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Reputation:97
Level:Superstar
Since:Dec 11, 2006
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Here is a message an ASU alum posted on another board. Please tell me he is exaggerating.
<blockquote> If you haven’t been checking out related scout.com message boards, the Arizona State-Georgia game looks to be a clash in cultures. I grew up in the Southeast and attended Arizona State, and quite frankly some of the differences appall me as well. I’ll try to tackle the differences and dispel some of the myths, having fully experienced both sides of the fence. We’ll start with the subject that seems to weigh most heavily on the minds of the Dawg die hards…
We don’t tailgate. I went to a South Carolina high school where people tailgated our games, so when I showed up in Tempe as a wide-eyed 18 year-old I too was given a “huh?” response when asking upperclassmen where the good tailgating spots were. There’s a perfect storm of circumstances that prevent a swath of all-day cookouts and beer guzzling, the major ones are such:
It’s really, really hot. Like the scorch of a thousand suns hot. A September day in Georgia is no picnic either, but the Arizona sun is a completely different animal. I once got a sunburn in Tempe before 9 am, so the thought of tending the grill all day doesn’t appeal to me all that much. That “it’s a dry heat” business is factual, but comfort-wise a double 90 day in the coastal empire is comparable to a 110+ degree afternoon in the valley of the sun.
I have always described a dry heat as presetting an oven to 350 degrees, leaning towards the door, and feeling the blast when you open it. In recent years the ASU administration has fought to keep kickoff times at 7pm or later for any home game before mid October, but tv and the magnitude of this game dictates otherwise. It’s a 5 pm local kickoff, and you’ll probably hear a heap of complaining, mostly from anyone seated on the East side of the stadium.
We lack the infrastructure. My girlfriend is a North Florida native, and when I took her to a game in 2005 her comment from the flight into town in was “where are all the trees?” She complained about the Tempe heat throughout the trip, and it was Thanksgiving weekend [emphasis added]. Lot 59 is the main parking area for Sun Devil Stadium, and the only shade you’ll find in the vast asphalt wasteland comes from the light posts.
The lack of trees and grass means that your 105 degree tailgate gets closer to 115 degrees due to the heat that radiates from the asphalt and vehicles. This is a stark contrast from the oak-lined campus in Athens, which is a fine segue to the next point:
Like the weather, the campus is really dry. There are a great number of ideal, shade-covered spots on campus where one could park the RV and fire up the grill, but our current administration frowns on that sort of thing. After a multi-year reign atop Playboy magazine’s list of the best party schools, the University has taken great strides to ditch the image.
Dr. Michael Crow was appointed as president in 1999 from Columbia (NY) and has implanted several policies to thwart alcohol-themed fun of any kind, including the choking out of the Greek system and a partnership with the Tempe Police Department known as the “Party Patrol,” where the police target house parties. This attitude is probably the driving force behind the policy prohibiting tailgating beyond the three hours prior to kickoff. Even on game day, central campus will be a complete ghost town.
The folks out West aren’t very social. This is just a theory of mine, but I feel like the great atmosphere of college athletics comes from the camaraderie shared among alumni, something the professional counterpart can’t seem to recreate. One of the biggest cultural shocks for me is that there just aren’t a lot of openly friendly people in Arizona. It’s not that they aren’t nice, but you won’t see anyone wave at you, don’t expect a lot of “thanks for coming and good luck to you” comments from strangers, and you likely won’t be invited to participate an any local reindeer games just because you’re from out of town.
This is most obviously expressed in the local architecture and planning of the area, as house facades are garage dominated, there are no front porches, and backyards usually boast 7-foot high cinder block walls on all sides. It’s very Brave New World, and the person that thrives in this environment isn’t usually the type to grab a rolling cooler and set out to say “hi” to a bunch of strangers. See mom, I’m using my Urban Planning degree!
It’s not like tailgating doesn’t exist at all, it’s just a watered down version of what SEC folks are used to. Alternatives? My group of friends usually held a daytime house party/cookout to watch the out of town games. We would typically head to the downtown Mill Avenue bars for an hour or so before the game and hit the gate minutes before kickoff. It’s hard to advise what to do as lodging situations will be different for most, but if the internet holds an accurate portrayal of a fan base it seems that you’ll be bringing your own fun to the desert.
