Go Jets!

Since our Superbowl chances are long gone, I have to start supporting my other team, the New York Jets. They are currently 7-6. They are tied with Miami and only one game behind the Patriots in their division. So, if all goes well, hopefully in the next few weeks Miami, New England, and Jacksonville all lose. If Miami and New England go under, then, the Jets can win their division. But if Jacksonville loses, it will open up a wild card spot. Keep your fingers crossed and pray that Sanchez is able to play next week!

Too Frustrated To Think of a Witty Title

Alright, I think enough time has passed. I can talk about the loss on Sunday to the Ravens. Wow, where to start. First off, our defensive backs needs to get in the game. They play mediocre all game and then in the last quarter they go into a prevent defense. Horrible. It's as if their mind set is, "Well, if I play 10 yards off the receiver, once he catches it I'll be able to make the tackle." No, they need to keep all receivers on lock down. They need to watch the Jets/ Bills game from this week and watch Revis and how well he covered Owens. To continue on my rant about the defensive backs, I think it is completely unfair that the entire defense gets blamed for their faults. Our line backers are amazing. But, after a while of running the ball, the opposing team realizes that all they have to do is throw the ball up and their men will be wide open. O.K. I'm done with the defense. Moving on to offense. If you ask me, Dennis Dixon played a great game (considering the fact that his first start was against our greatest rivals, on their turf). But, the major fault of the offensive was Arians, our offensive coordinator. How is it that with 1:30 left on the clock and a first down that we were only able to waste away roughly 20-30 seconds of time? Poor play calling and clock management on his behalf. I hope the Steeler organization makes a few changes and fires him and hires Notre Dame's recently fired head coach. He would be an amazing addition to our team. I feel like the more I rant the more I relive the game. So, I'm going to stop here. One last final thought though. Did anyone else think the media turned the whole Hines/Big Ben argument into a complete mess just to make a good story?

#2 Mr. Dennis Dixon

Sunday Night Football. Great night? It should be, but, I can't shake the nerves. Ben and Charlie are out and now we are relying on Dennis Dixon and his backup, Tyler Palko, to lead our team. The Steelers have been shaky lately, to say the least. Slowly our chances of becoming even a wild card pick for playoffs are dwindling. With a loss tonight to Baltimore, I would kiss playoffs good-bye. The more I type about this, the more and more upset I become. Nonetheless, still got faith in the boys. They tend to flourish under pressure so let's hope that is the case tonight. If we win, there will be a follow-up. If we lose, you probably won't be hearing from me for a while.

Amazing.

Alright, I'm going way off topic here. Like, way-way-way off topic. Usually what you find here are my drunken stories of tailgating bliss or the top games of the week that excited or pissed me off, but not today. No, today I'm leaning away from the typical frat house talk and about to send your minds on quite the ride.
I was on facebook today, just stalking my friends, when I saw a link. It was my friend's blog so I thought I should check it out. She was talking about some video that is going to change our lives as we know it. I watched it. She was right. This guy is insane. He is beyond a genius. I really have no way of describing it and am completely stunned at the fact that anyone is so smart to create such a product. If you want to read about his background check out Hannah's blog, http://5feetofconcrete.blogspot.com/2009/11/speechless.html. If you want to get straight into the amazement, check out the link below. I know the 13 minutes is intimidating, but trust me, it is all well worth the time. http://www.ted.com/talks/pranav_mistry_the_thrilling_potential_of_sixthsense_technology.html

Aware? Not so much...

