How to throw a killer tailgating party

We've got game plans for everyone, from fair-weather fans to flat-out fanatics.

IF YOU'RE A ROOKIE
Um, there's a game today? You can still score with creativity and a little planning.
• Stop by the convenience store for a disposable cooler, drinks and prepared foods.
• Keep food portable, says Ray "Dr. BBQ" Lampe, author of The NFL Gameday Cookbook (sandwiches and pizzas, for instance). You'll have fewer supplies, so less mess.
• Know the lay of the land. Grab a map for the best routes, spots for food and drink and pit stops.
• If it's a college game, microwave your eats in the student union, then duck into the campus bookstore for team towels or blankets.
• Once you're set up, don't be afraid to scavenge. Beginners typically bum off fellow fans, says Mike Herchel, co-founder of gatortailgating.com, a tailgating site for fans of 2008 national champion the University of Florida. (Bring extra bags of chips or drinks to break the ice with a trade.)

Good to go:

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IF YOU'RE A PRO
The fight song has been in your head all week, and you started prepping last night.
• Show up three or four hours before the game to claim a hot spot.
• Know who's doing what, says Dr. BBQ. Assign tasks like grill master, garbage collector and bartender.
• Have a game-day kit with everything from first-aid supplies to toilet paper and ponchos, Herchel says.
• Bring two coolers (one for drinks, one for perishables) and a grill, Herchel says. Pack tables, tents, chairs and, if you have one, a portable TV. On a given Saturday there can be over 50 games, says Andrew Reed, a contributor to sportsillustrated.com's Tailgate Report Card-you don't want guests wandering off for updates.
• Taking inspiration from teams, mascots or cities, theme your spread. Tint drinks with food dye and opt for individual apps (so everyone's not crowded around a bowl of guacamole).

Good to go:
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IF YOU'RE A VETERAN
You've been wearing a team jersey since diapers and can recite stats like the ABCs.
• Take enough food for before and after the game, says Dr. BBQ. It'll make the parking-lot-exodus traffic jam much more fun.
• Have checklists of what needs to be done, packed and cooked, says Reed. A list of guests' phone numbers is also handy.
• Bring more of everything. Think multiple TVs, towable smokers and grills, and hammocks for pregame naps, Herchel says.
• Fanatics are all about the finishing touches. Reed would add a freestanding bar, too. If you really want to be the Clark Griswold of tailgaters, throw in a shade canopy and synthetic turf.
• Organize some tailgating activities, says Herchel. A ring toss, trivia game, horseshoes-whatever keeps people entertained until those ribs are smoked to perfection.

Good to go:
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TIPS FROM THE SIDELINES
Ultimate tailgater Rusty Thompson, co-founder of gatortailgating.com, has all the guidance you need.

Practice: Start small (and party alongside some established tailgaters) before moving on to the tent with a power inverter and a grill.

Join 'em & beat 'em: Establish a theme that reflects where you are and who you're playing. For example, when the Gators last played Louisiana State, Thompson's menu featured a low-country boil and lots of Cajun cooking. It's a creative way to amp up the team spirit and befriend the "enemy."

Be prepared: "Bring everything you think you need, plus 12 more things," Thompson says. Remember, once you've parked, you can't leave. The week of the game, designate one spot at home for stockpiling items, and go through them as you pack. High on the don't-forget list: extra gas for the generator, jumper cables and an extra set of, well, everything (to feed those less-experienced tailgaters).

Dress the part: In a word, comfortably. You'll be on your feet, in front of smoky grills, around cars, under the sun or in the rain all day. (Thompson plans for a pre- and postgame total of 12 hours of tailgating-then there's the game.) And bring an extra set of clothes: There will be BBQ spillage.

Get psyched: If your heart isn't in the game, then you're just having a cookout. Include one menu item or activity that will give you that game-day buzz.


WHATEVER TEAM YOU'RE ON...
• Have plenty of garbage bags. Tape them to trees and tent poles, keeping them off the ground so they don't attract bugs.
• Clean as you go. Done with tongs and ladles? Wash and stow them away now. It'll save crucial minutes later.
• When draining melted ice water from the coolers, reserve some for rinsing nondisposable items, hands and faces.
• Scrape down grills before heading to the game, but save the major cleaning for when you get home.

By Cristina Gonzalez

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