Bucket Game!

Two teams playing out the string in late November doesn't seem like something anyone wants to see right?  WRONG!  We're playing for the right to take this home for the next 12 months:

We will be making the trek to Gloomington to watch the Boilers HOPEFULLY show up and compete like they have been over the last two months, not like they did last Saturday.  As I've said this is a small group so we'll be doing "Stone Cold Tailgating Unplugged." 

The menu will be chili and hot dogs with an assortment of "warmers."  I'll pack everything up in the car and head to Indy on Friday night.  Schedule is below.  We will be tailgating with my aunt and uncle's mixed group of IU and Purdue fans, though I would suspect we will be vastly outnumbered.  I'll bring the fire pit but I won't be bringing the tent unless rain is forecast.  If it is going to rain I'll probably trade out the fire pit for the kerosene heater.

Friday
8:00 p.m.     Eric Arrives at Greg's

Saturday
7:15 a.m.     Andy Arrives at Greg's
7:30 a.m.     Depart for Eric's aunt and uncle's
9:30 a.m.    Arrival in Bloomington
11:30 a.m.   Depart for Stadium
12:00 p.m.   Kickoff
4:30 p.m.     Depart Bloomington

Mildcats

Well we've reached the end of another home football season.  We're at the point where we should be able to beat the teams that are at our own level so I expect a great showing from our Boilers this weekend.

In honor of our visitors from Chicagoland we're going to be serving Chicago style hot dogs as our main dish with lots of bad for you sides.  We'll also have a few beers from our favorite Chicago brewers at Begyle.

We'll have all the needed warming devices as the weather is forecast to be on the colder side.  We will also have warm beverages and mix ins to augment your body heat!

Saturday November 22, 2014

8:00     Depart
8:15     Tailgate Set Up
11:30   Depart for Stadium
12:00   Kickoff

Badgers? We don't need no stinkin' Badgers!

While the Boilermakers have shown improvement in recent weeks the test that the Badgers will present on Saturday will be stout.  The Boilers now seem to have at least a puncher's chance in every game so let's cheer hard for a win this Saturday!


As our tailgate theme we will be celebrating the only two things from Wisconsin bigger than Badger and Packer football: beer and cheese.  We will of course have a selection of beers including a few with Wisconsin roots.  As for food we will have our ever popular make your own pizza for our main dish.
The weather will be a bit chilly so we will have the appropriate warming assistants: fire pit, kerosene heater, hot cider, hot chocolate, and "mix ins."
On Saturday we will be setting up in the D Lot at our normal time.  The link below will give you a guide to the best parking options for those of you not riding over from 1814 Vinton. 


https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgw7TDMwlhmGrZPiXzAXzQszn-Z2lMgLFtNgJBMVUtiJOK4NfsuXa-yeNpEGqUW4jfTBtCUxGfzbvCGgQn7_TjJ-aQcx1kRMjXmzp55Dl3PTX4NGT3CMsVKj3MAEKsr8qEv-cAMbHOagJLd/s1600/Parking+Options.JPG


Saturday November 8, 2014
8:00     Depart the House
8:15     Arrive D Lot and Set Up
11:30   Depart for Stadium
12:00   Kickoff


Post game we will head back to the house for dinner.  We can make a decision on the post game plan on Saturday night.

MSU

It's great to come into a football weekend off of a Boilermaker win, on the road no less!  The Spartans will be rolling into town carrying a top ten ranking and aspirations of reaching the new four team playoff at the end of the season; I'm sure they'll be taking the Boilermakers lightly and it might give our boys the chance they need to make a game of it.


We're celebrating the food and spirit of the 70's this weekend at our tailgate.  We will have a playlist chock full of your favorite rock, disco, and pop hits from the 1970's.  Our menu will be foods that were popular in that great decade that spawned so many of us and will include fondue and quiche as the main dishes.


Since we are going to have a lot of time at the tailgate I thought it would be fun to have some team competitions.  The tentative teams are below and the events will be Best 70's Dress, Lawn Jarts, 70's Trivia, and Mattel Electronic Football.  (Each teammate will play one quarter of football, otherwise it would take too long.)  I'm not on a team as I will be acting as the emcee unless we're short a player and I need to sub in.