So, if you're in my blogging class, you should know our assignment. However, if your like me, you didn't understand it. Apparently I need to vividly describe five things that I encountered today, and look for a pattern, at least that's what I got from the instructions. I'll give it a shot, but don't blame me if it sounds lame.
O.k. I suppose the first thing I took notice to today was my puppy. He sleeps with me and is a pain in the ass. He woke me up at about 5 a.m. as usual. I don't know how vivid I can get with this one considering my vision was pretty blurry when I first opened my eyes, but, he is a puggle, wait no, he is the world's cutest puggle. The second thing that really grabbed my attention was the cold air today. I suppose I've been spoiled lately with all the amazing weather. Today was the first time in a while that I really wished I parked my car in the garage the night before. My entire Management Science class was next on my list. I actually paid attention for once. The teacher was clear and didn't confuse me and all the other kids in the classroom seemed alert too. It made me less tired and prevented me from coming home and needing a nap. So after class, I went to the computer lab to work on some homework. When I arrived at my house yet another thing caught my attention. The mail. I came home today at noonish and the mail still didn't come. I can remember a day when the mailman (or mail woman) came to my house everyday at 10 a.m., but not anymore. Lately it seems later and later as the weeks go by which really annoys me. But, nonetheless, no mail by 12 in the afternoon. The last thing on my list that I payed attention to was the leaves, or rather, lack of leaves. My entire back yard is a forest (literally) and the best time of year is now, when the leaves are all orange and red. But, as I look into my backyard, only one tree has leaves on it. And those leaves are old, crunchy, and brown. Just waiting to die I suppose.
Anyway, I don't see any correlation between my findings. Maybe I live a boring life, or am just ignorant to the world around me and I don't pay more attention to my surroundings. Either way, I think I completed the assignment and hopefully didn't screw this up too bad.

Penn State Tailgate

This weekend I was at Penn State and they played Ohio State. It was undeniably their biggest football weekend this year. Despite the loss, it was a great time. On Saturday, my friends and I woke up at 8 a.m. which was quite difficult after a night of partying. We started the morning off with mimosas. Wait, change that, I refuse to tailgate with mimosas if you can remember from my prior posts, therefore, I drank screwdrivers. Anyway, around 11 a.m. we trucked it up to Beaver Stadium which is a 40 minute walk. A 40 minute, completely sobering, walk. We made it to our friend's parent's tailgate around noonish just as they were setting up the food. This was easily the best tailgate ever for numerous reasons. First, awesome food. There was hot sausage, cider, soups, munchies, and any liquor you can imagine. Secondly, I got introduced to an executive at KPMG (an accounting firm in Pittsburgh), and he gave me his business card (FYI, I am an accounting major). Lastly, I met Lavar Arrington. He played for the Redskins and Giants before he retired. After the tailgate, we all continued to drink until 3 a.m. Needless to say, it was rough waking up at 9 the next morning to drive home.

MNF

Well, tonight is an away game and it's on a Monday. This poses as 2 tailgating problems, but, not to worry, I'll help you solve each of them. How do you tailgate for an away game? Hmm...tough, I know, but it is do-able. All a tailgate really is, is a group of people sharing food, beer, and stories, about a common team. Sure, it is better to be in a parking lot and have tickets for the game, but, it's not needed. So, for an away game, grab your friends and head to your favorite bar. You are bound to find more people there to cheer on your team, and you have the beer and food part covered too. This is also a solution to the Monday night problem. Generally people work Monday to Friday which can make it difficult to stay up late enough to see the end of the game. But, once again, go to the bar. The constant cheering or bashing of the other team is guaranteed to keep your eyes open. And being tired for Tuesday can wait. You can sleep while you're dead. Enjoy the time you have with you friends getting drunk, and remember, a hangover goes away, but, the fact that you were too lame to have a good time, will stick with you forever.

The Perfect Description of a Tailgate

So earlier this week I was at the gym. In my gym there is a huge magazine rack full of the latest gossip magazines as well as, the stupid health magazines that are there for encouragement (But once you're at the gym what more encouragement do you need? Getting there is half the battle, right?). Here I am getting off topic. O.K. back to the real point. Right before I passed out, I hopped off the dreaded StairMaster and threw the latest People magazine back on the rack, (It was full of B-list celebrities, if not C-list. I do not recommend it.) and, to my surprise, the word "tailgate" was right in front of my eyes. Now at this point all I wanted to do is go home, so I looked at what magazine it was, and made a mental note to Google it later. Well, tonight I threw "Pittsburgh Magazine" into my Google Search and found the world's greatest article of all time. This article sums up my entire blog. It's like reading poetry. Everything from ambiance to fashion is in this column. It even boasts my main reason for writing this blog by saying, "Here in Pittsburgh, regulars will tell you that tailgating has been elevated to an art form." This article has everything. If you needed to know the etiquette or what games are played or hell, even where you can buy a keg-shaped grill with your team's name on it, you must check this out. Anyway, this article has inspired me to bust my ass to become the best damn tailgater I can be and make Pittsburgh proud. I hope it can do the same for you. Check it out...No really, do it. Now.

