Tailgate Review, 2007 Season

As rumors swirl concerning who will be Auburn's head coach next week, much less next season, it's time to sit down and go over some of the positives and negatives of this tailgating season.

First off, Andrew and I learned a ton on the road last year at the various campuses we visited and tailgated on during the Tour de SEC. It's thanks to those kind and generous fans who helped us that we were able to sustain any level of success whatsoever as I led my family on the tailgating endeavors this year. I made the statement last week that we were looking for year two production out of a first year tailgate, and there were points that this wasn't achieved. There were moments where things were successful, but, just like any great football program, there will be some attrition for next year as we move towards that goal of beating Alabama in everything - and this includes striving for the level of dedication and achievement Coach Hal's group has in Tuscaloosa and wherever the Tide competes.

Things began at the intramural fields with a cargo trailer filled to the brim with tailgate accessories such as two televisions, three coolers, various Rubbermaid tubs filled to the brim with snacks and a charcoal grill. We learned of one Chris Bailey at Eagle's West campground on Wire Road, who would take control of my parents' camper for the remainder of the season, starting with the USF game when mom and dad took it down. They say you make your biggest improvements from game one to game two, and the camper was a major step in the right direction as we look towards 2008.

As the season moved on, Bailey set us up in the RV fields on Donahue Ave., where we were able to set up prime parking and provide limited spots to other folks who joined us at the camper depending on the games. Folks like Robert, Jennifer, Andrew, the rest of the Monroes, Katie, Josh, Neal, Andi...you made the experience a "great success," to borrow from our friend Borat. I would be doing an injustice, however, by failing to mention one particular individual for his assistance in matters ranging from retrieving a phone number to a 24-hour locksmith when we left the keys back in Macon and had to get into the camper at 4 a.m. to gearing up to take down a particular fan of an opposing team who decided to go on a power trip with my irritated father.

Andy Shores is a hands-down unanimous selection for Tailgater of the Year at the Rushing Compound. Robert and Jennifer were of huge helps with the set up and breakdown of those first two tailgates at the intramural fields - and we couldn't have done it without them - but Andy was someone who was there week-in and week-out and never faltered in doing anything my parents would ask of him. Somehow, he even got a bug in his crawl to drive to my new house for the LSU game to extend the tailgating experience beyond even being in attendance at the game. Bravo, Shores, bravo.

So, after seven home games (no traveling to the Tennessee Tech game this year for us), it's time to assess all areas of our tailgating plan and revise for a major improvement for the seven home contests in 2008. This year, we'll take a more active role on the road trips (Morgantown plans are already in the mix, while I cannot wait to get back to Nashville - not for Vandy but for the cinammony-sugar goodness at the Pancake Pantry) with the conference road games all within two hours of headquarters in Macon and Saltillo.

Next year, the cooking will have to be divided a little better - OK, a lot better. My mom has worn herself out putting everyone else's well-being first in her actions, and I want her to be able to enjoy this experience more. I'm not alone in that, either, as anyone who knows my mom would agree with this. I know we shrugged off a lot of requests for assistance from others this year, but we'll put out assignments a bit more freely next year (especially after you look at the home slate for 2008). Andy may have been voted Tailgater of the Year, but she is the MVP of this tailgate (and our family).

There have been numerous requests to limit the amount of alcohol present at the camper. I understand some folks' desire to have a couple of cold ones before heading to the stadium, and we're all adults so I am going to choose to let adults make adult choices. However, I think its best that all liquor be banned from inside the camper and would prefer not to have it around at all. My sister's Northface jacket had a mixed drink spilled on it late into the night following the Iron Bowl and, needless to say, it was not a pleasant situation I walked back into when I got back from Tiger Rags after the game. It hurt my feelings that someone would be careless enough not to throw it away and was pretty selfish by not being around to help clean up.

I love having all of my friends around me, and I would never want to be in a position to ban someone from coming around - especially for something as fun as Auburn football. I don't appreciate some friends who make it their mission to anger other folks around them, and there will be no tolerance for this next season. There are no excuses for not being courteous to those around you, especially when we are all there for the common cause - to be better than Alabama. Personal differences need to be set aside, and I will only get angrier if I find out some folks are not showing up simply because someone else is there. As it was stated earlier in this blog, we're all adults and our tailgate will be a setting which promotes adult behavior.

All in all, it was a good, not great, first year. I'm looking forward to seeing how a better plan of execution takes into effect next year.

War Eagle! -6-

Chris