Jim & Sue

Brendan & Dawn

Kevin & Joel

Bacon & Bauer

Sellers & Coons

Saam & Paula

Keith & Greg

Tony & Michael

Jon & Bianca

Brian & Erica

David & Caitlin

We will have a large group this week and will be unable to transport everybody in the Ambulance and the Element.  Therefore we are going to have to consolidate cars to get over to campus.  Since we're planning to be drinking most of the day and will be heading to Harry's right after the game I would suggest that you plan to leave your cars on campus on Saturday night.  We will make arrangements via Uber to return to the houses.  The link below shows the garages that you might want to use.


https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgw7TDMwlhmGrZPiXzAXzQszn-Z2lMgLFtNgJBMVUtiJOK4NfsuXa-yeNpEGqUW4jfTBtCUxGfzbvCGgQn7_TjJ-aQcx1kRMjXmzp55Dl3PTX4NGT3CMsVKj3MAEKsr8qEv-cAMbHOagJLd/s1600/Parking+Options.JPG


Friday October 10, 2014
The Chicago crew should be in town by 8:30 on Friday night.  Feel free to arrive anytime on Friday night.  We'll hang out at the house, grab a beer or two and catch up.


Saturday October 11, 2014

8:30  Breakfast at 1814

10:00  Depart for D Lot
10:30  Tailgate Set Up
3:00    Depart Tailgate
3:30     Kickoff
7:30     Postgame Tailgate/Meal
8:30     Depart for Harry's


Following breakfast at the house we'll consolidate in as few cars as possible on Saturday before heading over to campus.  We will be parking in the D Lot as usual and will likely be close to the Evans Scholar house for those of you meeting us at the tailgate.


Sunday October 12, 2014
Since we are doing biscuits and gravy on Saturday morning I'm not sure what we'll be doing for breakfast on Sunday.  Mom and Dad need to get on the road rather early on Sunday to drive up to see my niece perform at a band contest in Illinois.


The Chicago crew will try to get underway earlier rather than later to make sure that everyone makes it to their flights.

Homecoming 2014

I don't know about you, but I think that fall is just the best time of the year.  The cool nights and warm days take me back to those first few months at Purdue when every Saturday we looked forward to watching our Boilermakers on the gridiron.  (Isn't it funny how time changes ones perspective?  I know full well that we were 23-51-3 in the years that I was in school but allow me the time to reminisce huh?)  This Saturday we gather together in the shadow of the smokestack........errrrr bell tower to talk about the old memories and create some new ones!  Welcome to Purdue Homecoming 2014!

The Boilers have looked improved the last couple of weeks (yes I know that last week was a I-AA opponent) and I hope that they can carry that into this week.  The Hawkeyes have been up and down this year but they always play the Boilers tough and I don't expect this Saturday to be any different.  Hopefully the Boilermakers can deliver a Homecoming victory but even if they don't we are going to have a great tailgate party! 

We will be breaking out what is simply the best tailgate theme of the year, our annual Oktoberfest.  I looked back and the first Oktoberfest tailgate was in 2004 meaning this year marks our 10th year of Oktoberfest in West Lafayette!  Break out those lederhosen and prepare to feast on a menu of kraut balls, potatoes, bratwurst, and Marzen Bier!

I believe that everyone is aware that we are in the D lot up on the golf course, but let this serve as a reminder!  There is a map link below that should give you the best parking options if you're not riding over from 1814 Vinton in the morning.

https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgw7TDMwlhmGrZPiXzAXzQszn-Z2lMgLFtNgJBMVUtiJOK4NfsuXa-yeNpEGqUW4jfTBtCUxGfzbvCGgQn7_TjJ-aQcx1kRMjXmzp55Dl3PTX4NGT3CMsVKj3MAEKsr8qEv-cAMbHOagJLd/s1600/Parking+Options.JPG

Friday September 27, 2014

 

My parents will be home all day on Friday so feel free to arrive any time after 12:00 if you’re staying at the Stone Cold Lodge 1814.  Paula and I are also planning to be there on Friday afternoon and will likely be heading over to watch the Purdue AAMB practice.

There are no set plans for the night, we’ll probably just hang out at the house and catch up.  I am thinking about opening up the poker table for games.

Saturday September 28, 2014

 

8:00 a.m.         Depart the house

8:30 a.m.         Tailgate Begins

11:30 a.m.       Leave for Game

12:00 p.m.       Kickoff

6:00 p.m.         Dinner at 1814 Vinton?           

Eric and his parents will be departing from the house at 8:00 to ensure that we have two adjacent spots.  If anyone else would like to meet at the house they are welcome to but it is not necessary.  We have room to transport up to 7 people from the house in the ambulance and Element.

