Everyone’s invited.
Before UT squares off against Utah State for the first football game of the season, all students are invited to attend the “All Vol Tailgate” in the Humanities and Social Sciences Amphitheater. Organized by the Student Government Association, the tailgate will start at 2 p.m. on Sunday and will feature free food, games and a chance for students to hang out before kick off.
“Tailgating is a big part of being a student at UT, and SGA thought it was really important to establish a tailgate that all students can go to,” said Connor Dugosh, SGA vice president and senior in English.
The tailgate is intended to bolster SGA’s new tagline, “Everyone’s a member.” Not all students are involved with Greek organizations, sports teams or clubs, said SGA Press Secretary Annie Carr, but everyone has a stake in the university.
Hosting a school-wide tailgate makes it easier for freshmen and students not affiliated with campus groups to feel involved and express school spirit, Carr said.
“[Right before a game], you really want to be excited, and you really want to hang out with people who are also excited,” Carr said. “But, if you don’t want to necessarily drink or don’t know anybody who is already tailgating it’s hard, and you might just end up sitting in your dorm room and then just showing up at the game—and that’s it.”
Inspiration for the tailgate came from a tradition called “Everybody’s Tent,” an event Ole Miss University’s student government hosts four times each season.
“A lot of big SEC schools have big events like this where thousands of people turn out,” Carr said. “We definitely don’t think it’s going to be like that, because it’s the first year we’ve ever tried it.”
However, SGA President Kelsey Keny hopes the tailgate will act as a simple way for students to enjoy time with peers.
“This was just an initiative we wanted to take so all of us students have a spot where we can get together, enjoy some free food and fun, and get ready to cheer on the Vols,” Keny said.
Dean of Students Melissa Shivers is most excited to learn the new name for the student section in Neyland Stadium, which will be announced at the tailgate.
“People keep asking me to tell them what the name of the student section will be,” Shivers said. “But I promise you I don’t know. I have to wait and find out at the tailgate like everyone else.”
SGA hopes the tailgate will become a permanent tradition at UT. But, for now, the All Vol Tailgate is on its trial run.
“If everything goes well, we get great responses and students want this to be around all the time, then we would love for it to be an every single game thing,” Carr said. “But for now, it’s just a way to get involved in the first game of the season.”
The All Vol Tailgate could mark the dawn of a more inclusive game day.
“Getting involved isn’t all about joining clubs or being a member of an organization,” Carr said. “It’s about being a part of a community on campus.”
