Wayback When-sday was at My House

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OSU Tailgate 1997

November 22, 1997: The group gathers behind my college house on State St before Michigan’s 20-14 victory over the Buckeyes en route to an undefeated season and National Championship. This was the last time my bed was less than 20 yards from the tailgate, and I remember wondering what these idiots were doing showing up at the crack of dawn to start drinking and eating. Fast forward 28 years, and I am the #1 enabler of several levels of idiocy beyond these fine folks. The season is almost upon us my friends. Let’s go blue.

More pics and stuff from that fine day in 1997 live here.

Your 2025 UMTailgate Themes

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This year we celebrate the 25th(!) anniversary of the launch of UMTailgate.com, a crappy and often abandoned website that follows the Greatest Tailgate in the World through pictures, trash talking of rivals, and general shitposting. Ah yes, “a life’s work.”

In 2009, citing space-holding issues, waiting in a line of cars at 6 a.m., rainouts, and the fact that they trimmed the trees so we couldn’t pee in peace, the tailgate left the friendly confines of the golf course and rented a space on Snyder that just couldn’t contain us.

2009 Season Opener at our snyder st digs

In 2010, we moved to Pioneer High School and occupied a space known as The Cove for the next 15 seasons. So many great memories of our time there.

2010 season opener at the cove

But it’s time to move on — to reduce the wear and tear of packing, unpacking, and setup; to stop wondering where our power is going to come from, where our cable signal is going to come from, or where our internet signal is going to come from for the inevitable Peacock game. More importantly, it’s time for me to live out a lifelong dream: being able to see the stadium from my home — and live at the tailgate year-round. LOL. So, in 2025, the tailgate will move to a space that will affectionately be known as The UMTailgate House. External improvements have been underway since February, and while it will be a bit of a work in progress throughout the season, it will be tailgate-ready by the first kickoff. Having an actual kitchen to augment the outdoor kitchen will open us up to a new level of menus and capability, and having my clothes nearby will allow me to change out of my sweat-soaked cooking garb and enjoy the games.Looking forward to seeing all of the invited guests soon. :)

And so, for this year’s tailgate themes, we’ll take a trip back to 2010 and revisit that amazing season (off the field, of course), where the opening Luau was sponsored by Kraft and The Bacon tailgate actually got a visit from John U. Bacon.

Side note: Last year we started the season with FIVE CONSECUTIVE HOME GAMES. This year, we don’t have a single back-to-back, and we only have six games total. BREATHE.

Saturday, August 30, 2025: New Mexico State, 7:30 p.m.

Theme: The Luau

What better way to kick things off than under the lights? No longer hamstrung by time rules, all tailgates can start in the morning. Four meals? Don’t mind if I do. Extra decorations because I don’t have to jam them in a trailer? YES. Roast pig because I can start it the day before? HELL YES. Expect a season opener spam hash and typical luau fare throughout.

Saturday, September 6, 2025: at Oklahoma, 7:30 p.m.

Saturday, September 13, 2025: Central Michigan, Noon

Theme: The Bacon

Noon kick means breakfast — and maybe a quick pre-game slider. On-site ovens mean we can bake fresh biscuits! Lots of bacon and bacon-related things… and God-willing, John U. Bacon.

Saturday, September 20, 2025: at Nebraska, 3:30 p.m.

Saturday, September 27, 2025: BYE

Saturday, October 4, 2025: Wisconsin, Noon or 3:30 p.m.

Theme: The German

Fingers crossed for a 3:30 here, but we’ll do some waffles, bratwurst hash, schnitzel sliders, and hot pretzels. And we’ll cover our lederhosen-clad selves in various mustards.

Saturday, October 11, 2025: at USC, TBD

Saturday, October 18, 2025: Washington, TBD

Theme: The Carnival

Subject to change based on kickoff time, but if it’s not noon, we are a go. It’s been a long time since we had a carnival. There will be games. There will be elephant ears. There will be a slip-and-slide on the stairs into the tailgate basement.

Saturday, October 25, 2025: at Little Brother

Saturday, November 1, 2025: Purdue, TBD

Theme: The BBQ

Again, subject to change if time isn’t conducive to a full smoked menu, but I’d like to fire up enough smokers to have the neighbors complain — and knock out some competition-level brisket, chicken, ribs, and sides.

Saturday, November 8, 2025: BYE

Saturday, November 15, 2025: at Northwestern (Wrigley), TBD

Saturday, November 22, 2025: at Maryland, TBD

Saturday, November 29, 2025: THE GAME, Noon

Theme: The Steakhouse

You know the drill. Filet, tomahawks, steakhouse sides, and Michigan’s fifth straight victory over Ohio.

Photos Catch Up - 2024 Oregon, Indiana, Northwestern, Ohio, Alabama

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My inability to keep up with posting after the season transitions from hopeful to disappointing is as rich a tradition as Boone’s Farm and Dennis showing up late. So, we’ve got a little housekeeping to do before we embark on the next season and launch the 2025 Tailgate Themes. After Michigan dispatched of Little Brother, they fell in back to back games to the Big Ten Champion Oregon Ducks and a top-10 Indiana team (remember them?) before a get-right game with Northwestern and the biggest upset in the storied history of The Game. Rewarded with a bowl game against a CFP-spurned and angry powerhouse Alabama team, Michigan went into Tampa without the bulk of their productive players and smothered them. A strong finish to a meh season, with tremendous tailgates and road trips throughout. Links in 2024 drop down menu above.

Oregon:

At Indiana:

Northwestern:

At Ohio:

Reliaquest Bowl - Alabama

Tailgate Stay Doing Tailgate Things

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Interesting times indeed. Disappointed in the coaching but giving a bit of a pass due to personnel. Disappointed in the off-season portal plan but giving a pass due to Harbaugh gutting us staff-wise. Disappointed in the season but still basking in the natty. But thanks to Sparty being Sparty, a game I have seen 1000 times go the other way (Michigan dominates in yardage and eye test but still loses) went the way of Big Brother. Gotta think MSU missed a tremendous opportunity to snag a victory during our poorly managed transition year. Got a little chippy at the end and that’s the good stuff that keeps it nasty until we head back to America’s Worst Stadium next year in East Landfill.

An amazing turnout for the tailgate, and far and away a record for food preparation and consumption. 80 coneys, 80 sliders, 10 pounds of spaghetti with 5 gallons of sauce and meatballs, and 24 pizzas. Killed it all. Awesome stuff and hope to see you all again this weekend.

The Oktoberfest Pictures: Michigan 27, Minnesota 24

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