Sometimes starting as early as Thursday, parking lots around stadiums at Southern universities begin filling up with tailgaters. Many of these folks may not have tickets to Saturday's football game, but that's all right with them. The real sport is taking place on the asphalt.
Long before the whistle blows or the first tackle is made, a different kind of sport unfolds — one that involves smokers, coolers and more team spirit than you can shake a foam finger at. Welcome to the world of Southern tailgating, where the pre-game festivities often outshine the main event, drawing in millions each college football Saturday. WHY SOUTHERN TAILGATES LEAVE THE REST IN THE DUST It's no wonder that most lists of top college football tailgating scenes are dominated by Southern schools.
Southern hospitality gets kicked into high gear when football season rolls around. As Cindy Andrews, a longtime Auburn University tailgater, puts it, "Auburn and tailgating have kept our entire family very connected and close. My parents passed on the love of Auburn to me, and I passed it along to my kids, and now my children are passing it along to their children.
" It's this spirit of friendly competition and welcoming hospitality that sets Southern tailgates apart. Reddit user turtleviking shares, "Tailgating in the SEC for visiting rival fans has to be the best. Every fanbase thinks they are the best at tailgating and will go out of their way to prove it to you if you are polite.
" TRADITIONS UNLIKE ANY .