FollowIn 1963 the iconic surf-pop band the Beach Boys released a bubbly piece of pop music titled, “Be True to Your School.” The rah-rah rhapsody urged adolescents to wear their school colors with pride (and maybe go looking for trouble on the other side of the tracks). In 1987 journalist Bob Greene resurrected his 1964 high school diary and
parlayed it into a bestseller of the same name. Greene’s saccharin sweet period piece provided readers with a slice of life, coming of age tale in a seemingly innocent United States. The one that existed before the rest of the decade exploded in turmoil abroad and at home. For nostalgia’s sake, both are worth a listen and a look.
If you are looking to be true to your school on Saturdays this fall, however, you’ll have to look elsewhere. On campuses around the country, expressions of love for the old alma mater will be on full display once again in the form of the tailgate party. While college football action provides thrills and spills on the gridiron, the most dedicated alums know that the high drama really gets started in the parking lot well before kickoff.
For the latest and greatest in game day gear, we turn to Edmond’s Bedlam Zone and the Big Red Shop in Warr Acres, where owner Dave Smith has been in the merchandise business for five decades. We checked in to see what is on the list of must-haves for Sooner supporters and Cowboy backers this fall.
Fans who want to dress the part in the most official fashion will want the coaches polo shirts and hats. For the more casual rooters, the season’s new T-shirt styles will do the trick. Team-logo shorts are a good choice for early season games when the mercury on the thermometer is still topping out in the high double digits. Long-sleeve T’s will probably keep you comfortable well into October.
Warmer clothing and blankets are on hand to help you bundle up when you get deep into Big XII season. New for Sooner fans is the 2015 “Rough Rider” alternate game jersey, featuring wood grain-inspired accents and a vintage number font that harkens back over a century of OU football. For the most serious fans only!
Now that you’re appropriately attired, it’s time to get to the party. OU and OSU fans can get some relief from the stifling southwest sun under a variety of pop-up tents and canopies. For bigger ballgame bashes, go with the double-sized canopy, measuring 9 feet by 18 feet and weighing in at a beefy 135 pounds. “It takes two people to pick it up unless you want a hernia,” Smith quips.
Under your big top is where the real action takes place. Space is always a consideration when packing for the party, and options abound when it comes to cramming things into your chariot of choice. “We have collapsible coolers, chairs and tables,” offers Smith. (Helpful suggestion: use a word other than “collapse” when describing Sooner gear after last season’s downward spiral.) Solo cups come in crimson and orange, and disposable plates, flatware and napkins come in team colors and logos, too. For the more professional crowd, there are coffee cups, beer mugs and even wine glasses adorned with your team’s totem.
Somewhere out there in the vast sea of pregame revelry there lurks the fan who has everything. The earrings. The trailer-hitch cover. The team-themed pacifier for their newborn. But…what about a propane-tank cover for your grill gas? Cornhole game with your team’s logo? How about a barbeque mat? Perfect for upholding the “five-second rule” if you bounce a brat off the tailgating turf!
Whether your cheer of choice is Boomer Sooner or Go Pokes, here’s hoping the new football season ends with a lot fewer losses than the last one. Nothing ruins a good tailgate party like a losing effort on the field. If things take a turn for the worse again, however, you can count on your team-logo shot glasses to help you drown your sorrows. Win or lose, here’s to another stylish and stellar season of tailgating in the shadow of the stadium.
BY Sean Becker
Photos by Emily Brashier
