Your 2013 UMTailgate.com Tailgate Themes

Sons-in-law

The 2013 UMTailgate.com Tailgate Themes are available in several places, most notably here , which is just a copy of the link that is available in the 2013 menu above.  Past themes?  We got 'em.  Remember 2012?  Godfather doesn't.  But it was great.  Bacon Theme, Seafood Festival, All-American...we did it up right.  In 2011 we welcomed Brady Hoke to Michigan with such classic themes as The White Trash and The Far Eastern.  In 2010 we gave Rich Rod a proper sendoff, featuring Christmas in September and a Graffiti T-Shirt Tailgate before introducing the world to the Bacon Tailgate.  2009 will always be remembered for the Step-Brother's inspired "Boat's and Ho's and The Catalina Wine Mixer" tailgate.  Ahhhh the memories.  But we are here to discuss the future, and so we shall (links below are to further theme information and the ability to add the events straight to your google calendar or ical, so feel free to click on through):

8/31    Central Michigan 3:30PM:  Luau 
9/7      Notre Dame 8PM: Catfish, Smoke and Pickles
9/14     Akron 12PM:  Pizza Party
9/21     At UCONN TBD: TBD
9/28    BYE
10/5     Minnesota 3:30PM:  Homecoming Carnival
10/12    At Penn State: Winnebago
10/19    Indiana 3:30PM: White Trash
10/26   BYE
11/2       At Sparty TBD:  TBD
11/9       Nebraska TBD:  The Lumberjack
11/16      At Northwestern TBD:  TBD
11/23     At Iowa TBD:  TBD
11/30     Ohio  TBD:  Beef, Blazers, and Lasers

Four days from now, the hash will be on, the ribs will be smoking, your life will be better.  Here's to 15 weeks of unreality.  GO BLUE! 

Weekend Roundup: "Wow It's Really Here" Edition, August 26, 2013

Vanderbilt 2006:  Michigan 27 - Vanderbilt 7.  Rained out golf course put us at Mr. and Mrs. Tailgate Girl's college house.

How's everybody doing?  Are we ready for this?  Have you been practicing?  I brought home about 5 extra cases of premium beer that were left over from my wedding because Johnny Cleveland and Bubba weren't thirsty enough and Godfather didn't even bother to attend.  I had to buy a garage fridge to house it all, and I've done a stellar job of dwindling that pile down to a scant case or two by pouring them into my gullet anytime I need to head out to the garage for anything.  In short, my tolerance is up, my spirits are high, and I'm ready to experience a third consecutive year of undefeated home football.

It's game week Monday bitches, and the butterflies are percolating.  Here's what you missed around the internets while you attended a clown wedding...

• Hoke and company landed a corner and a safety for 2015, both 4-stars.  That and more from the alcoholic bloggers over at Maize and Brew.
• Bacon's new book 4th and Long, a follow-up to Three and Out in name only, follows college football for a season at Michigan, PSU, Ohio, and Northwestern.  John U assures me I'm not in this one.  An excerpt appears on MGoBlog, and Tailgate Girl adds that the cover is "textured" for her pleasure. 
• The 1973 team...the one that got jobbed...addressed the 2013 team on Saturday.  Questions such as "Why did the Ohio game end in a tie instead of with overtime?" were probably fielded from the 18-22 year old crowd.  MVictors has more.
• Isn't is sacrilege to have a Sunday conversation with Satan himself?  The worldwide leader thinks not.
• The fact that you clamored for Drew Henson to start notwithstanding, Tom Brady spoke to the team last Thursday.  Detroit Sports Site talks about the positive impact in the era of Aaron Hernandez.
• Darboh's out, so we're looking for a few good (Fresh) men.  Rittenburg gives the rundown. 
• Let's take a look at the Chips with MaizeandGoBlue.com.
• Rittenburg ranks the top 25 players in the Big 10, and Taylor Lewan is #2.
• UMHoops says the non-conference schedule is locked down for Michigan Basketball.  See you in Durham on Dec 3. 

Theme Revealed: 11/30 Ohio State

Feels weird to be talking about the end before we've even begun. 

The pundits are predicting that this year's Michigan - Ohio game is just a prelude to a repeat in Indianapolis.  This is the last chance for a season rematch before the rich tradition of Legends and Leaders gives way to East and West, putting us in the same division as the Buckeyes.  But hey, there's no way to guarantee it won't happen some day in the future...the Big Ten, which made about 2 changes to its makeup in its 100+ year history, is now making about 10 adjustments per season.  Between adding teams, naming divisions, creating trophies, and removing Joe Paterno's name from those trophies, the only thing you can count on in the future is that there will be more changes.

Oh well, that doesn't make the last Saturday in November any less important.  Our final theme of the season will be Beef, Blazers, and Lasers.  Don your favorite unique and/or crested suit jacket.  A shirt and tie are not required (though it's not discouraged).  Feel free to go with the t-shirt under the blazer look a-la Tom Cruise in Risky Business.  Not sure what to tell the ladies to do...lady-blazer?  formal wear?  You decide.  It will be nice to be all dressed up for the 2013 Godfather Tailgating Awards.  

There will also be beef.  Brisket hash in the early morning and filet mignon in the late morning.  Also, lasers.  All day lasers.  We will bask in the technology of focused light while we chew on cow in our sport coats.  This is Michigan.

Theme Revealed: 11/9 Nebraska

Were you aware that we have two bye weeks?  That's two breaks for your liver...two breaks for your cholesterol....two weekends to remain on the couch watching (scouting) other college football games.  

Following the bye on 10/26, the Wolverines will travel to East Lansing on 11/2.  They will be returning to Ann Arbor with the Paul Bunyan trophy.  This will warrant a celebration.  We will honor Mr. Bunyan with a tailgate in his honor, a Lumberjack Themed Tailgate.  There's going to be a chill in the air.  It will probably be raining and gloomy.  But there's something comforting about blue tarps and steam rising off of grills and out of pots.  Flannel shirts, biscuits and gravy, sausage and cheese chowder, soups, and stews.  What could be better?

Full disclosure, this theme is basically a re-branding of the Soups and Stews theme and will be called Soups and Stews if the worst were to happen on 11/2.

Theme Revealed: 10/19 Indiana

It may not seem like I'm ready, but I'm ready.  Are you ready?

The Indiana Hoosiers come to town on October 19th, and I plan to welcome Michigan State's cross-divisional rival with open Cougar-Mellencamp arms.  In honor of the drunk little asshat that Stephen had to chase away from our tailgate at Indiana last time, the theme will be White Trash, last seen as a theme during Under the Lights Part 1.  

Wear your favorite Walmart Wolverine gear:  yellow jerseys, jerseys with MICHIGAN as the name on the back..or better yet emblazoned on the front above the number, pleather jackets, overalls, and wife beaters.  Fried bologna sandwiches will help us hearken back to the early days of Godfather and Captain Michigan, before they gave themselves their nicknames.  A 3:30pm kick means more fun, and also means breakfast AND lunch.  A Garbage Plate of breakfast meats, potatoes, and cheeses will lay a base for your Schlitz.  The afternoon will have grilled cheeses and sloppy joes joining the bologna party.