http://www.wqed.org/mag/features/1109/pittsburgh-steelers-tailgating-history.php

A Tailgate-less Sunday

Oh my, after this Sunday, I seriously questioned what I used to do before the football season. Talk about a boring Sunday. I was able to catch other games, but, they just weren't the same. Don't get me wrong, on a Sunday I watch every game I can, but I also have the Steelers incorporated in there somewhere. Basically, all I did on Sunday was lay on the couch and look for decent games to watch, without beer, and, without friends. No one is going to join me to watch two random teams play (even though the Vikings versus Packers game was a good one). All in all, it was a super boring Sunday. What is even worse is that we don't play again until Monday. So I am going to have to endure another boring Sunday. At least I'll be up at Penn State to watch them play Ohio State, so this weekend isn't a total loss. That will be a huge tailgating weekend at State College, so prepare for some excellent reviews. It's not the Steelers, but, it's the closest thing I can get right now.

So Lost

This week is a bye week for the Steelers. As of right now, I am completely clueless as to what to do on Sunday. How did I ever get by the summer months without football on Sundays? I guess I could cheer for another team, but let's be real, that definitely won't be happening any time soon. I suppose I could sleep all Sunday and act like nothing happened and that no teams played. Quite the dilemma I have here. I'll let you know what I end up doing, but, if you have any ideas as to how to pass time on a Sunday without the Steelers, please let me know.

Annoying? How So?

There are some words that make me cringe and there are others that are just annoying. Everyone has their own definition of the most annoying words but researchers at Marist College took it to another level by actually conducting a survey by phone. Really? As if there is anything more annoying than someone calling to interrupt you during dinner or right after you got home from a 9 hour work day, now, there are telephone surveyors who want to know which words annoy you. For me, it would be when they said “Hello.” But that is neither here nor there. Shock alert, the number one most annoying word is “whatever”. I think they could have bypassed the survey and just asked any mom who has a teenage daughter what the most annoying word is. The one I don’t understand is that 6% of people say that the word “anyway” is one of the most annoying words. Now I’m a college student, and last time I checked, that’s a transition word. And I know for a fact, those are encouraged in many of my writing classes. I suppose for a word to be annoying you must be exposed to it quite a bit. In my opinion, since the 4th grade I have been exposed to the word “like” by any girl that has ever opened her mouth, so that tops my chart. However, a close second is the word “ditto”. Ew. I just don’t understand why people can’t just say, “Yeah, me too.” As I sit here with a disgusted look on my face because I just used the word “ditto”, I dare you to take some time out and really think about what words just rub you the wrong way. I’m sure once you stop to think, you and I will be sharing the same look.

Fashions

My usual attire for a tailgate (on a normal day) is pretty standard. On my head, I wear a leather helmet with the Steeler's emblem stitched on. Of course, I have to represent my boy (and future husband) Heath Miller and wear his black jersey. That is probably my most prized possession. I then have Steelers armbands as well as face paint or my black Steeler stickers that go under each eye. And last, but certainly not least, the final addition to any Steeler fan's wardrobe, the Terrible Towel. I like to show my pride for the black and gold, but I don't hold a candle to some of the other fanatics you can find in a parking lot of Heinz Field. For example I've seen the "Super Steeler", which is a fan turned super hero. He wears a cape and everything, it's pretty cool. I've seen (white) people dressed as Mike Tomlin. There are the people that have something Steelers on every article of clothing. Then there are the few crazy people who will go out in 2 degree weather and wear nothing but body paint and shorts (I try not to make eye contact with those people). Either way, you're bound to find someone that will make you do a double take. My suggestion is even if you don't have tickets for the game, just go down and people watch for a while. Sooner or later someone is going to give you a beer, so it's a win/win situation.

Ouch...

I have to direct this post to the amazing win against the Vikings. We ruined their undefeated season, beat Brett Favre, and witnessed someone blocking against a ref (that had to hurt...I guess all three of those had to sting a little for the Vikings). Our offense might of looked shaky, but dammit, our defense kicked some serious ass. Another successful game (and tailgate, of course) and hopefully it keeps on going. I need this season to last a long as possible so I can have an excuse to ignore the Pens. Love them, but, I don't really do the whole hockey thing.