I sincerely hope you can show the Sun Devils how to have a good time because, as Mr. Westerdawg describes our tailgating procedures, “these people live like savages.”</blockquote>
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Reputation:97
Level:Superstar
Since:Dec 11, 2006
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Any recommendations for out-of-towners visiting Tempe pre-gameday and the day of the game? I'll need a solid 12 hours of drinking before entering the stadium.
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Reputation:95
Level:Superstar
Since:Dec 10, 2006
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I'll try and cover everything you posted here...
We don’t tailgate. It’s not like tailgating doesn’t exist at all.
These two go together. There is tailgating all around the stadium, just like anywhere else. A lot of people go to the bars on Mill Avenue and "tailgate" there. The biggest difference is that the administration started opening Lot 59, the big lot next to the stadium, only like 3 hours before the game, so you can't be out there all day. I'm not sure of the exact time though.
It’s really, really hot.
It is hot, no doubt about it. It will be uncomfortable if you are facing the sun during the game, or at least in the first half. I will say though, even if it hotter temperature-wise, I definitely prefer our heat compared to the southern heat, where I am standing in a pool of my own sweat after being outside for 5 minutes.
We lack the infrastructure.
I don't know what this guy was talking about here. Apparently infrastructure = trees for him. Yes, there are fewer trees. It is the desert after all. I don't know what it was like the specific weekend this guy's girlfriend was here, but Phoenix is beautiful around Thanksgiving. Maybe it was unseasonably warm at the time.
Like the weather, the campus is really dry.
This is true in relation to students. The administration tries to keep the students from getting too rowdy, and they will go through the various lots around the stadium and bust underage drinkers. I'm not sure how bad it is, because I'm an alumni now, but I don't worry about it. If you're 21, booze it up without a second thought.
The folks out West aren’t very social.
You could say this about anywhere outside of the South. Nowhere else in the country, at least anywhere I have been, do you say hello to every person you encounter. It's not considered rude, it's just people tend to keep to themselves a little more outside the South. People are still very friendly at the tailgates, and our fans will be accommodating as long as the Georgia fans aren't being obnoxious.
I hope that helps. If you or any Georgia fans have any questions, I'd be happy to try and answer them. Go Devils!!!
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Reputation:97
Level:Superstar
Since:Dec 11, 2006
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Thanks, PHX. I appreciate the detail to your post. I definitely get the social part; I live in Chicago now and there just aren't as many smiling faces anymore. There are bad ones in every group, but Georgia fans are generally very respectful and if anything, I think some people may feel a bit awkward about how they will go out of their way to engage in conversation with others.
The underage deal is not an issue, but it sounds like the part about not being able to tailgate until close to game time was true. I suppose there are bars near the stadium to kill the time approaching kickoff? I just like to people watch and was hoping to draw a small crowd to our group making the trip out there, but maybe there are equal alternatives?
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Reputation:95
Level:Superstar
Since:Aug 2, 2007
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Somehow, somewhere - we will find a way to tailgate. I wish they could come to Athens,Oxford etc for one game to see what its like.
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Reputation:95
Level:Superstar
Since:Aug 2, 2007
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About the heat, the game will be at 8 on espn so the heat will not be as big a factor. UGA will have already have practiced all of August in 100 degree 90+humidy days so we'll be ready. My father in law is from the west and I've experienced the heat first hand. Its no worse than we're used to here. The main difference is our players will only be in the heat one day. We' will probabaly be outside in shorts the day before and stay in till about 6 the day of the game. You wanna see a team die, watch Central Michigan play in Athens the week before at 1:00. They will wilt. Not to play down the heat too much but we will play 2-3 deep at most positions with the exception being Stafford. Pretty much everybody else has backups that play.
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Reputation:95
Level:Superstar
Since:Aug 2, 2007
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I stand corrected. The game is at 8 eastern. Thats 5 in the desert. That will be hotter but it just means we play 3 deep.
