Hello everyone! My name is Patrick Armstrong, and I am here to write a little bit about some of my favorite (or not so favorite) tailgates over the last decade.
I was a student at UM from 2000 to 2004 and consider myself to be as big of a Hurricane fan as there is; I have a very poorly done “U” tattoo to prove it! To preface this post, I want to let everyone know a few things:
- This countdown is of the 10 most memorable tailgating experiences I’ve had the pleasure of sharing with the greatest group of friends a guy could ask for. Obviously, I can’t speak to anyone else’s tailgating experiences, so my hope is that in reading about some of my experiences and the games or eras they come from you’ll relive some of your best tailgating moments and share them with us down in the comments.
- For some reason, and I have no idea why, some of the details of my tailgating life over the years are what you might call “blurry.” It certainly has nothing to do with the various drinking games that have been a vital part to pretty much every tailgate.
- The order of this count down and which tailgates didn’t make the top ten was definitely a challenge for me, so go easy on me if you think I screwed it up!
On to Part 1 of the countdown; here are the 10th – 6th Best ‘Canes Tailgates:
10. Boston College – Thanksgiving 2006
In what has to be one of the worst years ever, the ‘Canes pulled off a little magic in the OB on a very cold Thursday night Thanksgiving game. Seriously, this game is about the only thing I want to remember from the ’06 season; losing the snooze-fest of a Labor Day game at home to FSU to start things off, getting taken behind the woodshed by Louisville (freakin’ Louisville!!!) after the logo stomp, barely hanging on to beat Duke in front of TV audience of the 17 people who had access to ESPN360 back then, and losing four straight to GT, VT, Maryland, and UVA were just the game results that made you cringe. There’s also that (little-discussed) tussle with FIU and the tragic loss of Brian Pata. Any way you slice it, 2006 sucked.
Besides getting rid of Coker, beating BC on Thanksgiving was about the only awesome thing I can remember that year. I was about as low as I’ve ever been as a ‘Canes fan going into the game (see final game at the OB for future rock bottom) and was pretty doubtful we could upset the ranked Eagles on such a cold night in Miami. There was actually a lot at stake for both teams; BC needed the win to get to the ACC championship game, and we needed the win just to get bowl eligible (sad, I know). In the end, we kept our streak against BC alive, knocked them out of ACC contention, and became bowl eligible.
What made the BC tailgate standout in my memory so much was the awesome amount and quality of food we ate at our tailgate Thanksgiving dinner. For the majority of years I have been tailgating before UM game, our group has always been a little more focused on the beverage part of tailgating at the expense of real quality tailgate food. We’ve gotten much better over recent years (Big thanks to Mary for that!). But in a season lost in kegs, funnels, and beer pong it was simply awesome to have such great food at the tailgate. Back when we were at the OB and the lots opened 4 hours before, E-4 (if you’re not familiar, E-4 was the “student lot”) would always have a ton of people waiting to get in and get more and more packed as game time approached. However, the game being on Thanksgiving coupled with how awful our season was going made for a much more subdued and relatively relaxed E-4 that day. Don’t get me wrong, I loved a good crazy/mayhem style E-4 as much as the next guy, but it felt nice to have a more relaxed time there.
9. WORST tailgate ever – Boston College, Chesnut Hill 2007
I hate to start out this list with BC twice, but it’s better to just get BC out of the way so you don’t have to think about them for too long – basically how the college football media treats BC. It’s also a questionable choice bringing up another painful season, so I won’t bother reminding you how awful 2007 was (if you feel like weeping, google “2007 Miami Hurricanes”). This was the game that BC finally overcame the hump and beat us. But I barely remember the game (no, not because I was intoxicated) because I was SO shocked at how bad BC is at tailgating. On top of that, they know they suck at tailgating so when normal college tailgaters from opposing schools show up and ask “what the junk???” they are rude about it.
No joke, this happened; about 12 of us are trying to find parking somewhere walking distance to the stadium about 3 hours prior to kickoff, we’re not having any luck, so my wife calls up the BC athletic department to asks politely “where do visitors park and tailgate?” the BC rep said simply, “you don’t.” So we finally get to a lot about 30 minutes from the Stadium (30 minutes driving, not walking) that shuttles people to the game. So we try to utilize what little time we had left before the game by doing some incognito tailgating, but within minutes a security guard was all over us letting us know that we could not eat or drink anything in the lot, period. Seriously, they were douches.
