Back in 2011 BCInterruption created a multiple part series that highlighted the steps necessary to have a successful tailgate at Boston College. Years later, I still get random emails from opposing fans asking about tailgating rules, so let's go over some of the basic rules.
- You have to be a donor to tailgate at BC. You can't do just one game, you have to sign up for the entire season
- Don't bother trying to just show up at Boston College to tailgate, BPD and the Staties aren't the most welcoming and will just send you away without giving you a real idea on where to park.
- If you get to tailgate in either Commonwealth Ave or Beacon St. garage, no open flames or BBQs. Basically this means you have to be creative with your tailgating spread.
- If it is a day game you can tailgate three hours before the game, and one hour after. If it is a night game (i.e Wake Forest) you can tailgate the three hours before but not after.
If you are one of the few, the proud, who can actually tailgate at Boston College, here are some helpful tips on how to throw a great tailgate or be a super guest.
Food
Nothing is worse than going to a tailgate and finding that someone has just subs and chips. BOR-ING. However if you are in a garage you can't grill, so you are going to need to be creative. You don't have to be over the top creative to have a successful tailgating spread. First off, grab a slow cooker. You can find these easily on EBay or Amazon. This keeps food warm, even when it's not plugged in. Buy one pork shoulder, some BBQ sauce and voila you have pulled pork sandwiches.
Secondly, every tailgate needs to have Buffalo Chicken Dip. Forget hummus, salsa, buffalo chicken dip is the Doug Flutie of chip dips. My mom makes an incredible dip, but just as a warning, you need to make a lot of this if you have a good group of tailgaters this dip will go FAST
Ingredients:3 chicken breasts (boneless skinless) (1-1.5lbs)
½ cup blue cheese dressing
Two 8 oz. package of cream cheese (softened) (I use whipped)
2 cup package of shredded Cheddar cheese
Large bottle (12 oz. bottle) of Frank's hot sauce - You will use ¾ of the bottle or 9 oz.
Directions:
Boil chicken for 10-20 minutes in a pot of water. Cool to cut and shred later.
Preheat oven to 350 degrees
Combine cream cheese, dressing, Franks Red Hot (3/4 of the bottle), 1 ½ cups of the cheddar cheese, and chicken - Mix together.
Pour into greased 8x8 dish. Sprinkle the remaining cheddar cheese (1/2 cup) on top. Bake approximately 25-30 minutes until bubbling around the edges. Serve with veggies or tortilla chips - Enjoy.
Drinks
If you like to have a cocktail, a beer, or you are a teetoaler who only drinks soda, having a good selection of drinks is crucial. If you have a tailgate in Shea Field, or you are visiting someone there, remember two quick rules. No glass bottles, and you can't bring beer onto the field. Basically, you need to give it your host ahead of time. And don't try to sneak it on, the security guards there are pretty good.
For those setting up a tailgate, bring beer and a variety of it. Two things here. One, if you have a beer that you want, separate that into a different cooler than you serve your guests, you would be surprised at how fast the beer can go if you have thirsty guests. Secondly, if you want to provide for guests, and there are lots coming many of them you don't know, supply them with something cheap. Good beer is expensive, and unless you want to dole out hundreds of dollars for beer for strangers, get Bud Light, or Busch. They'll deal.
If you are a guest, be a good person, bring beer. The tailgating hosts are usually kind enough to provide food and entertainment, the least you can do is bring your own booze. And when you are done, LEAVE IT in their coolers. Because tailgaters have to buy season passes, they will be there week after week, and giving them a few left overs will be very helpful in supplying future tailgates.
And if you want to bring soda and water, go ahead. There probably will be children, or Grant, and they will want it.
Music
This is the piece of tailgating that many BC fans lack. Music is crucial for a good time. IPhones or IPods are great systems for music, but pick up a cheap pair of IPhone speakers to play off of. Given the space, they usually are loud enough to do the trick. In terms of songs, I think my choices from 2011 work well ames Brown "Living in America"- The Godfather of Soul is a must have at any tailgate with parents. And what's better than screaming and howling like James Brown when you have a few drinks in you?
