Football is officially back. The National Football League’s season kicked off last Thursday and college football is through its second full weekend of games. And with football comes a southern specialty: Tailgating. 

According to the American Tailgating Association, the earliest documented signs of pregame celebration, or tailgating, occurred before a football game between Rutgers University and Princeton University in 1869. Though the game is historically significant, tailgating was not invented at any single game. Today, these pregame celebrations range across a variety of sports regardless of the competition level. Children’s leagues to professional leagues lure fans and families to indulge in extravagant festivities with food, games and entertainment. 

Here at N.C. State, students celebrate each football home game in a reserved area outside Carter-Finley Stadium, and after two weekends of home games with six more to go, there is a lot of tailgating to do. Though I am new to southern tailgating, here are some tips I have learned thus far to draw in the crowd and impress peers. 

First, planning is vital but not required. At the first game of the season that took place at 12:30 p.m. on Aug. 31, we got a hasty introduction to the season’s tailgating. Students arrived at the fairgrounds as early as 7 a.m., many with very little sleep. Lunch slipped their minds and water did not always make it on the list. Tailgaters hurriedly threw chairs into their cars and stopped at Bojangles’ before claiming a spot at the fairgrounds. The poorly prepared tailgaters showed up to the fairgrounds simply hoping they brought the necessities. Tailgating without planning is like playing the lottery—some got lucky and turned out an impressive tailgate with little preparation, while others wandered around the aisles of trucks looking for support. Planning ahead of time will take the gambling out of tailgating and create an unforgettable time.

Second, hydrate—enough said. The intense heat of the season’s first game made clear the importance of bringing water. During the home game against Louisiana Tech, students baked on the bleachers while sweating their weight in water. Tailgates never lack alcohol, but they seem to lack water more often than they should. Let’s not let the end of the southern summer get the best of us—remember to bring some water.

Finally, conserve your energy and pace yourself. Southern football is more than just a game—it’s an all-day event. Tailgating for up to five hours before a three-hour game is a new kind of marathon—one which requires endurance and patience. We can’t let the hype of the tailgate completely drain our storage tanks with a football game still to be played. The first home game was a demonstration of how not to conserve energy. After two-and-a-half quarters of football, the student section looked abysmal. It was maybe 25 percent full and continued to drain until the end of the game. Though it was hot, students should make sure they have as much energy for the game as they do for the tailgate. 

These few tips are not all-inclusive, but are broad foundations to guide a successful tailgate. To create a successful celebration, we need a lot more than just concepts, but I am going to leave the details up to you. Though there are still six home games to be played, the biggest one is right around the corner—nationally ranked Clemson is coming to town Sept. 19, so remember to conserve your energy because we’re going to need it for the game.