8. Oklahoma 2009
If you’re reading this, then you most certainly know all the details of this game as this just happened last season. It was a great rebound win whether or not Mr. Bradford played. This game makes the top ten list as it is the best representative of our “RV era” of tailgating. The Cane Train had passed away and we were heading into the ’09 season without a plan for tailgating. We needed a plan, and through the magic of Craigslist we found our solution; we would rent out a private RV for each home game. Renting an RV for away game road trip/tailgate sounds normal, but I had to sell the idea of doing it for all the home games. There are a lot of advantages (and a lot of headaches) to using an RV for tailgating at “whatever-the-F-this-heartless-building-is-calling-itself-this-week Stadium”:
- Time – Instead of the 4 hours prior to kickoff lot opening, you get a 6 hour tailgate.
- Space – Basically, you have all the space you could possibly need. You could have a full game of flag football without getting in anyone’s way an hour before the game if you want.
- Grass – A luxury that is found almost nowhere else on the stadium property.
There are a few drawbacks, such as the distance and the inconvenience of friends stopping by that comes with the distance. But I am a firm believer that the positives far outweigh the negatives. If you have a big group I’d recommend you give it a shot for a big game. Also, renting from a private party eliminates much of the expense and hassle of dealing with RV rental companies – forget about paying for mileage.
The RV lot really let us put on an all out tailgate. And because we combined a couple groups that used to tailgate somewhat separately (a few cars apart) we had plenty of tailgating gear. Some of the amenities included:
- 4 canopies
- Tons of chairs and tables
- Full size gas and charcoal grills
- DirecTv setup, usually with two flat screens to watch all those other useless teams
- Super loud (and super annoying to our fellow tailgaters – sorry) sound system
- Plenty of room for our “Cornhole Arena”
- Private bathroom
- Lounge area with AC
- Usually way more food then necessary (oddly, there never seemed to be enough jello shots)
7. Rose Bowl ’01 Season & Fiesta Bowl ’02 Season
I guess if I am going to include these national championship games then I am going to have to come clean; I was a male cheerleader. I was the guy you might have pointed to and said “what the heck does that guy even do? He just stands there watching the game.” (Just kidding, like anyone even pays attention to male cheerleaders…) Whatever you think of that, it was an awesome experience, and I just happened to be lucky enough to do it for two of the greatest seasons ever. There is one GIANT drawback to being a cheerleader though, no tailgating. If you know me, you know that I live for tailgating, so that part was very rough.
You know these games well – the all out domination of Nebraska for our thumb ring and the forever painful Terry Porter incident. If you got to go out to these games, I’m truly jealous of the tailgating that you got to experience. Being on the field for a national championship is awesome, but from what I saw the tailgates were second to none and equally cool to be a part of. Prior to the each game we cheerleaders go around to all the alumni tailgate functions, and because of this I basically took a tour of tailgating at a national championship game. While I think we deserve more credit than people give us from traveling, both Nebraska and Ohio State outnumbered and out-tailgated us. All tailgating was massive and those tailgaters did it all day (the way tailgating was meant to be – none of this 4 hour BS). I truly cannot wait until I get to watch our ‘Canes play in their next national championship game as a tailgater, not a cheerleader.
On somewhat of a side note, could the Nebraska and Ohio State fan bases be any further apart on the decency scale? Every single Nebraska fan I encountered that week was awesome. They take their reputation as knowledgeable and friendly fans very seriously in Nebraska, and I definitely think they are the best college football fans in the country. Ohio State fans on the other hand…wow, worst…fans…EVER. This doesn’t come from some bitter resentment of the Buckeyes because of the BS pass interference call. Of course there were some decent OSU fans that we met that week in Tempe, but I would put them at about a 90% asshole rate. That made the already heart breaking loss even more unbearable.
6. The Palace Saloon, Tallahassee – ’01, ’03, ’05, ’07, ‘09
Since I have been a ‘Canes fan, every other year we make the trip up to Tally to take over a little spot called the Palace Saloon parking lot. Plenty of ‘Noles infiltrate our spot just south of Doak, but make no mistake, we own that lot. We also own the ‘Noles up there, taking 4 out of the 5 games that I’ve been up there for – which is probably why I seem to have so many fond memories of that backwards little town.
