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Where I Come From: Tailgate Traditions

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Nothing beats a good tailgate in preparation for the Buffs to take the field on a Saturday afternoon. Good friends, good people, good eats and good drinks make the game that much more special, even if Colorado has struggled over the past few years. Its hard to imagine a better backdrop anywhere in America, lighting up the grill with the mountains in the background on a typical 60 degree Saturday in late September.

Our crew usually has a pretty great tailgate going Saturday afternoons. A friend of mine has a spot right across from Franklin Field in a church parking lot on Folsom Street. Absolutely great access to Folsom Field. We also know most of the people in the tailgate area so it makes for a great party and we are never short of great food & adult beverages.

A couple years ago for the Texas game, the tailgate crew went all out. One member of the tailgate area has a homemade pig roaster. The roaster latches onto his pickup, can hold up to three pigs and runs on both propane (if needed) and charcoal fire. Needless to say, it is one of the best additions to a pregame party that you can get. Of course, we were cooking longhorn that day. The game didn't turn out as well as we all wanted but a good tailgate can sure make even the toughest games a little easier to swallow.

Drinking games and a football are also a must for any good tailgate. Cornhole, red neck golf, washers...one or all are always featured. A little pregame competition always gets the juices flowing for the game. And if the drinking games don't work, a good game of catch with the ole' pigskin always gets me jacked up for the game. 

Bottom line, big or small, expensive or inexpensive, you can't go wrong with a good tailgate.