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Reputation:71
Level:Pro
Since:Aug 31, 2006
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is this because you cant handle the beat down without being drunk?
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Reputation:95
Level:Superstar
Since:Dec 10, 2006
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FYI, the parking lots next to the stadium open 3.5 hours before the game.
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Reputation:67
Level:Pro
Since:May 22, 2008
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I do not know if I have true knowledge to add here but here is my 2 cents worth anyway:
I have lived in the valley since 1973, I came here via Little Rock, Arkansas. There is the possibility of it being DANG hot on game day. A 5pm start (typically the hottest point in our day) will most likely be brutal. the best hope for everyone will be if our "monsoon" season has broken. The humidity is higher during this seasonal shift but not like SE humidity. The main difference being that when the "season" is over, the dryness allows it to cool much quicker as the sun goes down. It is not necessarily the heat of the day but the fact it can never go below 94 degrees all night. That stinks believe me. It makes tailgating very uncomfortable to say the least. A shade canopy is an absolute minimum but the best is a motor home with a/c running full blast. I will add that when I first moved out here it was early Sept and it was 108 degrees most days then. I remeber 2 distinct first impressions; I had never felt a hot wind in my life and it felt so dry compared to Little Rock that I actually enjoyed the heat. I cannot say that now as I hate nearly every summer more than the one before it.
This week we had our first 100 degree day of the year on Sunday, our first 110 day on Monday and Thursday at 5pm it was 60 degrees, rainy, windy and quiet cool by our standards. Strangest May weather I can ever remember (at least the cooler temp part).
As far as friendliness goes, Phoenicians are as friendly as anywhere I have ever been. Having said that the above statements about lack of front porches and and tall back fences is true. Two things to note on that, for many years everyone here was from somewhere else and it never ceased to amaze me how they all complained about the "Phoenicians" being this way or that when in reality, it isn't the Phoenicians they are talking about but people just like them who are from somewhere else. Most natives are very freindly and welcoming but they may not be bold enough to be the first to talk to complete strangers. Your neighbors are rarely people who have grown up on that street but have more likely are recently arrived from out of town. Secondly the tall fence part stems from the fact that in 80% of back yards there is a pool. It is required to be fenced to prevent children from wandering in and drowning and chain link fences are not acceptable as they can be climbed. It is also difficult to sun sans suit if the fence is see through.
There are numerous bars near the stadium (they didn't get to be the #1 party school for nothing) that are generally very busy before game time. There are many choices. Most of the Dawg fans will be coming from hotels so i would expect their "tailgating" might be done there before the game. Stay in Scottsdale as they have the best resorts and hotels in town in my opinion (i am a little biased as i work at one).
Good luck to Georgia fans as I expect an awesome game from both sides.
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Reputation:97
Level:Superstar
Since:Nov 3, 2007
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Visit the Hooters right by the stadium. It's upstairs which means if you can bang down 12 beers, you could tumble down the stairs and settle for a hefty sum.
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Reputation:95
Level:Superstar
Since:Jul 13, 2007
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is this because you cant handle the beat down without being drunk? Yup, thats it, but tell anyone, ok.
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Level:Amateur
Since:Dec 7, 2006
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i grew up in NY and went to ASU for undergrad. i went to grad school at Texas and Wisconsin and now live in NC and go to games at carolina and wake most often. i've been to UGA but not for a home game (have been @UF) and i agree with pretty much everything the post you refer to says. i love asu and loved going to school there but home football atmosphere is nothing at all like the SEC or big10 environments. i hate to say it, but it has been a big beef for me over the years. particularly after going to games at wisconsin and florida. those places blow the doors off and asu is pretty tame by comparison. its been much better in recent years, from what my buddies tell me.
when i was in school we mostly partied by the pool at our apt complex, caught a few early games, then headed over to the game around kickoff. i neve tailgated outside the stadium. sometimes i'd go to bars around the stadium.
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Reputation:99
Level:Superstar
Since:Sep 14, 2006
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