THE JIST
Game Day in the south… a national holiday that happens every Saturday from Sept – Nov and then hopefully again once more in January. Whether you go to an SEC school, have a friend that goes to one, or have seen the uproar of #bamarush, you know that in the Southeast, we do things a little crazier than most.
I spent my freshman year at a Pac-12 school (bear down!), and from experience I can say that after transferring to the University of Alabama, my first game day was crazier than every game day at UofArizona I have been to combined. I mean the games brought out so many less people than Bama that they gave free t-shirts to the first 1000ish people in the stadium. In Alabama, all you can be guaranteed is a shaker and some beer on your shoes. From the tailgates to the music, to the famous lights for night games, to the insane amount of people that come to watch college football, SEC gamedays are like no other.
The Bars are packed, and people are already drunk at ungodly hours. Those big noon kick-off (aka 11 CT) games bring people out to the bars and onto the quad earlier than most people even consider eating breakfast. The quad or wherever you school throws tailgate’s get so packed it’s hard to see over the crowds. The band is blaring, your schools favroite song can be heard from every angle you turn your head, and there is a faint smell of beer everywhere you go. The lines everywhere are long, the traffic is unbearable, and don’t even consider trying to run errands in the direction of the game. “Like No Other” is no exaggeration.
However, SEC gamedays being like no other means that they could be hard to get through. From the hot sun, to the binge drinking, to the exhausting hours that these games last, surviving an SEC game day is not for the weak. Here’s some tips to have the best one possible:
THE SURVIVAL TIPS
- Dress Weather Appropriate!!
This!!! This is definitely a tip to listen to. There is nothing worse than feeling like you are going to overheat when the whole day is based on walking around and drinking and then having to stand in the hot sun and be enthusiastic. By the time the game starts you really see people start to slump by the time they get into the stadium.
This applies to shoes as well. A comfy pair of shoes will get you a long way on a game day. Your crimson heels may be perfect for your outfit, but the heeled booties will be better in the long run! You do not want to have to walk back to your dorm or car barefoot.
- Drink lots of water!!
Hydrate, Hydrate, Hydrate! This is especially important if you plan to drink or if the weather is on the hotter side. Drinking plenty of water will ensure you both do not pass out AND that you can get up the next morning.
- Eat before the game!!
Gotta get some good ol’ carbs in your system before you get into the sun and start drinking. Whether your gameday nutrition comes from a heaping serving of buffalo chicken dip, hot dogs, or some grub from quick grill, it is still better to have eaten before the game than go starving.
At Alabama, the food trucks on the quad are a great way to get a bite to eat in before heading over to the stadium. The lines can be long but it allows you to stay on the quad and not have to get too far off path!
- Sleep the night before!!
Trying to get plenty of sleep the night before the game will help you in the long run, especially for those night games.
Although it is tempting to hit the bars that Friday night before the game, think ahead to what your day will look like Saturday.
Is the game at 6:30 and you have time to sleep till noon Saturday morning? Be out as late as you want. Is the kick off at 11 or 3pm? The last thing you want is to be woken up early early by your friends too tired to even open your eyes.
You do not want to be the person asleep on the quad or at your family’s tailgate. So plan you next day accordingly.
- Don’t over mix your liquors!!
“Liquor before beer and you are in the clear, beer before liquor and you cant be sicker.” These are some important words to live by when deciding what to drink while you are out before the game. Also, try to stick to one type of hard alcohol for the whole day, your future next morning self will thank you.
