Yale University, Rutgers and Princeton are acknowledged by some experts as the places where tailgating originated. During the first college football game between Rutgers and Princeton in 1869, fans came to the game by carriage, grilling sausages and burgers at the tail end of the horse. In 1904, a train of private railcars brought fans to the Yale football game, but the train stopped at the station, which was some distance from the stadium. When fans got to Yale, they were hungry and thirsty so the idea of bringing a food hamper was born.
Whatever the origin of tailgating, it is one of the most popular rituals associated with football games. From 1887, when Illinois State fielded its first football team and played against Illinois Wesleyan three times, some form of tailgating probably occurred.
Today, Homecoming tailgating is popular with those who wish to visit with Illinois State alumni, faculty, staff and others via a pre-game meal or snack in the Redbird Tent Zone. Last year, the Redbird Tent Zone included local radio station tents, local business tents and reserved spaces for social groups.
One of the most popular tailgating opportunities is sponsored by the School of Communication for its alumni and friends. For more than 10 years, Professor Emeritus Bill Semlak and former TV10 Director Jay Groves have started smoking 10 turkeys at 5 a.m. With chips, hotdogs, soft drinks and potato salad as part of the usual fare, the Communication tent usually draws more than 200 alumni, faculty and friends each year. Communication faculty and staff, Groves and Semlak enjoy visiting with former students, catching them up on all the Communication and ISU news and learning about their lives since graduation. The School of Communication Homecoming tailgate tent is one of the most popular alumni events of the year.
Tailgating can be done in the Ropp parking lot north of Hancock Stadium and the East lot next to Main Street with no reservation needed. Private tailgating participants just need to arrive early enough to get a spot. Reservations are required for the Redbird Tent Zone, which offers fans, businesses or groups different packages that include tables, chairs, tent and tickets.
Hosted by the Illinois State University Alumni Association, the Spread the Red Tent is open to students, alumni, faculty-staff and friends of the University. Special guests will include retired faculty and staff. To see who will be attending, click on Guests. The tent, which is free and features snacks from alumni favorite Avanti’s as well as a cash bar, is located in the Redbird Tent Zone. Reservations are requested by registering at Homecoming Tailgate.
For information and guidelines for tailgating, click on Tailgating.
