Quick 60-second snapshot of how Duke's pregame festivities are a little...different from those at other colleges.  

Here we spell Tailgate with a capital T and have traded sundresses and seersucker for outrageous costumes and baby pools full of beer (for 1 fraternity and friends this past saturday, that meant 96 cases of good old busch).  A typical Tailgate is one where beer rains from the sky like liquid gold and all your best friends dance blissfully to the official soundtrack of such classics as "Shout," "Don't Stop Believing" and "Glory Days."  The average shotgun rate is approximately 1 per person per 15-20 minutes.

 For a school with a team historically infamous on the gridiron, Duke has developed a recent tradition where the tailgate was (at least for students) a bigger "game" to look forward to than the actual football match itself (Duke student attendance in the stadium had been often eclipsed by that of the visiting team).  

This year, however, under new leadership (incoming head coach David Cutcliffe), Duke football is experiencing the Dawn of a New Day (we're currently 1-1 and on Aug 30 experienced our 2nd home win of my college career !!!!).  Be on the lookout for big things from DUKE FOOTBALL 2k8.  The University is hoping that the team's improvements will increase attendance at games and curb some of the blacktop debauchery.  

If you're concerned about the potential extinction of this lovely parking lot pre-party, don't worry; this tradition is one that should be here at least through the end of the season.  In the words of our campus newspaper, however, "to tailgate or not to tailgate: at least there's a question."

PS- I have more tailgate videos up on www.youtube.com/user/mrb27