FB: Midwest Conference

[Redmen09]

In honor of the tailgating discussions i thought i would give my MWC Preseason Tailgating Locations Poll (based on what ive seen at every MWC venue, I've been to every stadium and tailgated at only a few)

1. St. Norbert (could be an interesting transition to the new stadium, as nothing beats grass field tailgating)
2. Monmouth (the location of the field is prime)
3. Carroll (ive only seen it during homecoming, which is crazy)
4. Ripon (Ripon Red Zone is growing every year)
5. Beloit (large tents and inflatables were always on hand)
6. Lake Forest (good student participation)
7. IC (havent seen much tailgating, but always bigger crowds)
The next two tie for last because I've never seen noticeable tailgating
8. Grinnell (too busy studying)
8. Lawrence (hard to tailgate with low attendance)

I would be interested to hear other peoples experiences (top ten).  Looking to get around tailgating more in the coming furture

[The Roop]

I wasn't aware that Knox left the conference.

[Redmen09]

maybe thats how good the tailgating is there......

just kidding. if it didnt feel like monday #2 i wouldve put them in front of IC

[blu thru n thru]

maybe thats how good the tailgating is there......

just kidding. if it didnt feel like monday #2 i wouldve put them in front of IC

Okay, it appears I have work to do in the area of gameday atmosphere.  Ears to the ground, boys!  That faint rumble you hear is the impending and distant stampede of Blueboy Nation!  I'd recommend you head to the high ground...

[Pat Coleman]

If you ever want to scout tailgating, check out St. John's, Franklin and Bridgewater. They're the unofficial leaders.

[SNCOLDAD]

blu, Pat brings up a very good point. Check out the Johnnies at St. Johns. Look into their traditions. Check out the fans. This is D3 Football fans at their best. Also make sure you see where they are geographically.

Redmen, I think I will agree with you on the tailgating list. Although this will be the 1st time for me at Ripon. Monmouth has a great area for home fans but does not really want anyone else to intrude it seems like.

blu, you will notice a trend. The better tailgating schools are in Wisconsin. Hmmm.


GO GREEN KNIGHTS

[blu thru n thru]

Thanks to both y'all for the recommendations and insights.  I'll follow through on all.  It's kind of "A journey of 1000 miles..." thing. 

We are passionate about football.  When the Oilers left Houston, I pretty much gave up on NFL.  Found HS and college to be more fun, anyway.  I've been a Horns fan (my next son will be named Mack Brown, btw) since I was 8.  Now I find my kid playin football in IL/WI???  Well, it's time to get this party started. 

Back to my 1000 mile journey:  It appears at first blush that IC has a bit of ground to make up in getting involved in discussions with the conference elite.  98% of that takes place in recruiting, off-season training, the practice field, and when you deliver on Saturdays...  But raising fan interest & involvement, and getting the student body & alum interest up, plays a role too.  Part of that starts with making the gameday experience the best it can be.  Is it coincidence, or is there something to the fact that the top 2 tailgating schools also are ranked similarly in recent (if not historically) conference standings?  Winning on Saturdays brings more interest in gameday activities and fan involvement.  So what we have here is the classic chicken or egg scenario.  Hmmm... I may have to stay off this board for 20 minutes or so while I "hatch" my plan. Dang, that was so bad I almost edited it out...    

[tmerton]

blu, Pat brings up a very good point. Check out the Johnnies at St. Johns. Look into their traditions. Check out the fans. This is D3 Football fans at their best. Also make sure you see where they are geographically.
...
blu, you will notice a trend. The better tailgating schools are in Wisconsin. Hmmm.

Are you trying to annex Minnesota?

As another parent who was lucky to find and now greatly enjoys D3 football, I'm enjoying reading btnt's posts.  I also have a lot of family in Houston, and even spent 3 years in Austin to get a UT degree, so I've got a lot of Texas in my background.  But I'm also an Okie (Sooner born and Sooner bred), and have 60 years of Okie-Texas jokes to fall back on.

[Just Bill]

blu, Pat brings up a very good point. Check out the Johnnies at St. Johns. Look into their traditions. Check out the fans. This is D3 Football fans at their best. Also make sure you see where they are geographically.
...
blu, you will notice a trend. The better tailgating schools are in Wisconsin. Hmmm.

Are you trying to annex Minnesota?

Not until we run out of landfill space.  *rimshot*

[Pat Coleman]

I think he meant of the MWC schools, the better tailgating was in WI and not IL and IA.

[blu thru n thru]

Oh crud!  Who let the Okie in here?  There goes the neighborhoood.  Time to shut this thread down.  I guess if he got his degree from THE University of Texas, he can't be all bad.    Just glad he's not an aggie.  We'd have to start using big print, small words, and lots of pictures...

I feel the tremendous passion for D3 ball in the Midwest in general.  I'm really getting psyched.  This is 100X better than I imagined.  Thanks to all y'all.

[MCAlum97]

A. Did anyone else take the time to look at Carroll's roster and notice that they have a freshman QB named Tom Sawyer?

B. Mr. Texas - IC is what IC is, but I'd like to hear some numbers and accolades about your son as he is far from local?

[BoBo]

A. Did anyone else take the time to look at Carroll's roster and notice that they have a freshman QB named Tom Sawyer?

Was that Becky Thatcher I saw on the cheerleading squad? I'm not sure...

[blu thru n thru]

A. Did anyone else take the time to look at Carroll's roster and notice that they have a freshman QB named Tom Sawyer?

Was that Becky Thatcher I saw on the cheerleading squad? I'm not sure...

Sadly, I did. 

[Redmen09]

A. Did anyone else take the time to look at Carroll's roster and notice that they have a freshman QB named Tom Sawyer?

Was that Becky Thatcher I saw on the cheerleading squad? I'm not sure...

Sadly, I did. 

I looked at his HS roster at there was a Huck Finn that played center.