Tailgate Approved

If you have seen any NFL games lately, you have seen the "Tailgate Approved" commercials. They are ficticious infomercials that showcase ridiculous tailgate necessities. For example, the "grooler". You know the grill/cooler. Yes, they are dumb, but, mildly entertaining. Anyways, check out the site. It has some cool games, and, it's a fun way to pass time. http://www.tailgateapproved.com/tg/#/home

Yay NFL

After spending the weekend to think about it, I have to say that nothing compares to NFL tailgates. I've been to my fair share of college tailgates from PSU and Pitt, and while they are a good time, they just don't do it for me. I love the way all ages and everyone from all places can join together for one recreational cause. At college tailgates, you have to either go to that college or be an alumni to feel like you can truly embrace the team. I go to PSU all the time and frequently go to the tailgates, but I just can't feel like I belong. Maybe it's because I'm not really into college football as it is. But, I can go to any NFL tailgate and feel like I have a right to be there, because, even though I don't necessarily like the teams playing I can provide input into my expectations for the game. Also, with college games, I feel like everyone needs to get as wasted as possible before they head into the stadium, because, inside of college games, they don't sell alcohol. It's a constant flow of beer bongs in your face and shotgun races. There is no time to relax and just eat a dog or interact with all the surrounding tailgates. At NFL tailgates, the same goal is to get drunk, but, not so drunk that you cannot keep yourself from passing out in the 2nd quarter. You don't have the same pressure to get so wasted that by the time you leave the game you still maintain a decent buzz. I guess I'm bias. As much as I enjoy getting drunk with my friends at college tailgates, I just really love spending time with my dad and uncles and pap, drinking and hanging out until it's time to step foot into the stadium. I think I like it mainly because I feel like it connects me to them in a way that my brothers and other cousins can't. I think it will give me something to remember when I'm older. When I started writing this post I was so wrapped up in explaining why NFL tailgates are so much more fun to drink at, but, I think I realized the real reason why I prefer them over college tailgates, and, maybe found why I'm so attached to the Steelers as well. Hm, well isn't that something...I feel like i just had a revelation, tear...NFL tailgates rule (I'm channelling Billy Madison here).

Another Debate

The last debate between liquor and beer seemed to get some positive feedback which makes me now pose the question, "Does college football or the NFL provide better tailgates?" For me this is pretty tough since I love both so much. They both bring about great times with great people. For those of you saying there is no difference between the tailgates, you couldn't be more wrong. I personally know what I like better, but, what about you? There has to be one that you have better times at. So, tell me, and be prepared to back it up.

Food Just Tastes Better Drunk

I know it has been over a week since we played the Chargers, but there is one thing that hasn't left my mind since, and that is food. It's well known that typical tailgate food consists of burgers, hot dogs, and chips, along with other things that are quick and easy to prepare on a disposable grill. Don't get me wrong, these foods go amazing with beer and football, and, I do love them very much on game day, but, I have been introduced to the finer side of parking lot cuisine. My Dad's buddy is an accountant and does taxes for a restaurant in the Southside. It's called Mallorca. They have the best food (they have prime rib 3 inches thick and bigger than your average dog...well, maybe a Chihuahua), and the owner always takes care of us when we come down for dinner. The owner has season tickets to the Steeler games too. After we left our first tailgate we walked by his and dropped in to say hello. There was probably a good 4 grills going, and, once we got there they were taking the filet mignons off the grill, oh, and lobster tails. Yeah, not the average tailgate. Along with the first class food, they had a fully stocked bar, which in my opinion is better than any food you put in front of me. I'm not putting down dogs and chips, but I mean come on, when have you ever seen that. The only thing I have ever seen that came close to that was seeing someone sitting in the back of their truck eating a cheese steak. I think it is safe to assume that I am now spoiled when it comes to tailgate food, and hopefully I don't have to go back to the days of a bag of Sun chips and half cooked burgers.