The Palace is actually a pretty cool bar. I’m a beer guy who likes hole-in-the-wall type places, and The Palace sure fits that bill. Of course, all of the real action on game day takes place out in the parking lot. The lot’s perimeter is lined with RVs (mostly full of ‘Canes), while anyone with a car can park in the interior if they arrive early enough. The rainy day games create a giant mud pit that is cool once you get over being filthy. The Palace will always hold a special place in my heart as our every-other-year home away from tailgating-home. If you don’t already have a tally tailgating spot of your own, I suggest you join us in 2011 at The Palace.
Stay tuned next week for Part 2! GO ‘CANES!!!
Great job Patrick!!
That 07 BC game was cold as fukk!!!
Metal bleachers didn’t help either!!LOL
Horrible game and horrible fans.
Place was a morgue and if we were any good at all we would have won that game. WE SUKKED AZZ!!!
Thank God those days are over.
GO CANEZ!!!!!
Hey, Canez1, you all settled in the new place?
Happy Mother’s Day to my mom, KL, Canechic, and all you other ‘Cane mommies out there. Raising ‘Canes is very important work. Gotta start ‘em young an raise ‘em right. Thanks for all that you do.
I am really sad I can’t see my mom today, but I am doing stuff she would like: cleaning the house, laundry, and making my bed. I think she would only be more proud if I did it in a Bears jersey while watching a ‘Canes game.
I love you and miss you so much, Mom!
Wow, um, someone must be slicing onions in here…
Enough sentimental stuff!
Patrick,
Cheerleader or not, nothing wrong with that. Thing is you are a CANE and that’s what matters most. Great Read, was at the Rose Bowl and the Alumni pre- game party. An Awesome experience, the whole day. Talked with Trev Alberts and he said Nebraska by 14 and the U would wear down in the fourth quarter. Saw him after the game and can’t tell you what my daughter yelled at him while he was talking on air!
On a whole the Nebraska fans were decent, not to mention very quiet after the first quarter. Met some in a bar and kept up with them until about two years ago and lost touch.
Florida and FSU fans were disgusting, who knew ! Have first hand knowledge after tailgaiting in both spots.
Surprisingly Alabama fans with a few exceptions were fun to be around.
Again good read and Go Canes.
Big thanks to Patrick for writing this. He says part 2 is better. I can’t even imagine. Oklahoma and Thanksgiving BC (that’s where the mini pumpkin pies made their debut) and FSWho were some of the most legendary tailgates I can think of aside from 2006 FSWho and the last fame in the Orange Bowl.
Ohio State will make the list next year, Canez1!!!!
Best place I ever tailgated, “The Grove, ” at Ole Miss, nothing like it. Lived in Oxford and both tailgated and the restaurant MM01 and I owned catered several. (Muddy Water Grill) We were their during the Eli years.
All my children either graduated or attended Ole Miss. Remained a strong UM fan during those years, but did root for the Rebs and the Colonel. May he RIP!
Wait, 2000 FSWho was also epic. 2003 VA Tech.
This must have been really hard for Patrick to narrow down! We have had a lot of good times.
I’ve heard the Grove at Ole Miss is a lot of fun, Randy!
Important question: if the ‘Canes were playing the Rebs, would you be torn on who to root for?
When the Canes came to play them in Baseball( Super Regional) we were the ONLY green and orange clad fans there.
The Rebs went to a bowl game in 2001 and MM01 and I went west to the Rose Bowl. My restaurant had a bar we called the RED ZONE and it was decorated in green and orange.We had some SEC stuff and Ole Miss stuff but the Green and Orange National Champs pennants were very prominent and on display. When the Canes were on TV opposite Ole Miss we had one TV on Ole Miss and the other seven were on the Canes. Had season tickets and gave them away when it conflicted with the Canes on TV.
Never, ever beyond the shadow of a doubt who I would pull for. No Question, Go Canes
That’s what I thought, Randy!!! You guys are hard core! Go ‘Canes!!!
Anybody else have some epic tailgating stories to share?!
No Question. Gosh, I practically grew up in the Orange Bowl watching the Canes play. Some of my fondest memories are going to Hurricane football games with my dad.
By the way, Happy Mothers Day to all you moms out there.Make the most of this day with your mom!
Randy, maybe you should write an article about those old games and what it was like to grow up going to the OB watching the classic ‘Canes!
Randy, I am so sad I can’t see my mom today. I might have overcompensated too much with the presents, but I just feel awful and miss her so much.
All of you out there who have the privilege of seeing your mom today, please make the most of it and make her feel as special as she is.
