Tailgating for the Eastern Michigan University football game against the University of Akron Zips started early Saturday morning.
Dozens of barbeques were set up across the Convocation Center parking lot. One of the parties set up a truck to broadcast the football game live on a projection screen.
This was the work of EMU 2006 alumn, Joe Majewski, who showed up at 7:30 a.m. to set up.
"This is like my Christmas day," Majewski said. "During [the] holidays it's hard to get everyone at one spot. Every year we try to do something big to get everyone down here. It's nice. I've got family members, neighbors, my co-workers, friends, brothers, my wife. We get everyone here."
The several hundred students who showed up enjoyed beautiful weather. The parking lot itself was full of cars and people. There was also a fenced-off area for students which featured a bank and local businesses, including Bona Sera Cafe, Noodles & Co., University Green Apartments and briefly, Buffalo Wild Wings.
“I came here because I wanted to see some of my old friends,” said Samuel Temple, who graduated from the music department last year. “I have been at [graduate] school at Bowling Green, so it's good to see old friends.”
There were a number of Greek life organizations there, including the Alpha Phi Alpha fraternity.
“I came to have a good time, to show school pride,” Alpha Phi Alpha chapter president Giovani Wasson said.
Catherine Richardson, an EMU alum, said she thought the food was fantastic.
“This is the first time I've been able to come,” Richardson said. “My husband comes every year.”
A pair of giant tents was set up between the tailgaters and the stadium for alumni. The tents, hosted by the Office for Alumni Relations, included a bouncy castle and slide. It opened two hours before the game.
“[The football team has] to do a really good defense,” Lexi Medina, a sophomore majoring in business administration said. “Defense wins games.”