We will plan to eat at the house as there will be such a large group and securing a spot on campus would be nearly impossible.  We will order in some Mad Mushroom.  (Yes, even the inexplicably popular cheese sticks.) 

  

Plans for Saturday night are fluid; we can do what everyone feels like doing.  We can stay at the house for games or head to campus to brave the bars, we’ll just play it by ear.

  

Sunday September 29, 2014

No specific plans for Sunday other than nursing various degrees of a “hangover.”  Breakfast will be out at the house probably around 10 a.m.

Central Michigan

All in all not a bad start to the season.  As frustrating as portions of the game were we found a way to win a game that we would have likely lost in 2013!  With that it's on to the next Michigan directional school: Central Michigan.

This projects to be a tougher test for the Boilers as CMU returns 20 starters from a team that went 6-6 last year and had a much more effective offense.  We have handed CMU five losses over the years, including in the Motor City Bowl which is like the Rose Bowl for the MAC.  I'm sure that CMU would love to come and ruin any semblance of hope that last week generated.  I think the Boilers can win this one though and start the season 2-0 in the MAC. 

We will be reviving a MAC school (Miami) tradition with our Kegs 'n Eggs tailgate this week.  We will be serving eggs, pancakes, assorted breakfast meats, and of course Bloody Mary's and Mimosas.

We will plan on meeting in the D lot on Saturday morning, hopefully near the Evans Scholars house where we have been for most games the last two seasons.

The D Lot can be found on the map on the right side of the blog. We have the large flagpole that extends to 20 feet and an ambulance so hopefully you will be able to locate us easily. We will be sporting either our custom flag, which can be seen to the right of this post, that sports our “Old School Boilermakers” flag. 

Saturday September 6, 2014
8:00 a.m. Depart for the W Lot
8:15 a.m. Arrive W lot/Set up Tailgate
11:15 a.m. Depart for Stadium
12:00 p.m. Kick Off
4:00 p.m.   Post Game Tailgate


Eric and his parents will be departing from the house at 8:00 to ensure that we have two adjacent spots. If anyone else would like to meet at the house they are welcome to but it is not necessary. We have room to transport up to 7 people from the house in the ambulance and Element.

Western Michigan

Vincent the Pooch here, before I turn the blog over to Master so he can give you all of the important information for this weekend's football game I would like to talk to you about rescue dogs.  We're a hearty bunch, survivors you might say, but we do need a little help from you humans from time to time.  This weekend the Stone Cold Tailgating Club will be collecting donations for the dogs (and cats....I guess) that live at the Almost Home Animal Shelter in Lafayette.  My kind and I would greatly appreciate your assistance in the form of any donations. 

The Almost Home humans will accept both cash and "in kind" donations.  A list of donation items can be found below:

Dog and cat treats. No colored biscuits, please.

Cat and pocket pet litter. Any brand, clay, corncob or paper litter only, please. We do not use scoopable litter. Special Kitty Cat Litter from Wal-Mart is great!

Esbilac, KMR and puppy and kitten nursing bottles and nipples

Advantage or Frontline topical flea preventatives

Dog toys. Kong toys, hard rubber bones (Nylabone, etc.), tennis balls, rope bones

Cat toys. Balls with bells, catnip toys, fur mice, etc. Nothing with strings, please.

Food and water bowls, all sizes (metal only; no plastic bowls please)

Pet carriers and cages, all sizes

Rabbit pellets and alfalfa hay

Hamster food and treats

Peanut butter

Heating pads

Chew sticks, exercise balls, wheels, and small cardboard boxes for pocket pets

Towels, blankets or rugs, any size, new or used

Thanks in advance for your donations!  Now I'll turn it over to Master!

Welcome to another season of Purdue Football!  We will have a great crowd at the tailgate for the first game and we're looking forward to seeing everyone! 

Back in 2008 Brendan Less commented to me that at some point our tailgate was going to turn into a "romper room" environment.  Little did he know at that time he would be adding to the "brood" of second generation of Stone Cold Tailgaters.  This first game will be the culmination of that prophecy as we host not only the usual members but eight of their children!  (I hear that Purdue Pete is planning to drop by the house to leave a little something for these second generation tailgaters.)

We will be celebrating the music and attitude of Jimmy Buffet this weekend with our "Cheeseburger in Paradise" tailgate.  Goodness knows that we need the pleasant feelings that weekend at the beach can bring when we are preparing for our football team and I think that a Parrothead tailgate is just what we need.  We all know about the struggles of Purdue Football 2013, but we will try to forget the struggles and remember the great tailgating as we move forward to 2014.

