SU tailgating, a time honored tradition in the Jaguar Nation

On the afternoon of Saturday, Sept. 9, Robert Tenning, a truck driver for Diesel Company in Tampa, Fla., parked his Fleetwood RV in the same position he has parked it in for the past three years.
A proud Jaguar supporter, Tenning has made the trip from his home in Florida several times in anticipation to watch Jaguar football.
“I’m excited,” he said. “It seems the team is off to a great start already.”
Tenning said he has enjoyed tailgating, the practice of socializing and eating for a social event, in this case during a football game, since he attended Southern in 1987.
The term “tailgating” is derived from the practice of socializing on the open tailgate of a vehicle and it is a time honored tradition among sports fans.
Tailgaters, as they are affectionately called, usually drive from out of town, like Tenning, to park their recreational vehicles in the close vicinity of sporting arenas, where their favorite teams are scheduled to face off, to hold pre-game parties.
The normal practices that take place during the pre-game socials are dance-offs, barbeques and potluck dinners.
On Saturday, as a zydeco band serenaded tailgaters having a good time in the stadium parking lot of A. W. Mumford Stadium, Tenning and his family enjoyed some barbeque as they fellowshipped with family and friends.
Less than a mile away from the Tennings clan, Sam Douglas, an accounting executive from Alexandria, is also barbequing.
He has traveled from as far as Shreveport to attend Southern’s first home game of the season.
“I have nieces that attend this school,” said Douglas. “I have nephews that are here (also). I just wanted to support their school.”
“I went to Grambling, but I still love Southern’s team,” Douglas said.
Douglas said this would be his first year tailgating at Southern University.
“It’s different from Grambling,” he said. “I didn’t have to pay to tailgate there but I see over here you have to pay for tailgating spots.”
According to officials with the Southern University Police Department, to tailgate on Southern’s campus, participants must be season book holders.
Stadium spaces and areas closer to the F. G. Clark Activity Center will cost tailgaters $350 to secure. The spaces are relatively small and the space also includes 2 parking spaces for cars.
Fans can also purchase, what SUPD officials call “political lots,” that fans have to pay $600 for.
According to SUPD, politicians who campaign or pass out flyers during the football games often reserve these spaces, which are generally larger than stadium and “mini dome” spaces.
“I think tailgating is very exciting,” said Jock Ardoin, a junior nursing and rehab major from Eunice. “Seeing Jaguars of all ages coming together to support the school (is great).”
When asked if she was a loyal tailgater, Dona Robinson, a doctorial graduate student from Washington, La. said, “I’m alumni, of course I tailgate. However, I have not gotten the opportunity to do so yet this year.”
Jessica Taylor, a sophomore psychology major from West Covina, Ca. said she wishes to try tailgating one day.
“I’ve never gotten the experience to tailgate on Southern’s campus since this is my first semester here,” said Taylor. “Hopefully in the future I will give it a try.”