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Tips for a successful tailgate

This article is written by a student writer from the Her Campus at Illinois State chapter.

Its official, football season has begun! So what should you be doing to have the best tailgating experience?
 
What to wear?
That’s simple… Show your redbird spirit by wearing red and white! Of course any T-shirt with Reggie the Redbird on it is also a great option. Fear the bird shirts are available all over campus and are recommended to wear every Friday. Depending on the weather, shorts or jeans are always a comfy and casual option as well.
Some girls even turn oversized ISU shirts into cute dresses. But if you are really in the mood to show your redbird pride, face and body painting are always a fun choice!
 
What to eat?
Anything goes! However, cooking/grilling out is always the best option when it comes to tailgating. Hamburgers and hot dogs are a popular choice for food. Pair them up with chips, nachos, popcorn, fruit, and any junk food you can think of! If you don’t want to bring a grill and deal with the mess, sandwiches are also a great alternative.
 
What to drink?
I think the answer to that question is pretty obvious.
The easiest thing to drink while tailgating is beer. It is easy to keep cold with “koozies” and it is easy to clean up and throw away. Hard alcohol and wine coolers are always another option. Not feeling alcohol? Sip on some water or pop to stay hydrated.
 
What to play?
If you are of age, beer pong is a great way to get the day started. It’s a competitive and fun game that many people can easily partake in. Bags is another popular tailgating game. Multiple people can play, and most know how to play it. Most guys also enjoy passing a football around while waiting for the actual game to start.

Check out some unique tailgating recipes to spice up your BBQ!
http://www.tailgating.com/recipe_search.php

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Megan Maginity

Illinois State

Megan is a sophomore Journalism major at Illinois State University, with a minor in Creative Writing. She balances her time between class, her sorority- Gamma Phi Beta, and writing for the college newspaper- The Daily Vidette. When she’s not busy, Meg likes to shop for the best sales, rollerblade, hang out with friends or watch reruns of Sex and The City. Becoming a campus correspondent/editor-in-chief was a great accomplishment for her because she is an aspiring writer, hoping to take on the world of mass media after graduation in 2013.