It's the Final Countdown!

I’ll just say, nothing will ever top ’89 first ever Iron Bowl on the Plains. And we have so many family tailgate memories going back three generations.

Saturday morning…little chilly…better wear my orange sweatshirt (we didn’t call them hoodies back then). Stroll across the ROTC marching field into a forest of RV’s. They’ve been there all week. But today all the doors are open, the grills are smokin’ and the coolers are pouring out to anyone that walks by.
      I don’t really know anyone but that doesn’t seem to matter. There are plenty of smiles, back slaps, food and beer for everyone. Heck there’s a guy with his family and they’re wearing Orange but with big T’s on them. hands full of food and drink and everyone is laughing and talking.
     Man those ribs smell good! I’m to embarassed to ask but then realize I don’t have to…a plate is shoved into my hand and I am placed in a lawn chair with a fresh cold beer. I am told “you can’t watch a game without a couple of those!” I have to agree.
     Once the feeling of overstaying my welcome takes hold, I thank my hosts and glibly say I have to find my girlfriend. I make it past 2 more RV’s before I am surrounded by huge guys in orange and blue. Obviously Alumni linemen from a prior Auburn Team. They want me to settle an argument. Uh, WHAT?!? Who makes the best BBQ? 3 tin pans full of absolutely melt in your mouth pork that would make anyone ready to both slap their grandma and die and go to heaven! Heck, I can’t decide, so I ask who was the best lineman…then sneak away during the ensuing new argument. I hear laughter behind me.
    I wander through a myraid of celebrations. It’s almost like the fair with carny-callers. Except these folks don’t want anything from you. You are their family. It’s like a weekly reunion where you don’t really know your 5th cousin twice removed but he has laid a feast of food and drink out and was just waiting for you to arrive. And looking at the jerseys and sweatshirts with opposing colors and symbols, they are more than willing to invite the blacksheep from opposing families.
    I was 660 miles from home and my family. But never did I feel alone at Auburn. Tailgating was the family reunion at which you got to meet the rest of your family. And it was always fun!