Almost Home

Well, for those of you wondering why I haven't made a post lately, I've been in Vegas all week. At my hotel we had to pay for wireless, and I opted out, so right now I'm writing from the airport. Anyway, I did find a way to tailgate. There was a killer sports bar in our hotel, The Palazzo. If you have ever been to Vegas then you will know that drinks around here are like ridiculously expense. Example, $13 for a shot. Therefore, I was presented with a challenge on how to get drunk to watch the Steelers. Well, like I said, there was a sports bar, and if you placed a bet, you get free drink passes. That was enough for me. So, I placed a $100 on the Steelers, and if the combined score of the game was greater than 43 points, I would win. Although I enjoyed the free drinks, I will never bet on a game again. The game was unbearable to watch and my stomach was in knots the entire time. Thankfully, I won. My brothers, however, put $200 each on the New England/ Denver game, because, they were told it was a "sure thing." As long as New England won by 3 points, they would win their bet. But, as we all saw, the game went into overtime and Denver won with a field goal. Good for me, because I hate the Patriots, but, bad for them because there went $400. It was a good time, but I can't wait to get back to the Burgh and back to $2 drink specials.

What a Game

As you know, last night we played the Chargers. Thank God we won. I went to the game with my dad, uncle, and pap. We started out eating and drinking heavily at Max and Erma's. We didn't have a specific tailgate to go to, so we each started calling people we knew, hoping that they would be tailgating. We finally stumbled upon one. That was the best because it's free beer, and no clean up. After a 5 or so beers, and a shotgun with my pap (my dad was proud), we headed into the stadium. My uncle scored us club seats on the 45 yard line. Easily the best seats I've ever had, and the fact that we won didn't hurt either. I have yet to go to a home game where we lose (knock on wood). I wish I had more to share about this tailgate, but the truth is, I was just too drunk to remember. Stay tuned in to see if I can get any information out of my dad as to what happened at that tailgate.

Whoa...That Was a Close One

Just a little update for all of you, I am going to the game. I talked to my dad yesterday, and my uncle asked us to join him in club seating. I'm very excited to be able to share another tailgate story with you on Monday. I really thought I was going to have to resort to tears in able to go to the game. Hopefully the Steelers can finish the job this week and pull out a win.

Say It Ain't So

So as you all know, saying I love to go to Steeler games is an understatement, especially night games. Now my family has season tickets, so I usually get them because I'm the youngest and the only girl in my family, which means I get what I want. Well, this week the Steelers play the San Diego Chargers. I went when we played them in the playoffs last year and it was a blast. For some reason unknown to me, my dad has decided to use the tickets this week. His excuse was that our friends from Europe are leaving soon and he wanted to take them to a game. O.k. I let it slide because, come on, they want a little Steeler loving before they go back to Switzerland. But, now they bailed because they found out it was a night game (apparently they aren't into that). You would think being my father's only little girl, who is in love with football (every father's dream I'm sure), that I would be first on his list to take, right? Wrong. I have been dropping not so subtle hints all week and last night I finally came out and asked him if he was going to take me and he said that he already asked his friend, Ken. This pissed me off because in my opinion my dad and I are better friends then Ken and him. Anyways, Ken has to ask his wife to get permission to go, so I am still holding out hope.

I know this post has nothing to do with tailgates but I needed to vent. I guess it could relate to tailgates because if I don't go to this game, I cannot tailgate or write a post about my time. Now he's just taking away from my academics, which is just wrong. Even Hines is upset about the chance I might not make it to the game.

And The Verdict Is....

You have all waited long enough, but before I reveal my decision, I still have to throw out some thoughts on liquor. Now, I can agree with some of you when I say that liquor can hit pretty hard and fast. You have the ability to get really drunk really fast, which could be a curse or blessing. If it's a marathon tailgate, meaning you start tailgating at 8 a.m. for a 8 p.m. game, liquor probably isn't the best idea. You will find yourself hunched over behind cars feeling like you just got hit by Casey Hampton. However, if you show up late to a tailgate because the traffic in the North Shore was worse than trying to get through the Squirrel Hill Tunnel on a Friday, then I suggest you grab a bottle of your choice and get to work. Also, when the end of the regular season nears and the beginning of playoffs start, liquor is the only way to go. The weather starts to become nasty and you need something to warm you up. A cold beverage is not a good choice, and despite all efforts, there is no way to make warm beer good. This is when liquor is used to enhance ciders, hot chocolate, and coffee. Warms you up all over, while keeping you warm throughout the game. Finally, the absolute best thing about liquor is that it is so easy to sneak into the stadium. On a cold night, I'm wrapped up in about 2 coats, boots, and a hoodie, making it simple to pass through security at the gate with a few hidden flasks.

