UTSA football would not be where it is today without the continued support from its students and alumni. Multiple UTSA organizations gear up for the game in a way most Americans do for any college or professional football game.
Tailgates are celebrations before football games, UTSA tailgates are located in Lot A, B and C of the Alamodome with individual family tailgates, fraternities and the UTSA’s alumni tailgate. Here are the top tailgates you can expect to find at a UTSA football game.
- Fraternity Tailgate
The fraternities at UTSA are a part of the college experience for first-year students. The organizations are credited with helping students gather leadership skills, social outlets and academic achievement.
Academic chairman of Lambda Chi Alpha, Jesse James, and Alpha Tau Omega president, Duke Saenz, both shared their favorite tailgate memories with The Paisano.
“My favorite tailgate was the Texas tailgate last year. It was a lot of fun and most of the student body was there,” James said.
“Tailgates are the best times of the year because it brings all the fraternities as well as people you don’t normally see together,” Saenz said. “It is also a good way to connect and make new friends.”
Fraternity tailgates are not only for the students; they are for their parents as well. Diego Salinas, publications chair of FIJI fraternity and head of recruitment for IFC, shared his favorite memory from tailgates
“Parents tailgate is really fun. I think it’s very fun seeing not only your parents, but everyone else’s parents in a different informal setting, and letting loose by acting how they acted in college,” Salinas said.
Andrew Rafferty, chapter president of Phi Delta Theta clarified that fraternity tailgates are not just about mingling amongst others.
“You can expect a lively atmosphere with great energy. We bring together brothers, alumni, friends and supporters to enjoy game day with music, delicious food and fun activities,” Rafferty said.
These fraternities hold tailgates centered around Lot C and B of the Alamodome, and each member explained that if you are a UTSA student or fraternity alumni you are able to attend.
- The UTSA Alumni Association Tailgate
The alumni association is composed of multiple Alumni Groups, or chapters, each based in the bigger Texas cities, such as Dallas, Fort Worth, Houston, Austin and the Rio Grande Valley. Each chapter has a purpose to help support the education of UTSA students by raising money for scholarships through social events.
To attend the tailgate a fee of $20 is required at the gate, but a member with a valid ID associated with a membership allows free entry. People that attend this tailgate will be able to enjoy complimentary food, drinks and meet dedicated fans to keep the Roadrunner spirit.
- The Bird Gang
The story starts with Mark Cevallos and his brother David tailgating with two parking spots and a stereo.
“The first season was his last semester as a student. We decided we wanted to tailgate from the very beginning,” Cevallos said.
Later on down the line, their group expanded with the joining of fellow alumni Ruben Esquivel, Gary and Laura Alexander, and Brian Elliot who travel from Houston to attend each tailgate. The one thing Cevallos wants to highlight to the Paisano is how they all started small, but created such a lively atmosphere for anyone to enjoy. This tailgate is one that proves that fans stay true to Roadrunner Nation.
Being at a UTSA football game is a thrilling experience, make sure to check out any of these tailgates before the game. They are just a selected few of many tailgates you can experience.
