Midnight Tailgating

[Eddie P]

A fun little story. I wonder at the identities of the "alleged alumni"


NEWS


Tailgating under the stars
Fans, police unclear about official Boulevard start time


By Ryan Trimble News Editor
November 14, 2003


Lately, the traditional football tailgating scene at SMU has been changing.

Actually, early.

Starting the night of Oct. 17, the night before the SMU vs. Boise State football game, and again on Halloween night before the SMU vs. Fresno State game, a trend known as “Midnight Tailgate” swept the Boulevard, bringing students fresh from a Friday night of partying straight to the grassy, pre-game stomping grounds to get ready for another football game.

According to junior Beta Theta Pi member Matthew Kreth, Midnight Tailgate was conceived by members of Kappa Alpha Order, Lambda Chi Alpha and Beta Theta Pi.

Unconfirmed accounts say some alumni party on the Boulevard in the wee hours of the morning as well.

“The way we saw it, members can’t party in the house without getting in trouble, so we moved the party to the Boulevard, a place we like partying because it’s a legal place that SMU has given us for pre-game festivities,” Kreth said.

According to a majority of students, the understood, unofficial rule is that tailgating on the Boulevard could start on Saturday.

Midnight Tailgate then could begin at 12:01 a.m., and students that are of legal drinking age are allowed to consume alcoholic beverages. Kreth said that he had heard this rule, and another version of the tailgating policy that said official tailgating couldn’t start until two or three hours before kick-off.

Apparently, this confusion over the official start of tailgating has raised some eyebrows as to what the true policy says.

According to smumustangs.com, there are no regulations for arrival time to the Boulevard, other than telling fans “The Boulevard will be open most of the day on game day so come early and come often for the greatest tailgating atmosphere in the southwest.”

Coming early is definitely an understatement. But is 12:01 too early for students?

“Before this Saturday’s game against Rice, tailgating can’t start until 9:00 a.m.,” SMU Police Maj. Richard Shafer said. He explained that he had not personally been involved with any of the Midnight Tailgating thus far, but would check on the situation. But according to SMU Police Lt. Jimmie R. Tinsley, the main problem wasn’t that students were out too early for tailgating, but instead that after the events on Halloween, the Boulevard was a mess.

“The North end of the Boulevard was trashed, and Campus Planning and Plants Operations had to be called out to clean up after the late-night party,” Tinsley said.

The officer also explained that the rule on official start time was understood by many as saying tailgating can start on game day.

“If they’d just use the receptacles, there wouldn’t be a problem,” Tinsley said.

Beside the mess, those who have attended Midnight Tailgate said there haven’t been any major problems and that the event is quite successful in bringing the campus together.

“SMU police have driven by the tailgating and not said anything, simply checked up on the situation, so we assumed we’re not doing anything wrong as long as no underage drinking is happening,” Kreth said.

“The event [has] been surprisingly successful in fraternity relations, as well,” junior Lambda Chi Alpha member Blake Adams said. “At the last Midnight Tailgate, brothers from our house and Pi Kappa Alpha were sharing burgers with each other, and even some of the SMU police officers were enjoying burgers as well.”

It remains to be seen what will happen at this weekend’s Midnight Tailgate, but it seems that as long as students don’t get out of hand, the new tradition could become a Hilltop favorite.

“I see no problem as long as the students stay under control, and they watch their pints and quarts,” Tinsley said.

[FWMustang]

Fantastic!!! I think this is great. THe DPs officer is right: if they keep the place semi-clean and don't cause any disturbances, let 'em tailgate.

I keep saying that if people keep coming to the BLVD., at some point they will have a reason to go into the stadium.

[Mike Damone]

DPS-those guys need to find something better to worry about.

[Dooby]

I take my hat off to those guys.

CLAP CLAP CLAP

[Otto]

And to Lt. Tinsley for being understanding. This is the best example I can think of in a while of SMU officials "getting it." In years past, they would have figured out a way to put the kibosh on an inspired move like this.
Drink one for me! (Then, when I get there tomorrow, I'll return the favor.)

[Mustangs35SMU]

Originally posted by Dooby:
I take my hat off to those guys.

CLAP CLAP CLAP

DITTO!!

[GoRedGoBlue]

Could this be an ACTUAL start of a tradition??? This is eerily similar to...dare I say it...a famous AGGIE TRADITION...

Kudos