And here is the moment you have been so patiently awaiting. I have to go out on a limb and admit that I actually prefer to tailgate with liquor. Don't hate me yet, because during the warm games there is nothing that can take the place of beer, but if you really think about it, the regular season doesn't begin until September and look at it now, it is the last days of September and it is freezing outside. If the NFL season began in June, there is no doubt in my mind that I would of sided with beer, but until that happens, it's liquor for me.

Funny story about beer though. A few years ago I was at a ridiculously cold game with my brother. He bought us beer. We would go for a sip and right after we took the cup away from our mouths, a thin layer of "beer ice" would form. This is the reason I now smuggle 3 flasks into the stadium for every game.

Beer, Beer, Beer

I loved all the input everyone had. I have been struggling with this question for a while . I gathered some research from a group of Penn Staters this weekend at the PSU vs. Iowa game. They never gave me a direct answer, but they did provide a ton of valid reasons for why both liquor and beer are a staple at every tailgate.

When it comes to beer, it's always a good time. It will never let you down. It is perfect for pong, shotguns, and of course, beer bongs. I think it is more social than liquor too. It's easier to go ask someone to bum a beer than it is to ask someone if they can go whip up a Captain and Coke for you. The thing I find annoying about beer though, is that once I start drinking it I constantly find myself needing to go to the bathroom every 5 minutes, and let's face it, no one wants to use a port-a-potty, regardless of how drunk you are. The other downfall to this is beer comes in a can, bottle, or keg, and contrary to belief I rarely see a lot of kegs at tailgates. That leaves you with a can or beer. That's fun for those that are of age, but, until recently I was under 21 and it can be pretty risky holding one of those in broad daylight. So let's recap, port-a-potties (I am not sure how to pluralize that because I've never been faced to do so) are dirty, and under ages are bad. And lastly, when it is 18 degrees out, the furthest thing i want from me is a ice cold beer. I'd prefer something that would keep my lips from turning bluer than they already are.

I received a decent amount of feedback from students, alumni, and random people I found on the street concerning liquor too. If you're curious to read about that or hear my verdict, just be patient, it's coming.

Beer or Liquor

O.k. I've been to my fair share of tailgates and have seen a lot go down. As you can imagine, it is usually is aided by some form of alcohol. Here is where a huge debate of mine begins, is it better to tailgate with beer or some hard booze? Beer is usually the drink of choice at college tailgates because it's cheap, can be shared easily, and is great for various games. However, when I go to tailgates with my parents (lame, I know...but when I go with them it's a day of free food and drinks), their friends are pretty classy for the most part and have a table set up full of any kind of liquor and mixers you can think up. I have a few good and bad things to say about both of these that might even have you questioning which is better. But, before I give my verdict, I want to hear what you think. I'm sure you all have something to say on this, even if it doesn't have to do with tailgating. Overall, which do you prefer to party with? It's not as simple as it seems.

A Lil' History Lesson

I've been googling and researching for the past few days about how beer bonging and tailgating came to be. I would like to tell you that the tradition of beer bonging began long, long ago, in some respectable manner, back when drinking beer one sip at a time was just not efficient enough. However, the truth is, it probably started when some college kid showed up to a party late and everyone else was too wasted. So, to get on the same level, he poured his beer in a funnel causing him to be drunk faster than we all ever thought possible. I'm going to keep trying to find a legitimate story about the history of either of these topics and hopefully I find more than a few drunken stories.

Tailgating, however, I got a little dirt on. All the research I did can be traced back to this one website, AmericanHeritage.com. Apparently, it started in Jersey (last place i would have guessed), in 1869. Of course, the invention of the automobile greatly enhanced the tailgate. Actually, it wasn't until the 1980 that tailgating started shaping up to what we recognize it to be today. This was when grills, flags, and coolers came onto the scene. It all turned very social.