Wow, someone started slicing onions again!!!
I love you, Mom!!!
jsq we are gettin there. Just put in the pendants over the island and took out the water saver things in the showerheads. I HATE low water pressure!!!
small things now that can wait. Thank god!!
I won’t be seeing my moms and gram either today
they called last night tho. It’s all good 
randy I heard the grove is an awesome tailgate. A must experience from what I have heard.
I loooooove pumpkin pie!! Usf for thanksgiving is in the books!!
GO CANEZ!!!!!
Good to hear, Canez1!
I am with you on the water pressure. I just discovered mine is adjustable and removeable. That only took me a year. Blonde moment, I suppose!
The mini pumpkin pie recipes make about 50. You are good for about half of that, right?!
I will make plenty of jello shots for you and your girl, too.
How is she handling the move? I think the most fun part of it for me was unpacking all my clothes into 2x the closet space. It’s been a year and I still can’t get it even 3/4 full, and believe me, I’ve tried!!! I even have a ‘Canes shelf of like 30 shirts and jerseys!!! Gotta love the California Closets, too. The previous owners invested in them and they are awesome!!!
Anyway, I hope you guys are enjoying the new house!!!
Good job Patrick!
Dad is good, his arteries were not clogged as bad as the doctors thought and not stint required!
Now more chemo 
. Moved Nicole out of her dorm this weekend kind of sad, she and her girlfriends had a good cry! they are so stressed out moving and studying for finals.
The school was beautiful this weekend, beautiful weekend in Miami, now for a nap, GO CANES!!!!
Canez 1, I hate those low flow showers, one of the best Seinfeld episodes!
I am good for ATLEAST 25 of those little monkeys!!! Can’t get enough punkin pie!!
Sara’s a trooper and really helping out alot with everything. Three flights of stairs gets old in a hurry!! LOL.
absolutely love all the new storage space. We now have three walk in closets compared to one. HUGE difference! We both have alot of clothes and we were running out of space. Nice closet sytems are next. can’t wait!!
CC LOL Ya it is! I took a shower last night and it felt like I was spitting in a fan.
Just got out of the shower today and what a difference!!! Like a friggin fire hose!! I love it. I don’t feel clean unless the water is blasting. I forgot all about the little water saver thing in the showerhead. 100% difference and no need to buy new shower heads.
All thats left is the plumber has to come back tomorrow to put a new fitting on the stove hose. The one that was installed didn’t work with the stove we bought. Then the TV gets hung on the wall wednesday and this shyte is a wrap.
I still have to set up the theater room downstairs but I am running out of energy….. Next weeks project.
Still trying to get used to being here tho. I feel like I am in the old place when I am in bed then I get up and it feels weird all over again LOL.
GO CANEZ!!!!!
That is a great article. We need these guys to write more often…
Mike, I’m hitting Mars up again this week. Have any ideas for something he should write on?
Good to hear about your dad, Canechic! Enjoy that well-deserved nap!
Canez1, that is funny. When I first moved here I would wake up in the middle of the night like where the F am I?!?!
Glad you are getting everthing in order so quickly. It took me a couple of weeks because I bought all new furniture and TVs and I had to get everything delivered. I was a 27 year old still using my undergrad/law school furniture! Was good to get rid of that stuff and feel like an adult! The flat screens really made me feel grown-up! I still had my old Mahoney (5th floor not 7th!) Mansions dorm room TV before buying this place! Crazy how cheap I was! I bet your man cave is going to be awesome!
I forgot to say, several of you were at the Oklahoma tailgate on this list. How did it rank to you?!?! Canechic? Angry?
We tailgated in the Grove plenty of times. No one tailgate stands out, because they all were freaking awesome.
It’s weird, I know, but the Grove has all the canopies, TV’s, and such. But what sets it apart is the formality of it all.
Sunday best, it’s a fashion show! Of course, going against the grain and swimming upstream is a passion of mine. I always wore a polo and Khaki’s or jeans. F going to a football game in a tie! (it helped I wasn’t in a frat) Also imagine breaking out the silver and Grandma’s best china for tailgating! I know, its nuts. And glasses for tea! (or for that ever infamous Jack or Jim and coke)
This is what is completely nuts. A few of the “blue bloods” even had super-high tents, and hanging from the center would be a effin’ chandelier! No joke!
That ish is crazy Mike!
