2010 Arrives With Brunch Tailgate

Finally!  Mid-September and we still haven't convened in Chapel Hill for our initial celebration - though we did have the Spring Game party, which allowed us to visit our old stomping grounds at Park Place and slake our thirst temporarily while waiting for the 2010 season to begin.  Yes, we have the Raycom Special - the noon kickoff - but given the delayed start this year and the unmentionable publicity the Heels have received, I believe we'll take it.  Plan is to be in the Friday Center lot in the same spot as last year by 8:30; we will be preparing made-to-order omelets on our new stove along with hashbrowns, doughnuts and other brunch favorites, including, of course, mimosas and a full selection of malt beverages.

Our Kenan seats for 2010 remain the same as the previous few years - though with the new "equity" seating plan (which brings to mind Orwell's prescient "all animals are created equal - but some are more equal than others"), this season may be the last one we'll be able to have more than two seats adjacent.  Of course, that is highly dependent on future demand, which at this point is certainly up in the air.  Yes, the forecast is for temps in the high 80s, but one advantage of the ongoing construction of the east end zone should be the opening of the stadium, allowing some breeze to flow through the normally impenetrable pit of humidity (yes, we also removed some trees.  Get over it, biology majors; there is plenty of freaking CO2.)

Hopefully time and obligations will allow this intrepid author to preview and review each week's tailgate in this space in a timely manner, in addition to some random postings for your enjoyment (or my singular fulfillment).  After all, what's blogging if not random?

See you Saturday - and if you can't make it, see you when ECU tries once again (yawn) to come to Chapel Hill and leave happy. 

A ZZW Disclaimer for 2010

As the Heels' deeply disturbing program troubles have very little direct effect on our tailgating, I will be fulfilling only the vision of this blog for 2010 - celebrating tailgating in Chapel Hill and the odd away game and avoiding completely any discussion of the pending investigation of the program.  If you do not agree with this position, my guess is if you search REALLY HARD on the internet you may find something to satisfy your curiosity on this subject.

2010 Preview Coming Soon

The 2010 tailgating season starts a bit late this year (Sept. 18 vs. Ga. Tech), but the ZZW will have you covered with a multi-part season preview starting next week. Check back for food and drink recipes, tailgate recreation plans, and, perhaps, some actual football information. The ZZW will publish its annual paper preview issue (OK, it will be a .pdf) the last week of August, but selected articles will be available here. Start thinking about your fall Saturday plans and check the ZZW online often during the fall as expanded staff will allow for more frequent updates.

Friday Update

No major changes to plans for Saturday...however, upon intel by ZZW investigative reporter Jamie Neill, it appears that Chapel Hill will be busier than normal Saturday morning due to a 5K road race (people actually run that far?). Therefore, there will be two changes to the plan: first, no crawfish in the boil. OK, that really has little to do with the crowd and a lot to do with me choosing not to deal with cooking live animals for the first time in the tailgating lot. Sue me (not you, Dave). Second, I will be "planting the flag" as they say in the lot by 10:30 ET to ensure our spot for the day. As I cannot vouch for the availability of first-come first-served spaces, call me if you run into parking issues - though I doubt that it will be a problem. If you are reading this, we still need appetizers and dessert for Saturday. See you at Park Place.

Saturday Plans Coming Together

A few significant details can now be released about our first-ever spring tailgate...the gathering spot will be Park Place, our "old" spot (all lots are first-come, first-served basis) - the Friday Center lot is not available this week. Secondly, given that Coach Davis and ESPN are using Saturday's telecast as a promotion for Labor Day weekend's UNC-LSU game, we are serving a low-country boil as our main dish; shrimp, andouille sausage, corn, potatoes, and crawfish (if we can find them). Start thinking about sides and desserts - we will meet in Park Place no later than 10:30 to stake out our spot. More to come between now and Saturday.

Tailgate Season Starts Early

Yes! We're back! In 2010 you don't have to wait until September for your tailgate fix - we're kicking off the season in early April with UNC's spring football game! Yes, the Bunny has barely made it out of town but it's time for tailgating in Chapel Hill. A large crowd and large time are expected for a 12 noon party that will have all the trappings of a late-season celebration. Stay tuned to the ZZW online for details the week of the game and we'll see you in Chapel Hill.