring your clear bags (no larger than 12″x12″x6″) with all of your gameday essentials. You are also allowed to bring in one empty water bottle to use at the water refill stations or one unopened factory-sealed bottle of water (up to 1 liter in size)
- Oh and one more thing, did I mention to bring snacks? Make sure you budget for snacks at the game too!
If you’re headed to cheer on the Tigers, make sure you don’t forget your Gameday Essentials: clear bag, shaker, and toilet paper! Be prepared for a FUN day leading the Tigers to a WIN! War Eagle!
With all of the fun that comes with football season, the game of football is centered around those that play the game. The game of football is important to the young student-athletes as it promotes sportsmanship, community building, leadership, academic achievements, and positive character building, which are life skills that they will carry into their future careers and families. In addition to these important aspects, the game of football also provides many opportunities for families and fans to enjoy the games as spectators.