(says the girl who wears dresses and nice game day bag to every game and spent an undisclosed amount of $$$ on game day jewelry this weekend)
Those glasses would get broken at our tailgate and I’d wager either Mars or Adam would be hanging from the chandelier by hour 5 of the tailgate!
Is Mars good at funny? I was thinking something humorous…
LOL! JSQ, hanging from the chandelier!
I love and miss you Mary! Love Mom
Mars is a funny dude. Email me what you have in mind and I will bounce it off him, Mike!
I love you, Mom!
The Oklahoma tailgate and game was awesome but I think I got a little sick during that game.
The FSU tailgate last year was epic… EPIC!
Both tailgates were awesome, Mike! We had so much fun this year!
Canechic, did you have Erika’s punch at the tailgate?
I’ll always remember that tailgate, thanks JSQ.
Behind the saloon is a good spot. Sadly, the FSU fans are epic as well. I have a story.
Walking back from the game with CSM, his dad, my dad, KL, and another guy. We walked down Fraternity Row, bad idea.
The females were hollering at us (not because we’re sexy) to get the F out, speaking to us in Spanish! Really? That’s not the best or even most offensive part.
As we were walking, we passed a frat house, and in front was this obviously drunk or stoned FSU undergrad. Well, he held a sign that read “Seminole This!”, with an arrow drawn and pointing downward. Well, to our surprise, his junk was hanging out! And he was cursing at us! Needless to say, Randy had a few choice words for him as we (miraculously) continued down the street unharmed.
After that, and now that Bowden is gone, I HATE FSU. No respect after that.
Wow, Mike, that story actually might top my spanking experience in jortsville!
Classsy people up there in Trailerhassee!
Patrick, Adam, Erika and I had quite an experience sitting in te FSWho student section this year (perhaps Patrick’s greatest idea EVER!).
Not surprisingly, I’m the one who almost got in a fight. With men. Patrick and Adam can tell the story better than me.
I have quite a mouth on me when someone talks smack about the ‘Canes!
Last night we were walking out of the Tim McGraw concert and this ugly toothless jort wearing croc (okay I didn’t get a good look at them but this is a safe description) noticed our ‘Canes chairs and started telling his fat girlfriend how he was going to hit us with his chairs because we were Canes and making racial slurs (which makes no sense because it’s not like they only have one race on their prison, er, team roster, but I digress). I kept my mouth shut until one particular comment that made my blood boil and then I ran my mouth while my companion laughed (I didn’t mention until we were in the car that the dude was threatening me or things would have gone down differently). The croc ran off. Because, while they may run their mouths, they really have nothing to say and they are just a bunch of redneck soul-less pu$$ies who ate scared of a female ‘Cane wearing a dress and heels to country concert.
And then I growled as he ran away and talked about admission standards and the subpar education he received (assuming he went there and is not some community college dropout turned bandwagon fan like the dude at Publix Greenwise behind the sandwich counter this morning who gave me ish because I was wearing a ‘Canes shirt).
GRRRRRRRR!!!!!
I howled at that story!
Safe description! LOL!
Tell the spanking story, I don’t know it
But seriously, though, who threatens to hit a female because she roots for a different football team?
And runs away once he realizes I’m a crazy b!tch who will knock your teeth into the asphalt for insulting Randy Shannon?
My sorority sisters and I were walking into the Swamp chanting “let’s go ‘Canes!” in 2008. Enter fat, bald, toothless, middle-aged jorts-wearing croc who overhears them calling me Mary and proceeds to sing a dirty version of “Mary Had a Little Lamb” to me while spanking me with a rolled-up posterboard sign (undoubtedly misspelled and professing his homosexual feelings for a particular QB).
I had to be dragged away. I could have ripped him apart with my bare French-manicured hands.
And that is when I started hating crocs. Never had anything against them before then. Obviously, since at that time I was with someone who played for them.
I hope to see that guy in 2013.
Yeah Mary I’m with you there. In Trailerhassee this past year MM01 told you about the guy on Frat Row showing his genitalia and saying Seminole this, My response was, “hey is that all you got?” “I’d be embarrassed if that was all I got.” “Better hide it before you ruin you entire social life and become the butt of really bad jokes and a laughing stock in the women’s dorm” Can’t believe we got out of their alive.
Really sick, will never again respect them.
When MM01 and I were leaving the Clemson game we were congratulating their fans and being respectful of them. Can’t believe some of them were trashing the Canes. When Spiller came out after the game he was dis-respecting the U by showing the U upside down. MM01 and I had a few words for him before we were told to get out of there.
