The Homecoming game draws a large crowd from all over Southeast Missouri and beyond. The people not only come for a thrilling football game, but also to take part in tailgating.
Alumni and students alike gathered before the game, right outside Houck stadium to celebrate Homecoming. Tents lined the street, along with food trucks providing snacks and drinks for the tailgaters, who mingled with the people around them. For many, tailgating is an event to connect with other Redhawks.
Homecoming tailgating is particularly unique because it brings together alumni and current students.
Recent graduate and health science major Lexie Smith enjoys tailgating to reconnect with people she knew in college.
“I get to see all of my old friends and all the other alumni,” Smith said. “I feel like it lets everyone connect before a super cool event.”
Alumni Samantha Snyder echoed Smith’s feelings on reconnecting with others and noted the community-driven environment of tailgating.
“It really brings everyone together, not only students, but alumni and extended family as well,” Snyder said. “It really fuels community spirit and school spirit. It creates an atmosphere that brings everyone together.”
Current SEMO students also seem to enjoy the spirit of tailgating. Junior nursing major Macy Lear takes part in tailgating more often, not just at Homecoming.
“I enjoy tailgating because it’s a treat and every month I like to make time with my friends and get to see the community come together,” Lear said. “I’m from Cape so it’s really nice to see that we have something like this.”
Lear also noted how tailgating has gained more traction at SEMO.
“Especially this year, I’ve seen it much more,” Lear said. “I don’t know why but I think it is growing and I really like that.”
While many of the attendees had been to a tailgate before, for some this was a new experience.
Sophomore marketing management major Jaxson Houf said that this was his first time tailgating.
“This is my first one.” Houf said. “It’s been pretty cool from the experience so far, I really came for the food, but it’s been awesome seeing all these people get together.”
The tailgate extended beyond just food and spending time with friends. Activities such as cornhole seemed to be popular games among several of the people in attendance. However, there were also other activities offered to tailgaters.
Rowdy Crowd President Sydney Goforth enjoys the traditional festivities of homecoming, while also providing activities of her own.
“I enjoy tailgating to spend time with my friends and enjoy all the fun festivities before kickoff through the football game,” Goforth said. “I hang out at the Rowdy Crows table and do eye black, face painting, poster making, and all that good stuff.”
As the Homecoming tailgate came to an end, the connections that alumni and students made would continue beyond this one event. These bonds formed over football and food created memories that would last a lifetime.
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