Southern Fried Football: Backyard Tailgating, War Eagles, & Gridiron Belles

Happy Tailgating Thursday y'all! Today's the day when SEC fans start to kick it into high gear getting ready to head out tomorrow to Gameday destinations & stadiums across the South. As I mentioned yesterday, this is one of the few weekends of the season that the hubby & I will be watching all the SEC madness from home. Since he won't even fly back into Charlotte until late Saturday afternoon we decided to host an NFL Sunday Party in our backyard instead. Clearly, we're addicted to tailgating. And party food. And football! Thanks to our next door neighbors, we'll have a projector screen & home theater components for the day. My Jeff is setting up our cornhole, bocce ball, & bolaball games, and the girls & I will be providing the menu. So here's a little tailgate foodie inspiration from our tailgate to yours:

Balsamic-Honey Pulled Pork Sliders

Margarita Chicken Wings

Baked Tex-Mex Pimiento Cheese Dip

Pineapple Cucumber Guacamole

Cream Cheese Sausage Balls

Spicy Sweet Deviled Eggs

Bourbon Bacon Chex Mix

Butter Bean Salad with Basil Vinaigrette

Drunken Grapes with Goat Cheese & Pecans

Grilled Peaches with Mascarpone & Agave

Caramel Nutella Crumb Bars

Various Craft Beers & Planter's Punch

If you're a fan of sweet & spicy dishes, then this tailgate menu is for you. It definitely has a little Tex-Mex flavor going on, which I love. Y'all let me know what you like about these dishes and tell me what you're serving this weekend at your tailgate!

SEC Profilin': Auburn Tigers

Week 3 of football season means our third installment of SEC profiles here on the blog. In the last 2 weeks we've focused on Bama & Mississippi State. And today we take a look at the returning National Champions, Auburn Tigers, or as I like to call them War-Eagle-Plains-Tigers. Seriously Auburn fans, pick a mascot....any mascot. I'll be honest, I'm writing this profile through gritted teeth. As a UGA grad married to a Bama grad, the one team we loathe in common is Auburn, haha. The Deep South's Oldest Rivalry is that of UGA & Auburn, and the Iron Bowl (Bama & Auburn) are 2 games Jeff & I never miss. But even the deepest & most bitter of SEC rivals is rooted in mutual respect for tough competition & more than a century of rich tradition. Of all the SEC venues across the South, even I have to admit Gamedays on the Plains are a lot of fun and certainly a bucket-list experience. If you're planning on stopping in at Jordan-Hare Stadium this season, here are a few Auburn traditions you don't want to miss:

1. Auburn's Amphitheater - Like many SEC campuses, Friday at 4pm is when the action starts. RV's start rolling into town & people are staking out spots, literally, for their tailgate tent cities. At Auburn, virtually any patch of grass can be claimed with a wooden stake & some neon orange tape. But the primo spot for the most fab tent parties is in the Amphitheater (see above pic) under the shade of tall pine trees. Even if you're a visitor, wander through that area & you'll experience the best in Southern hospitality. In other words, you won't go away hungry.

2. War Eagle - Unlike LSU, Auburn doesn't have a live tiger as a mascot. They do however have the War Eagle. The tradition was actually born during the 1892 first game of the Deep South's Oldest Rivalry with my Dawgs. For decades War Eagle was just an Auburn battle cry, but since 1960 Auburn has flown a live Golden Eagle during every home pre-game. It really is a sight to see this bird's wing span open up as it flies around the stadium while 87,000 fans scream. Just last week, however, Auburn's Golden Eagle "Spirit" crashed into the glass during flight. Thankfully he only suffered a concussion & should be back in business for their next home game. Fun fact: as soon as the War Eagle lands on the field it gets fed a freshly killed rat. You can't make this stuff up people.

3. Lovelace Hall Of Honor - On campus in the Athletic Complex is the Lovelace museum, a shrine for former Auburn gridiron giants, records, trophies and memorabilia. It's open on Gamedays with free admission.

4. Toomer's Corner - Thanks to one psychotic Bama fan, the entire nation is now familiar with the legendary Toomer's Oaks. For decades Auburn University students, alumni & fans have gathered at the Toomer's oak trees after every victory and cover them in toilet paper. Before the night is over it looks like a snowstorm doused the corner of College & Magnolia St. It really is a sight to behold & a prime example of SEC spirit!

5. The Tiger Walk - I've said it before, virtually every SEC team has a "walk" 2 hours before the game, but Auburn's walk is distinctive. UGA & Auburn were the first to create this SEC fanfare, and it's truly spectacular. But I'd have to give the edge to Auburn for sheer size & volume - it's freakin' loud people, but so much fun!

6. Good Eats - College & Magnolia Streets are the center of Auburn's universe and house the best dining options. A few notables are Barbecue House, Niffer's Place, and of course the legendary Toomer's Drugs. But my personal fave is Momma G's. I never leave Auburn without having a Momma Love sammich! And their nachos are insanely good.

No tailgate Saturday on the Plains can begin without the appropriate Gameday wardrobe. Like Ladies across the SEC landscape, Auburn girls are chic and fashion forward. Thankfully orange & navy have been "it" colors this past summer, and now more than ever Gameday dress options are abundant. So putting together a Gameday outfit for Lady Tigers wasn't hard at all!

Auburn girls are among several fanbases who have made dressing with cowboy boots a pretty hot trend in the SEC lately. And I love it! Since the nights are getting cooler as we head into Fall, carrying a scarf or pashmina, like the one above, in SEC team colors is a smart idea. And how cute is that Auburn lip balm? I couldn't resist adding in that tiger clutch - love it!As much as my wardrobe bleeds UGA red & black, I'm loving all the orange & navy this season. 

From Auburn Belles to Gridiron Belles..... Last week at the UGA game a sorority sister of mine shared with me her copy of a fabulous new book all about Southern Belles and our love for Gamedays in Dixie. Written by Christie Leigh Mueller, a Kentucky Belle and graduate of Rhodes College in Memphis, this fun read is all about southern football traditions from a woman's perspective. Christie traveled to all 12 SEC venues in one season researching each team's rituals, history & love affair with tailgate parties & dressing to the nines on Gamedays. Even though Christie didn't attend an SEC school, she's a big fan of, you guessed it, those Auburn Tigers! Y'all, I read Christie's book in a few short days and absolutely loved it! Moreover, I've since fallen in love with her blog where she's chronicling  her tour through the SEC again this season, hosting tailgate parties and signing her books at every SEC venue. Here's her tour schedule & where you can buy her book. Buy a copy & head over to meet her when she stops by your campus this season!

I hope all you football fans have a terrific weekend filled with great SEC games & fabulous parties. Let me know what your plans are, what classy togs you're wearing, and who you're picking to win!

Go Dawgs Sic 'em WOOF!! (And Roll Tide!)