I’ve traveled with the Wolfpack a fair amount over the years. I’ve seen us play at Carolina, been to the University of Virginia for a game, and even went up for the game against Ohio State when Philip Rivers was the quarterback and we lost in overtime. I’ve been to the tailgates and games at many schools other than those over the years, and of all my trips, Clemson, hands down, has the best tailgating situation by leaps and bounds over any of these other stadiums (even though I’m sure Ohio State would more than likely beg to differ).
Leaving the school, I was almost depressed at how much better Clemson tailgates than us and how there’s really no excuse for N.C. State not being able to create that kind of gameday atmosphere in Raleigh. The university embraces tailgating on Saturday at Clemson. They’re proactive in the way that they go about handling risk management situations rather than reactive, and the partnership between the fans, the university and the town come together to make it something else.
Above all else, Clemson is realistic and fosters a healthy environment rather than reacting when they sense something bad may happen like NCSU.
There are several examples of this difference in attitudes toward tailgating, for instance, Clemson allows bands at their tailgates. Why can’t we have bands? Is it a noise issue in the midst of the 60,000-plus people tailgating in wide-open fields next to a football stadium? More than likely, it’s another reactive and pointless reform instituted after the shooting several years ago.
Clemson allows hard liquor at tailgating. Why can’t we have hard liquor at our tailgates? Does the school really think that student’s are going to abstain from drinking liquor during tailgates because the administration says its bad? Not to mention that people parking in the alumni/donor lots do it regardless of the rules, but you don’t see any SWAT style raids on their tailgating to break up the perils and dangers of liquor at football games on a Saturday afternoon.
I didn’t get patted down going into the stadium at Clemson and nothing catastrophic happened during the game. Here at NCSU, the administration still feels level two pat downs are necessary, and whether they want to admit it or not – only enforce it on students. To top it off, Clemson students were on time for the game for the game, and not because we left earlier than I would at Carter-Finley but because they weren’t patted down, searched, stamped and hoarded through two gates on the far side of the stadium.
It helps that Clemson has a town that revolves around its university, while Raleigh treats the University as an afterthought. It also helps that their stadium is on campus, which allows for the students to tailgate outside their dorms. But with NCSU’s attitude toward tailgating and its unrealistic policies, they have created a new class of criminals out of students at tailgates.
There’s no reason we can’t have bands, and we shouldn’t consider hard liquor sinful. The University should work with the students to make sure they have a good time, rather than over regulating what should be a NCSU tradition.
Let Benton know your thoughts about tailgating at [email protected].