Where I Come From: Tailgating Traditions

This is the third in a series of posts sponsored by EA Sports NCAA Football 11.

There are few joys like Saturday afternoons in fall: the crisp air, the smells of autumn, and the prospect of a football game about to begin in a few hours. Oh, and the company one spends with a few others (and sometimes gratuitous amounts of alcohol) tailgating, which is half the reason football has become as successful as it is in America. (As much as we love basketball and baseball, people don't turn those occasions into 3 hour-long outdoor parties in preparation...usually).

I have a problem with today's prompt, though. Y'see, I didn't actually go to Maryland for undergrad, so I lost out on all that wonderful tailgate-y goodness that so many enjoy each week, which is where most will develop their traditions.

And when I'm able to get to games, I don't tailgate nearly as much as I should. Instead, most of my tailgating stories come from the pros or different areas, and that's really no fun to talk about when we're supposed to be talking about Maryland. So this day will really be more about your stories than mine.

But I have tailgated at Maryland games before, of course, even if in smaller settings than most. Even when I tailgate, it tends to be low-key. The basics: football (when it comes to tailgating games, KISS; cornhole occasionally, but ladder golf's a no-no), sausage, ribs, Old Bay applied generously to anything, chili when it gets colder, and alcohol. When I tailgate, that's generally what's involved: simple, but proven and it works. Anything that increases one's enjoyment of the day is good.

Outside of that, there's always a little bit of taunting for visiting fans, and recently Terp Alley, though I don't do that every time I tailgate. It's a case-by-case basis.

You already saw how flimsy my tailgating "traditions" are, so seriously, feel free to speak up this time. Any special recipes? Any traditions? What do you do on game day? You can't do worse than me on this one. As bad, sure, but definitely not worse.