There’s a lighter side to LSU tailgating that doesn’t get the attention afforded the huge parties and organized madness of many of the more prominent tailgating groups. This lighter side is composed of the more family-oriented groups that have made LSU tailgating as much a part of their tradition as going to Grandma’s on Christmas.
Gathering with family members and close friends, these LSU tailgaters are as dedicated and fun-loving as their more publicized brethren, they’re just a little quieter.
Take Benny Homburg and his family and friends. LSU tailgaters for more than 20 years, Homburg recalls the early days. “We’ve been doing it so long, I can remember taking the train to Baton Rouge for the games and bringing along boxes of McKenzie’s fried chicken,” says Homburg. “Now we’ll head up there and stake out our spot with an SUV, and we usually bring along prepared food. Other times we’ll bring the grill and cook up some shish kebabs and some sausage, nothing real elaborate. We’ll have sandwiches and chicken, and of course we’ll have a few things to drink.”
Homburgs group consists of friends and business associates. Occasionally his wife and daughter will come along. That’s when the trouble begins.
“We went to Baton Rouge for a game and at the last minute my wife and daughter decided to come along. Well, we didn’t have tickets for them, but we figured we’d pick some up when we got there.” Bad move.
Unfortunately, there were no tickets to be found and Homburg’s wife and daughter ended up waiting in the car while the rest of the gang went to the game. “That was a pretty quiet ride home,” says Homburg.
Another smaller group is the Power Drive Tiger Fanz.
This group has been meeting in the same spot every year since 1995. Along with a keg of beer, Tiger Fanz boast a grilled menu every week, featuring either pork roasts, ribs, or in the colder months, fried turkey. Tiger Fanz was awarded Tailgaters of the Week for their tropical environment.
“Basically, we threw a luau,” says Ross Daray, a member of the group since 1997. “Everyone wore Hawaiian shirts and we brought blow-up swimming pools. We even had a lifeguard.”
Tiger Fanz also bring along a stuffed animal in the form of the opposing teams mascot. They have found these fuzzy opponents enjoy just hanging out. From a flag pole. By their necks. It’s all in good fun ... kind of.
“The thing about it is nobody gets nasty or mean,” explains Daray. “The whole thing is just a lot of fun, and fans from out of town that are there for the other team are treated really well. They’re as welcome as anybody.”
Homburg echoes that sentiment.
“It’s like everyone is your friend,” he added.
“They’ll offer you whatever they have, whether it’s something to drink, or a plate of food, or whatever. I’ve been to games at other SEC schools and there’s nothing that even comes close to tailgating at LSU. It’s unique.”
The camaraderie and the eclectic atmosphere on a tailgating afternoon at LSU are what keep these people coming back. It’s something special that you can’t find anywhere else.
“Once you do it,” says Homburg, “You’re hooked.”
Walk On The Wild Side
According to the members of Third Row Tailgaters, successful tailgating at LSU hinges on three essential ingredients: plenty of beer, plenty of food and a willingness to go with the flow.
Formed in 1997 by a group of undergrads, Third Row Tailgaters began as a loose-knit cadre of friends who routinely occupied the third row of the student section at every game, but it wasn’t until the year 2000 that this informal gathering of LSU fans gave birth to a legend, and gained their official moniker.
In the last game of the season, the Tigers were engaged in an overtime struggle with the Tennessee Volunteers. Rohan Davey had just connected on a 25-yard touchdown pass to Robert Royal on the first play of the first overtime period to give LSU a 38-31 lead. The Volunteers drove down to the Tigers’ 3-yard line when the LSU defense made its stand to seal the victory. Death Valley erupted, fans rushed the field, and somehow in the ensuing bedlam, the bench from the third row of Tiger Stadium came into the possession of several members of the group, hence their logo — “Run like you Stole Something.” Where that bench is now is a mystery to even the current members, but the legend has been growing ever since, as has the group.
Gathering on the steps of the Natatorium for every home game, Third Row Tailgaters has evolved from a small group of students to a huge mass of organized fans ready to let loose. Their latest production of “Natty Night,” which gets its name from kegs of Natural Lite beer served in front of the Natatorium, drew an estimated 1,000 partiers, emptied 14 kegs of beer and featured live music from several bands.
But tailgating is more than beer to Third Row. It’s food. And Beer. Third Row serves it up in as much variety as any serious tailgater could ask for. At various times, the menu has featured chicken, brisket, venison, elk and even rattlesnake. Yes, rattlesnake.
“We were coming to the game,” says the man known as Jay D., a recent graduate of LSU who hails from South Texas, “And we ran over this rattlesnake, so we stopped the truck, picked it up and brought it along.
After we skinned it and marinated it in barbecue sauce, we threw it on the grill along with the other stuff.”
Go with the flow.
Another menu item that has been a hit is roast pork, otherwise known as roast Razorback. At the last Arkansas game in Death Valley, members of Third Row chopped the head off the pig they were roasting and ran it up an 80-foot flagpole.
“That went over pretty big with the crowd,” says the mysterious Brett B., a 2003 LSU graduate who still attends every event he can.
Why do these graduates and fans keep coming back? The answer to that question is as difficult to pin down as the location of the legendary bench.
“Tailgating at LSU is something you have to experience to understand,” says the mysterious Brett B. “First of all, we have a blast, but it just grows into something you do without even thinking about it. We have people who’ve moved away who still show up years after they’ve graduated.
We’ve got all kinds of people: students, friends, parents. It just happens.”
It will keep happening if the members of Third Row Tailgaters have any say in the matter. The recent success of the Tigers is something they’re enjoying immensely, and they’re looking forward to another year of good times, not only at the Natatorium, but on the field as well.
Asked to make a prediction on LSU’s upcoming 2005 season, neither Brett nor Jay would grant the Tigers anymore than a pair of losses. If that’s the case, better grab your gear and head out to the Natatorium and “Natty Night” early, while there’s still room.
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