JSQ…
Has anyone told U recently that you’re bonkers?
Love it, Randy!!!
I’m assuming he wasn’t a “grower not a show-er” either since he was obviously showing it off!
I have a bruise from a ‘Nole who was irritated with me raising my U sign throughout the game. I think Patrick and I told y’all that story at the spring game. We got the last laugh while they paraded out in their trail of tears.
Randy, get on Mike’s facebook and look at my profile and check out the video Patrick posted of the 5 minutes after we won as Choke Campbell was clearing and Patrick, Adam, Erika and I were going crazy! It will give you goosebumps. All those sad, sorry ‘Noles parading out while the players rush up to where we all are and do cheers with us. I’m crying and cheering and taking pictures, which are also on Facebook.
My favorite thing to say with ‘Noles behind you in Choke Campbell right after the ‘Canes score:
JSQ, loudly: Hey, (looks up at stadium walls, pointing) where are the rest of their National Championships?
Patrick/Erika/other friend wary of starting fight but amused at my routine nonetheless: That’s all they have, Mary
JSQ: (looks around behind her to find more titles) Nooooooo, that can’t be right. Don’t you automatically get like 3 just for being from Florida?
Friend: no, they just have two, Mary (ducking angry stares from ‘Noles)
Mary: wow, I didn’t think that was even possible! I mean, seriously?! Only 2 National Championships? I mean, what did they do, blow a bunch of seasons on bad field goals?!
Sigh. I’m a b!tch.
Everyday, Mike. Everyday.
Mary,
I’m trying to recover from laughing!
Not working!
Nothing wrong with a little comic relief!
I got another one.
When Miami went to Memphis (Danyell Ferguson, who wore #1, Ryan Clement and Magic Benton). We spoke to Butch Davis in the tunnel and told him we were proud of the job he was doing (who could argue).
Anyway, in the stands, after Miami had pulled away, Randy starts talking to these Notre Dame fans who were there to see UM. (I was 16 at the time)
He starts calling them Notre Shame, Notre Lame, Notre Blame, barely beating Vandy the Thursday before. (LOL!)
I had to literally pull Randy off the guy, because he charged Randy (we were sitting a few rows above, and the game wasn’t sold out)
I had to intervene before punches were thrown (I was 16!) These fans were dumping on UM and Randy ALMOST let them have it! (If I hadn’t interfered)
Damnit, dad!
I forgot to tell this part…
My dad bought a Cadillac DeVille before the game. The transmission goes out during the trip! We can’t go above 40 MPH. So, we put cornflakes into the tranny, to help get traction. (it didn’t work)
So, what should have been a three hour drive from Nashville, took eight. We were coasting downhill, driving on the shoulder of the interstate! I hated it then, but now we laugh about it every time it comes up! LOL!
Going uphill was an adventure!
Lol, Mike!
The drive sounds like it sucked at the time, but a good memory. My mom and I had a heck of a time driving from Springfield to Miami when I moved down for school in 1999. It was awful then, but now we roll with laughter when we talk about it. Particularly once we got to Miami, like how my mom took out a street sign with the Uhaul when we were lost near the Orange Bowl (the exit used to say something about UM and I had never been to Miami so what did I know?!). So funny now.
And lol to stopping a fight at 16. My mom kept me sane during the last game at the OB when ‘Canes starting attacking ‘Canes. I told somebody insulting the team to shut the F up and he threatened to hit me in the head with his bottle of Jim Beam. Luckily, fair-weather fans like that we gone by the second quarter. No heart.
That is the only downside to the ‘Canes coming back: douchebags like that will be our fans again because they like winning but they don’t really love the ‘Canes.
LOL! JSQ, this is too much!
Funny ish!
Love the write-up! It puts me in mind of all the great tailgates I’ve been a part of over the years!!
One of my favorite tailgate stories was the win over BC in 2006 too. Actually it wasn’t the tailgate so much as the after-party (yes, my friends and I have been known to do those too if the outcome of the game is particularly good – OK last year and VT the year before – or if there is a lot of traffic… or if we have leftover food.) Anyway, I’d never seen so many BC fans @ the OB before. They knew we stunk and were loudly letting us know how bad they thought we were and how much they were looking forward to whooping us good. They walked by our tailgate (we were in the RV section back then) and chirped at us all day, but we enjoyed the festivities as if we knew we were going to win… and somehow we did! After the game, we ran into some of our fellow RV tailgaters and their karaoke machine. They were loudly taunting dejected BC fans as they walked by… over and over and over again: “We suck…. but we whooped your a**!!” I’ve never laughed so hard in my life!
