CFB Travel Guy

The most … uhh … efficient tailgate of the season

As Outkast once opined: “You can plan a pretty [college football doubleheader weekend], but you can’t predict the weather.”

Thanks to the unpredictable nature of the Pacific Northwest climate, I learned this lesson firsthand, as my early morning flight from Spokane to Portland was delayed by several hours. I had a prearranged tailgate invite thanks to a random Reddit post, but even once I finally arrived in Portland, I still had to pick up a rental car, drive to Corvallis, find a place to park, and walk over to the tailgate spot.

When all was said and done, I arrived at the tailgate around 3:30pm for a 4:30pm kickoff.

Due to the abbreviated nature of my visit, even the introductory pleasantries were conducted with a turn on the shotski. It was clear that the Beavs were ready for a good time.

My new friend Greenie, the runaway Tailgater of the Week for helping me cram 4-5 hours of tailgating into 45 minutes, was an engaging host and even welcomed me back for some postgame tailgating, where we reflected on an intense-yet-disappointing game and discussed the future of Oregon State athletics as the 100+ year history of the Pac-12 comes to an end.

We shared laughs, pizza, fried foods, and whiskey, but most importantly, a shared sense of outrage at how Oregon State is being left out in the cold. The big takeaway from this weekend is simple: Washington State and Oregon State belong in the top tier of college football.

These aren’t minor programs who treat football as an afterthought. These are programs with diehard fans and a century’s worth of membership in a conference of West Coast regional rivals that’s been broken apart to chase TV dollars. It’s a travesty that these programs are being relegated to second-class status while programs with every resource imaginable but none of the fervor for college football (*cough* UCLA *cough*) get handed a lifeline.

I guess what I’m trying to say is … if you get the chance, go to Corvallis. See for yourself. You’ll have a blast.

My only regret is that I didn’t have more time to spend with this amazing group of loyal Beavers.