ECU Tailgating

It's official! The 2007 tailgating season has started! Oh yeah, there is some football going on as well. The ECU game was scheduled for noon so that meant a 6:30 start from Lynchburg. A traffic jam on 81 is the nemesis of any professional tailgater so our early departure helped us avoid any vehicular drama.
Colette and "sour stomach" Rob are original Hoopty Crew members but we had two guests this trip. Rob and MJ Pearson were yucking it up on the way to Blacksburg. Let's get everything out on the table here and now - MJ is a Wahoo but we like her anyway. Note the Tech shirt she's sporting.Steve and Sm'Ellen looking very happy despite the early hour.So the tailgating begins. The first thing you should notice is that this is not Lot 8. I know Lot 8 and this, sir, is not Lot 8. Lot 14 is the new Hoopty home (for now). It's a good lot with lots of green space and very few people. While the action isn't the same, Lot 14 does afford a much more relaxed tailgating experience, and let's not forget that the two blue rooms see much less "activity" than the Lot 8 blue rooms. Here the setup is almost complete.The breakfast tailgate included ham biscuits (although not enough - thanks a lot Chip), cheese grits, hash browns, sausage, fruit, bloody marys, and breakfast beers.Football discussion started early and the orange peeling competition was a big hit. Janet and Colette were amazed with Ellen's very nimble, prize winning, orange peeling fingers.Bob and Steve look like members of an over the hill boy band posing for the paparazzi. Something like Menudo if they never kicked anyone out. Steve, I'm pretty sure boy band members don't pick their butts while a picture is being taken. What exactly is Bret staring at.....am I gonna be forced to defend my wifes honor? Oh wait, he's staring at Cathy. Oh Laaaaaaance.....The Charlotte gang (Travis, Brandon, and Lance) were violently debating the value of wearing Dale Earnhardt shoes with Chip and Creech (or is it Creetch, or Creatch).Awwww, they still hold hands after all these years. Either that or Ellen is trying to hold Rob in his seat so he won't do the hey-look-I-have-raw-brat-hanging-out-my-zipper dance. Bret and Jeanell presented Cathy with her very own tuxedo t-shirt because she wants to be formal but she likes to party too.Obviously it was a day filled with classy clothes. Colette was kind enough to get these sexy shirts for Cathy and Jeanell. Hot, hot, hot.Jilian and Todd dropped by for a little pre-game tailgating. It's a bit embarrassing but they had to show off the box seats they stole off the little old lady they beat up. Sad.We could hear the cops coming so they had to make a quick exit on their high-end getaway vehicles. Everyone loves The Hokie Hoopty. Just being near it is exhilarating. It's famous and I feel like I'm driving a rock star....... wait, that didn't sound right.Even the walk to the stadium is fun for the Hoopty Crew.This is what the field looks like from great seats - 45 yard line, QQ. Jeanell and I lucked out this time. Thanks Stuart, Freda, and Jack! Best seats we've ever had. Jeanell and I posing for the obligatory self-portrait although we were lonely being separated from the rest of our people.This is the Hokie Nation. Hokie Pride.
.....we will prevail.
All eyes on the jumbo-tron for the very moving tribute.Before the game was over Jeanell and I had to slip over to our normal spot to be with our peeps.Rob is trying to be "that guy".
The post-game tailgate involves much more sitting than the pre-game tailgate. Could have something to do with excessive amounts of Wild Turkey. Note that we even have Hokie potato chips.
Mom (Linda) caught up with us for a little frivolity. It was really funny when she put Bret's fingers in that warm water while he napped.The Pearsons seemed happy to be hanging with The Hoopty Crew (despite their UVa connections). We were glad to have them along for the ride.

So, there it is.... the first tailgate of 2007. I'll do my best to post throughout the entire season, but I ain't promising jack. If any of you want to feel the Hoopty Love, come by Lot 14 and see if the we're there. If the bus is rocking, don't stop knocking. We'll eventually swing open the passenger door.