If you get the chance, check the website out. It's pretty cool. They make a comparison about how a good tailgate can be compared to a parade float, and also say 30% of fans never step foot inside the stadium. http://www.americanheritage.com/articles/magazine/ah/2005/5/2005_5_11.shtml

Is it wrong to bong?

O.k. try to follow me on this one. Don't get me wrong, if you see me at a tailgate, or any party for that matter, I will most likely have a beer bong in hand, but that's not what I'm talking about. See, last week my friend and I were stumbling back to our tailgate from the port-a-potty when we passed a glorious 8 person beer bong (it was like an octopus wanting us to get drunk). The construction of it all was pretty amazing. We stopped and stared for a little while and apparently caught the eye of the person who made it. Like a true Steeler fan he asked us if we wanted to try it out. By ask, I mean he shouted "Fill it up, you gotta try this out!". My friend jumped right in. However, when i declined, everyone in the tailgate seemed to take notice, and then started pushing me to do it. I nicely used the excuse that I simply am horrible at doing beer bongs (which is completely a lie). I really do love doing beer bongs. Let's face it, they are an awesome way to chug a whole beer in a matter of seconds. Great invention. But when outside of my personal tailgate, eh, not so much. I just find it hard to put my mouth on something that probably has been in the mouths of 20 people I don't know. It's a Steeler tailgate, those mouths could have been anywhere, literally.

Am I in the wrong here? I love beer bongs, but do not like the risk of getting herpes. I almost felt un-American, or at the least un-Pittsburghian, because as we all know, in Pittsburgh, you just do not pass up a free beer.

Fun Fact: That 8 person beer bong held 11 beers. Pretty impressive, don't you agree?

Incase you didn't already know...

If you really do not get what this blog is going to be about, there is something wrong with you. If you've ever been to Pittsburgh, PA, you know that it is a football city. Our world revolves around the Steelers because, let's face it, they're the holders of 6 Superbowl titles (What other team can say that? Exactly.). The fans are one of a kind, especially when it comes to celebrating our beloved team. This blog is dedicated to the art form that is, Steeler's tailgating, because when it comes to an eight person beer bong or relentlessly harassing anyone wearing colors other than black and gold, we are number one.

My love for the Steelers is on and off the field, and parking lot i guess. In case you lived under a rock the past week, you should know that the Steelers played in the NFL opener against the Titans (pause for boos). Of course we won, but more went into preparing for the victory than ESPN or any other broadcasters would like you to think. It all begins with a solid foundation.

Now everyone is most likely under the impression that all our fans went to the concert before, and then made it over to the parking lot at Heinz Field to get a decent buzz so they could avoid the $30 beers inside the stadium. This is false. If you're like me and need to soak up all the tailgates have to offer, there is no point in going to a concert that has nothing to do with our wonderful team. Instead, wake up and email your professor, and tell her how sick you are so there is no way you can make it to your 9 a.m. class. Now, get decked out in any article of clothing that includes, but is not limited to, black, gold (yellow is acceptable), or have any mention of how amazing the Steelers truly are.

Next step, the 'pre-tailgate'. This is what i think really sets apart Steeler fans from any other fans, because it is not enough to get drunk and obnoxious at the tailgate, you must arrive there in this state already (as long as you have a safe way of travel of course...DUI's do not help you enjoy a tailgate).

Once you arrive at a Steelers tailgate and set up your 'kitchen' (the cooler for beverages, grill and table for food/ beer pong, and who can forget the lawn chairs) your in business. This is the stage in the tailgate that things start getting intense. Throw on some 'Renegade' and look around. You should feel like you are at a family reunion, no judging or someone saying, "Is that man wearing a black and gold cape saying he's a Super Steeler?". Everyone is there to accomplish the same goal, get drunk, eat delicious food, and cheer on the Steelers. With a little liquid courage, you'll be surprised of the words of encouragement you can give the Steelers, along with some pretty derogatory ones for the other team.

If you can really think of a better way to support a team, please let me know, because I am almost positive that not only will a good tailgate give your team the support they need to win, but it also maximizes your good time as a fan. Just make sure to stay out of jail, and don't throw up on the person next to you, because they will throw you out.