A Fine Mess

Tailgate Plans for 2010

2010-06-20T17:09:00.002-04:00

This will be a living document for the preseason

As we begin another season as the Fine Mess we need to start to nail down our head/assistant chefs for the away and home games.

@Akron, Sept 4th 6pm kickoff A contingent of use are driving over on Sat morning. We expect to stay Sat night in motels about 10 miles north of Akron. Details are pending on whether we take a bus or not.

@Washington, Sept 11th, Time TBD Details TBD

Maine, Sept 18th 7pm kickoff This will be the Syracusefan.com annual tailgate. I would like Fine Mess Folks to show by 3pm. I will tell the board readers and lurkers to show at 330pm. I expect the menu to be Hoffman's, Italian sausage, burgers. Throw in cole slaw and potato salad. I'm hoping to get Yuengling to sponsor us again.

Colgate, Sept 25th, 330pm Head Chef TexanMark, Asst Chef, dccuse Setup at 1130am I expect Spiedies, coneys, etc....

@USF, Oct 9th, Time TBD, Details TBD

Pittsburgh, Oct 16th, Time TBD, Details TBD Looking for a Head and Asst Chef

@WVU, Oct 23rd, Time TBD, Details TBD

@Cincinnati, Oct 30th, Time TBD, Details TBD

Louisville, Nov 6th, Time TBD, Head Chef dccuse, Asst Chef Lincolncuse Details TBD

@Rutgers, Nov 13th, Time TBD, Details TBD

Connecticut, Nov 20th, Time TBD, Head Chef sutomcat, Asst Chef Cuseregular Details TBD

Boston College, Nov 27th, Time TBD, Details TBD

Send me an email or PM if you want to volunteer for a chef position. Chefs (including Asst) are responsible for the main meat dish.

WebSite Going Active Again

2010-05-05T21:53:00.003-04:00

We ran our Fine Mess Tailgate group for two years off the Tailgate Haven website. They are going to a wiki format.

Look out for more info in the future.

A Fine Mess Update

2008-08-22T23:45:00.003-04:00

A Fine Mess is looking forward to another season of SU Football and tailgating in the Fine Lot. We are moving our 30+ members to Tailgate Haven. If you are a fan of tailgating and looking for a website that will help you get organize and get the most out of your tailgate this is the place.

The Fine Mess joins other Syracuse teams here

Check out TexanMark's Tailgate Guides here. See you at the Dome. TM

Spring Game Tailgate Recap

2008-04-22T21:34:00.009-04:00

DCuse (left) Showing Great Form Orangeyes (Right)getting R&R after posting his daily links
A beautiful midsummer like day greated our tailgaters. A high of 87 in Syracuse and not a cloud in the sky in mid April is a far cry from the weather just a few weeks earlier. I wasn't able to attend but I received some reports from DcCuse and Quatsy.

The tailgate started around noon for the 2 pm kickoff for err whatever that thing was called in the Dome.

From DcCuse with a few interjects from me:

Quatsy got there first, best story of why he was there -- supposed to be at friend's birthday party, but said friend was stuck in Jamaica because he lost his passport. Phat Orange and I just behind him. All4SU showed next with his friend, Diane? (not a poster) LincolnCuse and his wife showed as always. Those Nebraska folks know how to tailgate.

Ryan from Rivals arrived with three friends and brought a grill and table and helped try and convince everyone to switch over. Lots of Rivals vs. Scout jokes.
OrangeTradition arrived then OrangeExtreme as the first from the golf contingent -- he left after Tomcat and crew, but beat them all by like 20 minutes. Seems like Tom had to run out and get some propane. Tomcat and crew played golf at Firefox near B'ville earlier in the morning.

OrangeOnions (orangeyes son) came with a guest. Retro, his son and brother came and brought some great venison. Jake also got there a little late. We had a few others show including one fella telling tOSU stories.

Food = Besides the venison, lots of Hoffmans and sausages on the grill. Beverages for everyone.

A nice job by all to get a spring tailgate tradition going.

My understanding is the Fine Lot was ours as the few other tailgators were in closer lots.

Next year is looking great for tailgating...four straight weeks in September!

Our group is doing fine with canopies and grills...what we need are some tailgate games. If you come across a game buy it. Some ideas are here.

Spring Attendance was sparse official attendance was about 3,500.

A couple highlites as noted in a previous post:

2008 SEASON

AKRON: K.I.S.S. Tailgate (Hoffmans, Zweigles, Burgers)...final planing meeting for the PSU board tailgate while drinking some LaBatts.

PENN STATE: Scout Board Tailgate (Dinosaur) I expect we'll do a combination of catered food with the extras provided by the group. Expect everyone to prepay for the Dino. I expect this to be our largest tailgate of the year.

