Tailgating SEC Style, Auburn

Each season a handful of SEC rivalry games determine bragging rights for the next year. But nowhere is the intensity greater for this Tailgating SEC Style week than when Auburn and Alabama face off in the Iron Bowl. My good friend and tennis buddy Tim Sammarco, owner and president of Sammarco Electric, and I ventured to Auburn, Alabama. The number one ranked Crimson Tide came looking to retain their perfect record. Too bad sixth-ranked Auburn had other plans.

With few exceptions, the weather across SEC land this season has been incredible. Saturday, November 25, was no exception. This nationally televised game kicked off at 2:30 p.m., so we arrived on campus just after 9:00 a.m. We had high hopes of experiencing a full day of Auburn tailgating. ESPN’s College GameDay was broadcasting from Toomer’s Corner in downtown Auburn, and fans from both sides were ready to go.

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Toomer’s Corner, located at the intersection of Magnolia Avenue and College Street, is sacred ground. If you recall, in 2010, an Alabama fan poisoned two large oak trees after Auburn’s Iron Bowl victory. The trees were significant for their history and because after wins, fans roll the large trees with a few hundred thousand yards of toilet paper.

Auburn’s Tailgating SEC Style

A large crowd had gathered at Toomer’s Corner for the GameDay broadcast, eagerly awaiting the day’s predictions. Auburn fans expressed their displeasure with loud boo’s when Lee Corso and the rest of the broadcast crew picked Alabama to win. Auburn basketball standout and guest picker Charles Barkley was in town to unveil his statue and took pride in defending Auburn’s honor.

The best part of any tailgating experience is the people you meet. While I met many die-hard Auburn fans, few are more fanatic than Kara Kennedy of Fultondale, AL. Kara is an Auburn grad. I’ve had the pleasure of meeting since we’re in the same business. Former Minor High School Coach Houston Kennedy and her dad arrive early to tailgate for every Auburn home game. The day was even more special for Coach Kennedy. He was instrumental in helping Charles Barkley secure his Auburn scholarship and said hello to the basketball legend.

We ran into Jon Nelson, who walked us over to the “Tigeritaville” tent. Their group’s name originated from a love of Auburn football and Jimmy Buffett. Kevin Sidor, along with his wife Julie and sons Chris and Carter, began tailgating in 1994. The large group of War Eagle fans gathers near the Ag building for great food, drinks, and some killer Bloody Mary’s. That’s for the kick-start Bloody y’all!

Roy walked us over to our next stop, a decked-out customized black trailer known as Skipper’s Tailgate. Jay Skipper and his wife Jamie live in Ft. Walton Beach, FL, and have been working on their trailer for a couple of years to create the ultimate Auburn-tailgating trailer.

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What made this couple unique is the story of how they met. Jay was introduced to Jamie at an Auburn tailgate and, after relentlessly pursuing her, managed to coax her into saying “yes” at a nearby rose garden near their tailgate spot. I asked Jay and Jamie to recreate the scene for me, and they were kind enough to oblige. To the group’s surprise, Jamie even said, “yes,” one more time!

Many of the “tents” and tailgating spots I visit are elaborate and well-stocked with food and beverage. Still, I try to connect with fans whose tailgate supplies consist of folding chairs and a tumbler full of their favorite beverage. Tammy and Russell Baqir and their friends Lee Nast and Richi Ross were content to plant their chairs near Toomer’s Corner and absorb the pre-game atmosphere.

Located in a prime location near the College GameDay stage on Toomer’s Corner, one tailgate, in particular, caught my attention. This large group of tents was well-organized with multiple TVs, a couple of dozen chairs, a few tables full of delicious food, and a special table where two rum-infused cocktails, the Yellow Hammer and the Pink Panty Pulldown, were being served.

Auburn Tailgating

I’ve seen many nice tailgating tents, but this one was unique not only because of its location, and to my amazement, it was an Alabama tent! Savannah, GA residents Marc & Meredith Lipson, along with Kevin and Michelle Kirsch, began tailgating a few years ago when their kids met in Tuscaloosa and have a heck of a setup. HIS CANDID RESPONSE SURPRISED ME when I asked Marc how he snagged such a prime spot near Toomer’s Corner.

“We drove around looking for a spot and on our second pass noticed the area was large enough for our tents, so we just started setting up. We figured someone might say something or ask us to move, but they never did, so here we are.”

Bacardi sponsors their tent, so for the record, Marc, I’m planning to take you up on your offer to come down to Tuscaloosa next season.

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Tim secured tickets for the game and not wanting to miss the pre-game action. We headed toward the stadium. On the way, we ran across The Patio, a tent managed and run by long-time friends Lee McDaniel and Joe Trombley. I caught the aroma of meat cooking and found Justin Ferguson attending to a large charcoal grill of hamburgers.

A few stops later, I spotted a sign that reminded me of the first adult beverage I “borrowed” from my parent’s bar refrigerator. I bumped into Margaret Stewart, a recent Auburn grad with a degree in sports journalism, and gave me a quick tutorial on Auburn tailgating. Interestingly, she felt much empathy for the Bama fans, given they head back to Tuscaloosa with their first regular-season loss. Great prediction, Margaret!

Tim was pulling for Alabama, and all I was hoping for was to witness a classic match-up between two stellar SEC programs. Gus Malzahn and his Auburn team never let up, containing Jalen Hurts’ Alabama offense while taking advantage of Jarrett Stidham’s consistent play on their way to a 26-14 Iron Bowl victory.

Auburn has a wonderful campus, and I highly recommend a road trip if your team is playing at Jordan-Hare Stadium. The campus is easy to navigate through and around, and the fans show the Southern hospitality our region is known for.

Thanks to all the incredible fans who made this trip special and for the warm, “Southern” hospitality.