It is getting close to that time of the year again. Our good friend GreatAppSt has issued his official Tailgater’s Warning which marks the middle of his yearly countdown. What does that mean here? It means it is time to release our menu for the upcoming football season. Some may ask why this is important, to know what food you will be eating on Saturday’s in the coming months? For some, they may have an allergy or a preference not to eat a certain food, and it allows them plenty of time to plan ahead. Another reason to release a menu is that it makes us feel like the long summer is coming ever closer to an end, which brings us to our favorite time of the year.
For our most loyal of supporters, they are very familiar with how our system works. Tailgaters have either paid their “dues” up front at Fan Fest or at the first game for the entire season, or for those who prefer a game by game donation, we are also very flexible in that matter. Although the up front, full donation is always appreciated, and allows for better planning throughout the season, we understand that not everyone can shell it out all at once. Even though inflation has gone up through the years, the dues have never changed. For six full home tailgates a $50 donation per person, $100 per couple, covers everything from plates and napkins to propane and meat. There is not a better deal anywhere else. Enough chit-chat, let’s get down to the business of the menu.
The first home game brings North Carolina A&T, a 6pm kickoff, which is perfect for our most labor intensive meal of the season. Our double beer battered chicken strips are perfectly crisp and we’ll provide ten different dipping sauces ranging from traditional honey mustard and ranch to our homemade barbecue and buffalo sauces
The second home game is against Charleston Southern on September 28th. The Buccaneers will be dominated by our High Country Boil, which is kin to the typical low country or cajun boils, with a touch of the Appalachian Mountains. You will find your typical ingredients of red potatoes, corn on the cob, andouille sausage and shrimp. If you want to know the secret mountain ingredient, you will have to show up!!
Samford brings Homecoming (Oct 12th), which has been our traditional Thanksgiving feast for several years now. A turkey will be deep fried and another turkey will be smoked to a creole perfection while the sides dishes will resemble the fare you are familiar with on the last Thursday of November.
Black Saturday brings the Georgia Southern Eagles, our most hated rival. For the biggest home game of the season, we will prepare what we do best. We’ll put our baby back ribs up against anyone in the parking lot. Low and slow is the key to our super smoked ribs with a perfect Lexington-style sauce that drenches your palette.
The fifth home game of the season brings on the Chattanooga Mocs. Warm up on a late fall afternoon with our Choo Choo Chili, appropriately named for what we prepared each national championship tailgate in Chattanooga. It is your typical bean and meat chili but with the perfect level of spice that you can dress up with your favorite toppings.
The final home game of the season, and as an FCS school, will be against our neighbors in the southern North Carolina mountains. In what could the last Battle for the Old Mountain Jug, we will go with one of our favorite dishes. Nothing says western north carolina like our slow smoked pork shoulders. Often call the boston butt, our chopped barbecue sandwiches simply cannot be beat with our eastern-style sauce.