Mary I was at the Tim McGraw concert last night too! Was that shit not awesome!! It just makes me that much more excited for Toby Keith in September!
JSQ your boy’s shirt in the first pic is a personal favorite; always thought that song would be great for a Canes highlight tape
Mary tells me that part 2 of my interview with Bruce Feldman is going up tomorrow night!
Don’t miss part 2 or 3. Every ‘Cane fan needs to read this…
Love that shirt dude has on! HAHAHA!
Yeah, bg, and Shwarma, I was looking for Patrick’s shirt this year so my mom and I could wear matching ones to Champs. I guess they don’t make it anymore. I was heartbroken. So was my mom. We wore “The []_[] Invented Swagger” shirts instead (I am wearing mine now, actually). Obviously that shirt has been taken out of game day rotation after how Champs went down. Sigh.
Hey, Iowa! It was a pretty good concert and I don’t even like country! I think I am the only person who has never heard that Lady Antebellum song either! haha. I was like “how do you all know this song?” to the dozens of people singing it word for word at the bar and people looked at me like I was a martian!
Where did you sit? We just stayed on the balcony of the Cruzan Rum Bar. You could see the screen from there and it was closer than the lawn seats and they, um, had beer there.
And I’m disappointed Toby Keith is in September. Usually he comes in June and that right there is guaranteed to bring Shockey in. He will be busy in September. Sigh.
Thanks for reading guys. And Shwarma & bg, thanks for the props on the shirt. It has been retired (given to a buddy) since the little guy came along. You gotta pick and choose your battles with the wife.
I really appreciate all the comments. I’ve always been a major ‘lurker’ on Canes boards, but I’ll definitely try and become more actively involved over here.
KL, I remember the karaoke guys from the Orange Bowl! Was that NW 1 or 2? I’m forgetting my Orange Bowl lots. So sad. I would tailgate with a sorority sister’s family over there sometimes before I went over to join the boys in E-4 (because as Patrick stated, they didn’t have food back then and when you started out there without eating, it was a rough day/night!).
I love the RV that is green and says “Natural Born Killers” and has Sebastian wringing the necks of a croc and a nole. Beautiful. I can’t wait to get my own RV. Better than a boat, in my book!
Hey Patrick!!!! Thanks for commenting!!!
Looking forward to Part 2!
and JSQ, the shirt is a one of a kind… I made it on one of those design-you-own-T-shirt sites.
Patrick, I had no idea. I always thought you bought that shirt.
What site did you make it on? Maybe I can make the matching shirts for the FSWho game. I’m flying my mom down for that one. Her first FSWho game. Gonna be great. That’s a stadium cake tailgate right there!
. . . and you have no idea how many times I googled some combo “B!tch I’m from Dade County” and “shirt” to find that. Hilarious. I should have just asked you!!!
One more thing and back to work: Patrick, the “We Invented Swagger” page on Facebook picked up your article! Pretty cool!
GO ‘CANES!!!
JSQ, I want to say it was N6…? I can’t really remember either.
The NBK RV is suuuper nice… needless to say, it gets a lot of attention in Trailerhasse and Jortsville! He used to park a few RVs away from us in the same row (everyone parked in the same spot) & we’d always end up wandering over there to say hi. Unfortunately, once we moved to Dolphin Stadium we kinda lost track of him because the RV lot is so out of the way. Man, I miss the OB.
Me too, KL.
I saw NBK in Trailerhassee but for some reason he is not in the RV lot at Dolphin Stadium?
Either that or I have just been drinking too much of Erika’s punch at tailgates!
Part 2 of Mike’s interview with Bruce Feldman is ready to go for this evening and it is GOOOOOOOOOD!!!!
I tried to insert some good pictures to illustrate it for y’all. One in particular should make you laugh out loud.
JSQ, makes sense that you haven’t seen NBK because the last time I saw Doc he said he didn’t like the DS RV lot location and mentioned they would be tailgating elsewhere. (sounds like I’m writing in code – lol!) Anyway, I guess I should find out where he is now…
Gotcha, KL. Glad it is not just me and being too concentrated on my buffalo chicken dip (if you click on one of the Oklahoma tailgate pics above to blow it up you will see me stirring it!) to notice a huge F’ing RV! haha
It’s coming back to me, KL. We were in N1/N2 by the karaoke guys. The RV lot was closer to the outer gate.
