SAN MARCOS CHAMBER OF COMMERCE
Two people have been hosting a Bobcat football tailgate for 22 years; the festivities have been going on so long that Gordon and Debby McCullough, along with the other 13 people that started the event, have been coined The Originals. Different businesses throughout San Marcos sponsor the tailgates; the upcoming one will occur from 3 to 5:30 p.m. (before kickoff at 6 p.m.) during the homecoming game against Southern Miss, and it is sponsored by the San Marcos Area Chamber of Commerce.
“There were about 15 of us that got together and donated $100 a piece and decided that we would start having a tailgate before the Bobcat football game,” Gordon said. “We started out with like about 15 people. Very few of those initial 15 are still part of the originals. There are a few left. Some of them have passed on. Some of them went on to do other things or moved.”
The group set up pop-up tents at the VIP parking section at Bobcat Stadium near the press box. The tailgate has since moved behind the right field fence at the baseball stadium in the parking lot, and they now rent a $500 20 by 30 foot tent each game, which is paid for with donations. One can easily find the spot as it is located next to a big yellow school bus that has Texas State painted on it.
“We’ve got a pretty good group of financial supporters and good fans that have helped us perpetuate this thing,” Gordon said. “At each game, we usually have somebody with a portable smoker out there, and they cook the meat. We have a rather extensive email list that we send out on Sunday or Monday, prior to each home game, and we tell them what we’re going to be cooking and ask for sides,” Gordon said. “We have a metal donation box there that … each time people drop in there about $5, $10, $20 or whatever. We hope we get enough money each time to pay for the meat, which is the most important thing. Many, many San Marcos businesses have supported us over the years, particularly with donating sponsorships.”
The Originals tailgate on Nov. 16 is sponsored by the San Marcos Area Chamber of Commerce.
“The goal of this event is to bring a lot of businesses together under the Chamber banner, especially those who may not have experienced a tailgate party at a Bobcat Football game before,” San Marcos Area Chamber of Commerce President Page Michel said. “Big thanks to all of the sponsors who are making this possible.”
Through the football team’s ups and downs, the Originals are always there grilling and hanging out before the home games.
“Over the years… [people have] come and gone depending on how successful the football team is,” Gordon said. “We’ve been there through thick and thin.”
Gordon said the tailgate is a labor of love that they’d like to pass on to the next generation of Bobcat football fans.
“We identified the people [that we’d like to take over the tailgate one day],” Gordon said. “There’s some of the younger group, they’re been tickled to death to call themselves part of the Originals. Eventually, I hope and think they will assume more responsibility for it.”
Debby said part of what is special about the Originals’ tailgate is its family- friendly nature.
“The tailgating is about family, so a lot of kids are involved. Young kids get involved and are throwing the football and running around,” Debby said. “So many of those pictures of the kids that were running around then have now graduated … from university, and they’re coming back with their kids. And this younger group that we’ve got becoming invested in us are the younger folks with small children, and it’s just great to see. So that’s part of it. It’s very family oriented. That gives us hope that it will carry on through the years.”
Michel said it’s important for people to register online. The tailgate is BYOB and has no cover charge, but one must be on the guest list to enter in order to enjoy food and seating. Learn more about the event and register at this link business.sanmarcostexas. com/events/ details/chamber-tailgateparty- texas-state-vs-southern- miss-5160012.
