by Katherine Mathes

 

The leaves are starting to change and the air feels a bit crisper. From afar you can hear the slow chant of fight songs and the crowds cheering. This can only mean one thing – college football season has arrived. If you don’t feel like dealing with the crowds and lugging coolers to and from your car, turn your home into a Tailgating Mecca and invite your friends over to join in rooting for your alma mater.

Here are our top ten ideas to bring the ultimate tailgate party from the boulevard to your background!

Décor, Décor, Décor

Deck out your home. For a welcoming WOW! Lay Astroturf along the walkway to your front door. Hang your college flag. Hand out foam fingers, face stickers, cowbells and rally rags. To kick it up a notch, head to your local floral market and pick up flowers in the team colors and place them in mini helmets. It will add a pop of team spirit to your home. Looking to serve a menu that can incorporate décor? Serve cake balls decorated like mini footballs.

Specialty Cocktails

Serve a specialty cocktail that is cleverly named after your school, your mascot, or a popular player. If you are rooting for SMU, serve a new take on the screwdriver, and call it a Pony Driver. (You could even use cranberry juice instead of orange juice to bring in the school colors.)

Party Favors

Everyone likes to leave with a little something in-hand. A rule of thumb is to have something sweet and something salty. Hand out popcorn in your school’s colors and mix in customized M&Ms with your college logo or team color. Fill clear, plastic bags with a mix of the two items and use a customized sticker with your college logo to seal the bag.

Play Dress Up

When you invite your guests, let them know the attire is strictly uniform. Have them dress up as a player, coach, cheerleader or even a crazy fan. Who doesn’t love a chance to get in costume?

Kegs and Eggs

Getting ready for a morning kick off? Not a problem. Serve some cold beer (Want to go a step further? Add a little food coloring to incorporate your team colors!) and a killer egg sandwich. Guests will surely be ready to rally after enjoying the breakfast of champions.

Fan Favorite Pre-Game Nosh

Here is a recipe to wow your guest and clean out your freezer! Bacon-wrapped Dove Poppers. All you need is dove (for all non-hunters, chicken or shrimp work great too!) jalapenos cut lengthwise, cream cheese, bacon and toothpicks. To assemble these tasty treats, take a piece of Dove and lay a jalapeno slice and dab of cream cheese on top, then wrap it all in bacon and stick a toothpick through it all and grill it to perfection. Yum!

Branded Steaks

Forget the boring hotdog and burger menu – Spruce up your game day meal and serve branded steaks. This is a great idea for an evening game when you want to serve a meal verses finger foods. Get a meat brander customized with your team’s letters or logo.

Two Ways to Have Some Half-Time Fun

Draw teams before kick-off and play a casual (and tame) game of flag football during half- time. This will be sure to keep the competitive vibe alive through the entire game.

Fight Song Competition. I am sure you remember the words! Challenge your guests to perform their college fight songs during half time. Rank each competitor on accuracy, enthusiasm and performance.

Craziest Fan Prize

Do you have a regular group of friends you watch games with? Come up with a trophy to present to the guest who is dressed up the best and have them award it to the craziest fan at the next game watching party.

A Game of Squares

This is a simple (and inexpensive) way to keep all of your guests involved throughout the entire game. Sell each square for $2 a piece and have them write their initials in the squares they want to purchase. Determine what the monetary pay out is going to be after each half and award the winner their prize. All you need is a poster and markers – or if you want to get fancy, an old-school blackboard and colored chalk.

So go out there and have fun! Let us know if you have some other great football themed party ideas! Please comment below if you have one to share.

Katherine Mathes
Mathes and Co. Events
4219 West Lovers Lane, Dallas,  Texas  75209
214-350-6360
themathescollection.com