Bob Marley- again something that all generations can enjoy. Key is to only put a few songs in the playlist, otherwise the energy gets sapped out of your tailgate.
Neil Diamond- Sweet Caroline- I know, I know, I am sick of this song too. But girls aren't, and if you want to make your tailgate friendly to the opposite sex, you need to play their music too.
Standard Hits
Guns & Roses "Sweet Child of Mine" "Welcome to the Jungle"- a touch of harder stuff that really get you ready to run through a brick wall.
AC/DC- You Shook Me All Night Long- Great track, and Angus Young is the man.
Dropkick Murphy's- For Boston- Not a version I am big fan of, but you can't deny that the fans dig it. But be forewarned if you play Tessie or Shipping Off To Boston I may go nuclear on your speakers. Save it for the Sawx.
Beastie Boys- Fight For Your Right To Party/Sabotage/Girls- All great tracks, that all are pretty "safe" rap tracks for every fan but still will rock the stereo.
More music after the jump
For the Younger Crowds
These are the songs that you can play if your parents aren't at the tailgate. Don't be that guy that plays a bunch of obscure rap that only you and other diehard rap fans know. People don't want to hear that. Go for the classics.
DJ Khaled- All I Do Is Win- Played a ton during BC hockey games, and rightfully so.
Sugar Hill Gang- Rappers Delight- This song is long as hell, but it is a classic that even the older crowd can appreciate.
Snoop Doggy Dogg- Gin & Juice- Some of that West Coast G Funk that gets you right into that groove. Plus it's alot of fun to rap along to if you can (I can).
Notorious B.I.G- Mo' Money Mo Problems- I'm pretty sure every single human being knows Biggie's verse. Great beat, plus it makes P.Diddy look like he can actually rap
Outkast- The Way You Move. Big Boi can give you that Southern swagger to rock the tailgate, what's wrong with bringing a taste of the Dirty Dirty to the Northeast?
Country
A rather large group of fans like that music from down South. Whether it's Keith Urban or Tim McGraw, you may want to consider some of these less hillbilly-esque country songs
Joe Nichols- Tequila Makes Her Clothes Fall Off- Yes the song is about a girl who gets wasted and loses all her clothes. Songs about booze are cool even if they are country right?
Kenny Chesney- Beer In Mexico- Lots of people like Chesney, and most of them are girls. Want them to come over to your tailgate? Play this song.
Garth Brooks- Friends In Low Places- I guarantee even if you hate country that you know the words to this song.
This is just a short list, I could literally go on for pages on this. Hopefully this list gives you a start on creating your own BC tailgate playlist.
And of course playing "For Boston" at least a dozen times is a must.
Clothing
Here are some basic rules about WHAT NOT TO WEAR! First off, Red Sox, Celtics, Revolution apparel? Leave it at home. This is a Boston College game, not a SAWX game. The professional sports in town have plenty of exposure, we have six home games a year, keep the separation please.
If you have BC clothing, keep it to Maroon & Gold based shirts. Don't wear black, don't wear white, go with the basic colors. One of the biggest knocks to Alumni stadium is that it is a smattering of colors, most of them BC colors, so let's keep it simple. Maroon and Gold, that is it.
Entertainment
If you have the space, bring cornhole. And if you have a cornhole board with BC colors on it, send it to your favorite BC blogger (I need one). Cornhole is everywhere, and it can turn a quiet tailgate into a rowdy party. Especially if you have tailgaters who are highly competitive. Not to say that I am competitive, BUT I HATE LOSING AND I WILL DESTROY YOU ALL.
There are other games you can bring as well (washer tosses, ladder golf), but if you have the space make sure it's used.
There it is, some simple rules to live by if you want to be a Boston College tailgater. There are only six home games this year, so you are going to need to make these parties count. If you have any suggestions, leave them in the comments. Go Eagles!