NW was across from the Orange Bowl sign.
I feel so guilty for not accurately remembering the Old Girl’s tailgating lots.
Please forgive me, Orange Bowl. I hope to see you in Heaven one day.
JSQ – I have no idea what site I used to make that shirt – it was so long ago when I made it. I’m gonna check my email. There may be a small chance that I saved the email confirmation of the shirt order.
Cool, Patrick, thanks!
Matching “B!tch I’m From Dade County” shirts = excellent belated Mother’s Day present. She will enjoy that more than the spa certificate, I’m sure! haha
Good stuff Patrick! Have a great picture of you and I before the Fiesta Bowl. Hope Norman makes the list, that was a good scene. Also, although it was the worst game ever, the last game at the OB was a great E4 day. Just remember the 50% rule and you’ll be ok.
Hey Timmy!!!!
Thanks for commenting!
MM01, Randy was doing what you’re supposed to do to those lame-azzes. lol And you did what you were supposed to do too.
Talkin trash at a football game is a very healthy thing.
Great stuff Patrick!
My only tailgating experience for a Canes game was drinking some beers in my car before walking into the stadium to see the Canes play Maryland in 2006. I have a long way to go:)
Capt. O, I agree.
But the car was practically broken down and I didn’t feel like spending any “quality time” in Memphis. And my youngest sister was there, too. She was 12 at the time. Randy would have whooped that old guy.
Ug, Maryland ’06. That was painful, DZ8.
I recently had been in Ohio for one of my best friends from high school’s wedding (where I had to wear a Buckeye-colored bridesmaid dress which I actually wore back to Miami because I caught a red-eye to get back for the VA Tech game and the tailgate with the boys in E-4, on NO SLEEP) and the groomsmen from the wedding were texting me insults about Miami the entire game.
The only good thing about that game was that I watched it at Sports Grill.
Best.
Wings.
Ever.
But I have never watched another ‘Canes game there.
Darius Heyward-Bay (as a freshman) caught two long (80+ yard) TDs on us but other than that the defense shut them down and we gained some yards on offense. I was amazed at the stats after the game.
Kirby Freeman got his first start that game and looked like he had potential. The receivers just kept on dropping his throws. Ryan Moore and Khalil Jones I think. I remember Ryan Hill had a drop in the end zone as well.
First game after Patas’ murder, it was sad. Can’t believe no one knows who killed Pata.
Somebody has to know something about Pata.
2006 and 2007 were total nightmares. I had blocked it out. Hurts to think about all that stuff.
2006 and 2007 were not total nightmares, Cokers last year and Randys first year gave hope for the future.
Always a silver lining no matter how dark the clouds…
Don’t get me wrong: that’s how I felt at the time we were going through it, DZ8, but man, looking back, you really had to love and believe in this team to see the silver lining.
. . . and when you love and believe in a team that much, seeing them go through times like 2006 and 2007 just hurts your [orange and green blood pumping] heart.
Forgot to say it earlier: Everybody wish Eye contributor and tailgating extraordinaire Mars Suarez a happy [undisclosed number in the 30s] birthday!
Re-read his article with a side of orange and green kool-aid.
http://eyeofthehurricane.net/wordpress/2010/04/02/the-view-from-mars-hope-springs-eternal-canes-football/
MMMMMM, that’s tasty!!!
btw, just reading the comments on that article reminds me of the EPIC hangover I had that day in N’awlins.
Man, I miss that town!
BIG 10 just announced they are inviting Rutgers, Missouri, Nebraska, and Notre Dame.
I don’t see any reason why Missouri and Rutgers don’t make the jump. ND is a long shot, and Nebraska is not a slam dunk from what I’ve read.
Scratch Nebraska. Consider them gone to the BIG 10…
http://msn.foxsports.com/cfb/story/college-football-expansion-big-10-ask-cfn-051010
This model puts USF into the SEC. The Big East dissolves… good read
An earthquake coming to all the conferences.
Will this get Boise St into the Pac 10?
Stay tuned.
I would say so, DZ8.
new blog up!
Okay, I am leaving the office so sorry I am not there to great the “first.” Apparently this is a dead time to post!
If he remembers so much, he must not be drinking enough. Lol great article, great memories.