The buzz at Roos Field is growing, and it's not just what's in that plastic cup.
Food, friends, maybe a few beverages: the tailgating scene at Eagles football games has never been better.
While some folks don't like the structured approach Eastern has taken to tailgating—with the designated lots, tickets and rules—it seems to be working well. There's room to spread out and there are rules so that a few bad apples don't end up spoiling everyone's Saturday game day, at least most of the time.
Eastern has been selling tickets for tailgate spots for the past few years, but this year the spots are selling out. Of course that has a lot to do with last year's football success. But the planning by Eastern athletic department staff has helped channel fan excitement in a way that we hope will keep that fire burning.
It's always fun to watch your team win. But as history has shown us, Eastern fans get quiet or stop showing up altogether when the Eagles start to falter. That's why fun events surrounding the athletic competitions are such a good idea. They keep people coming back, because win or lose, you know there's a burger on the grill with your name on it.
There have been grumbles from some tailgaters about the rules in the “Eagle Village” tailgating lot behind Roos Field. But the rules are minimal and make sense. No open flames? Melted plastic tents and tarps, let alone endangering lives with fire, might put a damper on the festivities and would certainly give the “Inferno” a new meaning. Keep your alcohol in a plastic cup? This one seems like a no-brainer. It prevents the hazards of broken glass as well as the shame of being seen drinking cheap beer or, heaven forbid, a wine cooler.
The organization in the tailgating lot allows folks to focus on the important stuff, like having fun and getting pumped up for the game. It prevents headaches for fans and staff alike, and creates a higher-level football scene here in Cheney. With that, we'd like to give kudos to the masterminds behind the tailgating scene, as well as the boots on the ground on game days, who have a big job to do. It took some smart thinking and foresight to create this atmosphere.
Something is growing at Roos Field. It's a sense of pride in the Eagles that we hope will transcend the wins and losses and spread throughout campus and the community.
Team spirit isn't just about sports. It's about feeling good about where you go to school, your alma mater, the university in your backyard. And when people feel that spirit, they're more likely to get involved in making the university a better place, on the field and in the classroom.
The Eagles' recent wins have only boosted the sense of excitement in the tailgating village and beyond. The only thing we could hope to improve upon is the number of home games on next year's schedule.
So keep it up Eastern brass, Eastern fans and Eastern athletes. We hope this team spirit takes root and flourishes throughout the year. Now how many hardcore fans will be shoveling out tailgate spots for the upcoming basketball season?
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