Top 20 Tailgate Colleges

[WarNole 121]

Number one is .....

AUBURN No. 1

Auburn is ablaze in football glory and deserves to top the game day tailgating list for 2014. Two years ago, Auburn struggled to keep its head up during a 3–9 season. But last year, in his first stint as their head coach, Gus Malzahn gave the Tigers a reason to whoop “War Eagle” once again. They posted the biggest turnaround in the nation with a 12–2 season, the biggest turnaround in SEC history (+7 conference wins), and fell just shy of the biggest improvement in NCAA records, all while producing a Heisman Trophy finalist, Tre Mason. With Coach Malzahn’s innovative offensive style, there’s no reason to doubt the buzz touting Auburn’s continuing reign on the field this fall.

With a stellar season under their belt, Auburn’s devotion to good tailgates only intensified. Mostly congregated directly adjacent to the east side of Jordan-Hare Stadium, the Tigers’ blue-and-orange canopies fill most every available space on campus, from the amphitheater sheltered under cool, tall pine trees to the wide-open intramural fields. This past year, the school heeded the cry of their faithful and created 2,000 more free parking spaces, 800 paid ones and a whole new tailgating area by “the pond” with staff appointed to make the most of the free space.

Photo courtesy of Auburn University/Jeffrey Etheridge

Walking around Auburn on game day feels like a family affair, whether you’re blood related or not. Just stroll by any gathering, and someone’s sure to offer you a sweet tea or a cold beer alongside platefuls of hot wings, bone pork ribs and possibly venison. At the Thanksgiving game, you’ll get turkey, deep-fried with a crispy skin surrounding moist, succulent slices.

And though Auburn may have lost its ancient, treasured oaks at Toomer’s Corner to poison, they have not doused the tradition of rolling the sacred area after every victory. Now the waving, white wonderland covers nearby trees and traffic lights. Once the toilet paper’s spent, jubilant Tiger fans head a few blocks down to rabble-rouse at the Bank Vault, Quixote’s or Bourbon Street. Or the die-hards hit the “shot bus”—a real school bus with a shot bar—at the War Eagle Supper Club. It’s a sweet dive dating back to the ’30s that’s open till the wee hours and pulses with live music.

If you’re thinking of hitting an away game this fall, put Auburn in a prime spot on your list. Considering the spring game draw of 70,645 fans in April, you can expect Auburn’s tailgating this fall to resound with even more energy and warmth.

http://tailgater.sco...-colleges?s=538

[cooltigger21 0]

Nice to see others recognize what we have believed all along. The grove is pretty dang close IMHO.

[Barnacle 7,986]

I think Auburn's tailgating is fantastic, really. But the grove is #1 and its not even close.

[CajunLSUBayou 0]

Not a bad list, but A&M at 14 is a joke. Their tailgating is terrible. Worst SEC tailgating I have been to by far.

[3rdgeneration 5,216]

Where's "the pond"?

[CajunLSUBayou 0]

Grove is overrated

[Barnacle 7,986]

Grove is overrated

coming from an LSU fan, I would expect that.

[CajunLSUBayou 0]

Grove is overrated

coming from an LSU fan, I would expect that.

I have been a few times. I just don't think it lived up to the hype. I really enjoy the tailgating at Auburn and Bama the most besides LSU. Florida fans just want to fight, so I didn't enjoy there too much. I haven't been to UGA.

[Barnacle 7,986]

Grove is overrated

coming from an LSU fan, I would expect that.

I have been a few times. I just don't think it lived up to the hype. I really enjoy the tailgating at Auburn and Bama the most besides LSU. Florida fans just want to fight, so I didn't enjoy there too much. I haven't been to UGA.

All to their own.

[Barnacle 7,986]

I am curious though, what did you find overrated Cajun?

[CajunLSUBayou 0]

I am curious though, what did you find overrated Cajun?

The whole no music, no generator (I think) thing. I get that it's a different kind of tailgating and all uppity and stuff, but just seemed boring. I am not your flat bill graphic t lsu fan either. I am a polo and sperrys kind of guy. I just prefer a little more upbeat tailgate. The females were not overrated though.

[Barnacle 7,986]

I am curious though, what did you find overrated Cajun?

The whole no music, no generator (I think) thing. I get that it's a different kind of tailgating and all uppity and stuff, but just seemed boring. I am not your flat bill graphic t lsu fan either. I am a polo and sperrys kind of guy. I just prefer a little more upbeat tailgate. The females were not overrated though.

I was about to say, I bet you are just accustomed to a different style of tailgating, although there are tons of generators in the grove, and there is also a pretty good bit of music, even live music if you can find it. One thing the grove lacks is BBQ. You won't find grills in the grove, and that is its major downside IMO.

[aucanucktiger 1,525]

Yes but there have to be some common sense benchmarks for great tailgating. I know many U of Miami fans that think they had the best tailgating experience parked at a curb near the Orange bowl in a very, very scary neighborhood smelling highway fumes.

Then you find out their tailgating experience is limited to Miami and that thing in the parking lot next to the Flying High Circus the Criminoles call "tailgating".

My favorite 5 places I've tailgated in order are Auburn, West Point (Army), U of Washington, UF and Chapel Hill (UNC).

[Barnacle 7,986]

What's the West Point tailgating like? I think that would be a really cool experience.

[Auburn06 76]

100% #1. I went to homecoming & loved the tailgating. I had so much fun throwing the football with family, even though I failed at catching lol Next time we may just get a tv or two & watch at the tent. I would probably go inside JUST to see Nova fly then go back out and hurry to the tent to watch.

[WFE12 8,222]

I am curious though, what did you find overrated Cajun?

The whole no music, no generator (I think) thing. I get that it's a different kind of tailgating and all uppity and stuff, but just seemed boring. I am not your flat bill graphic t lsu fan either. I am a polo and sperrys kind of guy. I just prefer a little more upbeat tailgate. The females were not overrated though.

I was about to say, I bet you are just accustomed to a different style of tailgating, although there are tons of generators in the grove, and there is also a pretty good bit of music, even live music if you can find it. One thing the grove lacks is BBQ. You won't find grills in the grove, and that is its major downside IMO.

No Grills?!! say what!?!