For the majority of Tennessee natives and alumni, Tennessee football is more than merely a pastime; it is a way of life. The streets of campus overflowed with orange and white as the massive crowd of fans gathered for the first home game of the 2007 season versus Southern Mississippi. 

Early Saturday morning swarms of fans converted Cumberland Drive from a busy campus street into a colossal parking lot, fully-equipped with stereos, grills, big screen televisions and of course ice cold beverages. The art of tailgating has been practiced among Tennessee fans for ages and several of the alumni tailgaters who set up camp in Circle Park have been frequenting those same spots for decades. 

A widespread opinion among tailgaters this weekend was that in order to host a memorable tailgate there are essentials one must never forget. A few of these essentials included: plenty of food and drinks whether catered or potluck, sufficient seating and space for guests and most importantly music or a television present on site.

Experienced tailgater and local, Matthew Ericson had a few tips to share with me on game day. "One of the most important aspects of the tailgate is not so much the location, or even the food, but rather the display of team pride. If you want to attract people to your tailgate you have to have an overflow of orange. Orange tents, chairs, coolers, and so on" he claims.

While visiting several different tailgates prior to kick off on Saturday the attitude among guests was consistent. From one block to the next people shouted "Go Vols" while chords of "Rocky Top" played loudly on car stereos. The delicious aroma of food on the grill accompanied by the enthusiasm and anticipation of fans set the stage for the afternoon's festivities and when game time arrived ticket holders set out for Neyland Stadium chanting, "I said I'm proud to be a Tennessee Vol."