Taking tailgating to 11

LSU is famous for having some of the biggest, loudest and most organized tailgate groups anywhere, let alone in the world of college football. The sport of tailgating can require as much time and “practice” as prepping for an actual football game. And everyone is invited.

Chest Box Tailgating, otherwise known as CBT, sets up between Lockett Hall and the Design Building every year. With a group of 22 members, CBT goes all-out with food, kegs and an ESPN package on satellite TV that broadcasts every college football game available.

“There is no limit to the number of guests that come,” says CBT member Eric Eskew. “We make it organized and family-friendly so that everyone’s friends can stop by and have a good time.” With “Cajun microwaves”—charcoal-fueled Dutch ovens—and other cooking gear, CBT exemplifies a modern tailgate in both culinary choices and its entertainment equipment.

Another tailgate that always draws a crowd is one referred to as “The Compound,” which has established a presence outside J.C. Miller Hall. Twice a year, the crew paints a mini-Death Valley in a grassy area near their site. The tailgate is potluck-style, where every member contributes, and there are usually seven different meals cooking at one time.

Setting up a party for anywhere between 50 and 200 people requires plenty of work. Both of these crews begin prepping for Saturdays in Tiger Stadium at least a week in advance. These high-tech tailgaters come to the party with gas-powered blenders, sound systems that rival many bars, copper coils to chill beer and other accessories that take the pre-game party to another level.

Cheering on the Tigers doesn’t come cheap, but LSU tailgaters agree you can’t put a price on a Saturday night in Baton Rouge. As William Johnson, a member of The Compound, says, “What else are you going to do on a Saturday? Yard work?”