Gig 'em Aggies: TAMU vs Bama

I'm a bit of an anomaly in College Station. I generally follow football only if it's convenient to do so.  In over 10 years I've attended 2 games. Both when friends just weren't going to use their tickets at the last minute for night games. And I've had just a little exposure to Aggie tailgating.  So today I decided to go out there for the Alabama game, one where it's reported that up to 100,000+ extra people will be coming into College Station to attend, and check out the game day machine.

It might seem strange to cover this on a food blog, but I didn't attend the game. It's still going on. I just went to check out the awesomeness that is tailgating in Texas.  So without further ado I'll keep quiet and let my pictures do the talking. Enjoy!

I got to campus using the free bus service from Post Oak Mall. Buses go to and from the mall close to JC Penney.

Members of the Texas A&M Corps of Cadets march in before the game.

Former students will notice something missing in this picture: an entire building was recently removed.

Outside the Memorial Student Center just before march in.

Lots of food choices for sports fans.  Sandwiches is crossed out because they ran out of bread.

Fajitas

Fudruckers

Large crowds of mostly maroon. One Bama fan complained that it was "like a maroon wall".  It's important to note that everyone was extremely friendly regardless of the colors worn.

Well we are an agriculturally-based school. 

This was a multi-big-sponsor "fan experience". I found it annoying they packed up as soon as the game started.  It would have been nice to be able to watch the game on that big tv.

The Heisman is kind of a big deal.  It was on display inside this make-shift building.

Tailgates, tailgates everywhere.

Weather Underground says that it's 89F and feels like 95F. Actually it feels much hotter.  And these kids have the right idea.

It's tradition to have games such as this at the tailgates.

There are some seriously good spreads at some of the tailgates.

Seriously impressive spreads.

It is not uncommon to find flat-screen TVs among the tailgates.

 

Digital TV and internet

It's difficult to photograph the RV city that goes up before every game. However this is what several parking lots across campus look like before and during every home game.

The more undergrads change the more they stay the same. LOL!

Looks like a canon, but it's a grill. 

Insider tip: if you get overheated, as I did when I was over near Reed Arena, head over to the Student Rec Center.  Lots of TVs and A/C.

The snack bar in the Rec is now a Smoothie King.  A medium strawberry kiwi smoothie hit the spot, cooled me down, and kept me from overheating again the rest of the time I walked around campus.

Back at Kyle Field, each of the TAMU's former mascots is buried just outside of Kyle Field after they cross the Rainbow Bridge.  They get their own scoreboard so that they can keep track of the team. 

Just as I was walking by TAMU made a TD.

Tent city in Spencer Park

It's kind of freaky to see inside the stadium while people are on the upper deck.

Non-ticket holders can still get an interesting view...for now.  This will change with the renovations.

At this point I was too warm to stay outside so I headed home on the shuttle.  Right now the Aggies are behind 42-21. We all know that Ags don't lose, they just run out of time. Let's hope they can pick things up and not run out of time.  

Gig 'em Aggies!  Whoop!