Almost half the fun of NC State football games happens across from Carter-Finley Stadium at the student tailgating section. The whiff of Bojangles’ chicken, the notes of “Wagon Wheel” and the bold masses of red and white make NC State one of the best tailgating schools.  

The history of tailgating goes back to the Civil War when supporters for Union and Confederate armies gathered to watch the First Battle of Bull Run in 1861. The onlookers hosted picnics and cheered for whichever “team” they desired to win.

In 1869, the first tailgate for a competitive sport occurred during a football game between Rutgers University and Princeton University. Fans wore their team’s colors and cooked food like chili, pork and corn. Tailgating has continued in both the collegiate and professional sports world ever since, and the participation in tailgating has only grown.

Hundreds of students gather to tailgate every home game and to dress up, grill out and cheer on the Wolfpack. I did not start going to tailgates until my third year, and I regret missing out on two years of tailgating NC State football games. I have built an enthusiasm for NC State’s football team by feeding off the energy of my peers at tailgates.

However, many people believe that NC State’s enthusiasm for tailgate season is the reason for poor attendance at football games. A 2016 Technician article, “NC State student section first to file out,” mentioned the correlation between excessive drinking at tailgates and low attendance of games, but I doubt the causation between the two. Tailgating may be a favorite pastime for many NC State students, but NC State students love football more.

To analyze the tailgating and game attendance relationship, compare NC State with our rivals at UNC-Chapel Hill. UNC-CH lacks the tailgating environment and enthusiasm that NC State has, and their football game attendance has steadily declined each year. Tailgating cannot be the issue for poor UNC-CH attendance because they simply don’t do it.

Even if NC State has a losing record or a game is scheduled during fall break, NC State students still make an effort to attend games. The NC State vs. Notre Dame game was practically flooded by Hurricane Matthew, but NC State students were still there. Even a hurricane couldn’t stop students from setting up tailgating tents to cheer on their team at Carter-Finley Stadium.

Poor attendance at games is not unique to UNC-CH or NC State — universities around the country are experiencing declining attendance rates. Time magazine cites cost of tickets and low interest as reasons for the lack of attendance, not tailgating.

And anyway, tailgating should not take the blame for poor attendance. It’s a way for students and fans to express their passion for NC State.

NC State tailgates are a center for family and alumni events like Parents and Families Weekend and the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences Tailgate. Some fraternities hire bands to play a live concert underneath their tents or get catering to sponsor their tailgate. The NC State University marching band brings the “Power Sound of the South” to the students by walking through the tailgate and playing the fight song. Even Gov. Roy Cooper saw NC State tailgates as a campaign opportunity last year by bringing Will Ferrell and meeting with NC State students and fans.

Tailgating is one of the things that make football season at NC State enjoyable, and students should continue to make the most of their college experience. We are very lucky to have an energetic, passionate fan base for our football team that thrives in winning and losing seasons. With the win against Marshall Saturday and predictions that NC State will do well this season, let’s continue tailgating and celebrating our Wolfpack even more.