by Steve Painter
Daily Lobo
Tailgate culture is alive and well.
UNM tailgaters spanned four parking lots Saturday during the first home game of the 2007 football season.
Walking down one aisle, the smell of grilling bratwurst wafted, and Notorious BIG's "Going Back to Cali" filled the fall air. Down the next aisle, burgers sizzled on the grill, and Garth Brooks crooned in the background. Another aisle over, a game of catch was going on.
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Besides cooking tailgate staples like hamburgers and hotdogs, some UNM fans added their regional flavors. For some it's green chile, while other UNM tailgaters favor steak.
"You've got your New York steaks, black beans, cantaloupe and brownies," Glen Hart said of his tailgate menu.
Hart tailgates just off University Boulevard, in the Vista Lot near The Pit. He is joined each home game by friends he met through TheRedMenace.com, a Lobo football fan Web site. Hart said he and his friends spend all afternoon tailgating.
"We got here as soon as the gates opened," he said.
Tailgating begins six hours before games, when all parking lots open. Those with RVs who want to spend the night near the stadium are allowed to park in South Lot at 5 p.m. the day before the game.
Next to the Rocky Mountain RV Overnight Lot is the Lobo Football Fan Fest, featuring booths from alumni associations, food vendors and music.
Saturday's game against NMSU allowed Albuquerque and Las Cruces fans to mingle before the big game. The Crimson Club set up a tent on the west side of The Pit in the Highland Lot. Several Aggie fans flew their NMSU flags high, but they were vastly outnumbered by Lobo fans' flags.
Darrell Shoup made the trip from Las Cruces.
"We came up yesterday," Shoup said. "We didn't bring all our stuff though. It's hard to make the trip up here."
Shoup said when he's in Las Cruces, he cooks brisket and ribs before Aggie games.
The next UNM home game is scheduled for Sept. 22, when the Lobos take on Sacramento State. The gates for the parking lot open at noon. Getting into the stadium area is always challenging on game day, so arrive early.
"We waited in line for, like, 30 minutes," Hart said.
The sights, smells and tastes of tailgate menus made the experience a sensory delight. But, ultimately, the best part of the day was the game itself - a Lobo win.