Our menu will of course be cheeseburgers with all the fixin's and of course French fried potatoes as the song says.  The normal selection of hard liquor, mixers, and beer will be available along with a special "Boat Drink" available only for this tailgate.

I look forward to hosting everyone at the house on Friday night, we'll have a great time I'm sure and hopefully we won't scare the kids too much!

Saturday August 30, 2014
8:00 a.m.      Depart the House
8:15 a.m.      Arrive D Lot
10:00 a.m.    Lunch Ready
11:30 a.m.    Depart for Game
12:00 p.m.    Kickoff

We will be leaving the house around 8 a.m., but given that we have so many people we are not going to be able to ride together in just the Ambulance and the Element.  We will determine how many vehicles we will need on Saturday morning.  After the game everyone is welcome to come back to the tailgate to hang out and discuss the thrilling start to the season!

Football 2014

Well folks I wish I could say that I'm crazy excited for the start of football this year but the reality is that we're probably going to suffer through another tough season in West Lafayette, IN.  The team has to be more competitive this year right?  I say that only because being less competitive seems all but impossible given we were outscored 456-179 last year.

One thing that I am looking forward to this year is our tailgating, it should be a spectacular year.  We are once again slated to park in the D Lot north of the stadium.  Generally speaking we were very happy with the tailgating in D last year and hope to build on that this year!

We will be featuring the return of some of our tried and true favorites including Cheeseburgers in Paradise, Kegs and Eggs, and the ever popular Oktoberfest tailgate for Homecoming!  I've been inspired by Wrigley Field's "decade" celebrations this summer and we will be doing our first decade tailgate for MSU where we will be featuring the food, sounds, and looks of the 1970's.

We will also be doing our charity events this year.  I really do appreciate everyone that has supported our Charity endeavors over the last four years, I think it is great that our tailgating “family” is giving back.  The events will be as follows:

8/30   Western Michigan – Almost Home Pet Rescue

10/4   MSU – Coats for Kids

11/8  Wisconsin – St. Lawrence Food Pantry

The Stone Cold Tailgating Club is in effect again this year; pay one price and it covers you for the season!  There have been no changes to the pricing from last year.

In addition to the Stone Cold Tailgating Package there is also a lodging package available. With two locations I am going to leave it up to everyone to arrange their lodging each weekend by contacting Brendan and Dawn (goboilerz@yahoo.com) or Susan Franklin (susanfranklin_1814@comcast.net).

The revenues from the Stone Cold Lodging package will be put towards house upkeep, utilities, and improvement work. Each location has a “bucket” for you to make your donations.

I look forward to seeing everyone this fall!

Basketball Homecoming 2014

I'm happy that all of you have decided to join us for the Ninth Annual Purdue Basketball Homecoming brought to you by The Stone Cold Tailgating Club. I'm so glad that all of you can be part of what is now a standing tradition! This will be a great chance for us to get together and see a competitive Purdue game after the mess of a football season we experienced in 2013.

Saturday January 18, 2014
1:30 p.m.    Meet at 1814 Vinton
2:00 p.m.    Depart for Campus
2:30 p.m.    "Bargate" at Harry's
6:00 p.m.     Depart for Mackey
7:00 p.m.     Tipoff
9:30 p.m.     Postgame activities

The late game time makes for a perfect afternoon of "bargating" at Harry's.  We didn't make it there at all during football season and I hear that they're bottom line is suffering as a result!  Wouldn't want our favorite bar going under would we?

Unfortunately we're not going to be able to take the ambulance over to campus.  We have a lot of the tailgating gear stored in it right now and with Dad's recent surgery it's probably not a great idea for him to be muscling that beast around.  As a result we'll have to take a couple of cars to campus.  My parents have volunteered to drive and we should be close to being able to get everyone in the two cars.

Postgame activities will be up to whatever everyone else wants to do.  I'm happy to return to Harry's but I would be just as happy to return to the house as that has turned out to b e a lot of fun over the last few football seasons.  We do have darts, cards, games, and a popcorn machine back at the house so it's like having your own campus bar I guess.  (Plus we sometimes get fresh baked cookies.)

Sunday January 19, 2014
10:30 a.m.     Breakfast

Not exactly sure what Mom has planned for breakfast but she told me that she has a plan.

Tickets
Our tickets are in section 118, row 21.

Lodging