NORTHEASTERN: Potluck...looking for suggestions

PITT: Foreign Exchange w/Pitt Fans (CNY and some Western PA Food) About 15-20 of us met in Pittsburgh last year and had a great time by the Shatheads.
(expect 10-15 Pitt (Shatheads) fans to join us)

LOUISVILLE: PIZZA Day...suggest several pizzas get delivered to go along with the normal fare.

UCONN: Open--if the season is progressing well maybe we invite a few of the Scout Yukon posters we have chatted with over the years.

@Rutgers: Expect a Cuse tailgate with subarney, cuseguy and a few others leading the way.

Another Spring Game Shot

Some general planning thoughts: Expect us to start setting up by 9am for Nooners. All other times expect us to start setting up 4 hours before kickoff. Let's hope 2008 brings more mid afternoon and evening kickoffs.

TexanMark

Spring Practice

2008-04-03T01:16:00.003-04:00

Hey Y'all:

Time to think about summer for you NYers. Already 80 degrees daily down here in San Antonio. The best summer weather in the USA will be arriving to CNY soon!

I just sent out a reminder for you to get your Fine Lot Parking Passes. I was able to renew mine without issue for $130. If you are a first timer to getting a parking pass. You'll have to join the Orange Club. This is a prime time to join as you know demand is down..time to get a pass before the bandwagoners come back. Send me an email at TexanMarkTailgate@gmail.com and I'll fill you in on how to avoid the run around in getting a parking pass. BTW, several of us out of towners have bought the $100 Touchdown Ticket Packages and will have plenty of extras to sell cheap to anyone who needs extra tix.

If you don't get a parking pass at the Fine Lot you can still drive up, enter and drop your stuff off. Our parking Lot attendant is a great guy and will let you in to drop off stuff without a hassle. We keep him well fed and hydrated.

One piece of bad news: the Armory Square Trolley Lot and Train might not run this year..keep that in mind if you park there.

Cuseregular (Mike), ReedNY (Reed), TexanMark (Me), Cuseguy (Steve) and a few others already have multiple canopies, grills, coolers, Flags, etc... lined up...we have over 30 members now and continue to grow. BTW, we have members from: Texas, New England, Ohio, Virginia, Canada as well as NY State.

A couple events:
AKRON: K.I.S.S. Tailgate (Hoffmans, Zweigles, Burgers)
PENN STATE: Scout Board Tailgate (Dinosaur)
PITT: Foreign Exchange w/Pitt Fans (CNY and some Western PA Food)

TexanMark

Board Tailgate Illinois Game

2007-09-21T19:36:00.000-04:00

The tailgate got off to a great start with Cuseregular bringing his canopy, breakfast sausage, dunkin donuts, coffee, etc...Thanks

Also, thanks to LincolnCuse and Jurrie for help seting up at 8:30am. We had about 30 people at the tailgate. Some of the people I remember: Cusefan95 and family, GoSU96, Jurrie, Lincolncuse, cuseregular, Carl and friends, GreenwichOrange and friend, RayinVa and Carol, sutomcat, TheOrangeBuddha, OrangeBob, JavaDoc and Dad, DCCuse. Noshows: NYCowboy, LurkerBob, and Dutchhart--hopefully next time.

After the game many returned and we were still there an hour after the game despite cool, cloudy weather and a stinging loss.

I had about a $30 profit: I'm going to give Cuseregular $20 to help defray some of his expenses and rebate back $10 to Cusefan95 since he paid more than anyone else upfront. I decided against donating it to the Orange Club since the amount was failry small. Extra food/supplies were given to Cuseregular (mostly Chips and some beer). I'll repay you guys when I come up for Rutgers.

I will not be up in Syracuse for the WVU game. If you can take lead and organize the WVU tailgate let me know.

IMHO: I think Fine Lot passes will be available next year for Orange Club Donors at just the Orange Level ($125) plus $130 for the pass. The lot was nowhere near full but is a nice location and SU needs the revenue.

BTW, I have about 30-35 people who expressed interest in going on the road to Pitt. I bet some will back out so if you are interested let me know.

The Shatheads will host us. I hope to reciprocate at a smaller level next Fall.

Progress Report 2

2007-08-29T19:51:00.000-04:00

Wow--people are coming out of the woodwork. I'd guesstimate 40-50 folks by now. Should be fun. Remember if you are walking in--pack light and label your stuff you want to keep in someone's car at the Fine Lot during the game. A post game party will start immediately after the game. I don't think it'll last too long since it is a night game. CYA on Friday.

LATE CHANGE--Fine Lot will not open before 5 pm I'll be there as close as possible to 5 pm!

Progress Report

2007-08-27T18:03:00.000-04:00

As of Monday it looks like we should have 20-30 people at the tailgate. Look for a blue canopy. I'll print out a "Fine Mess" sign and hang it to be see by those walking near Raynor. I'm proposing to collect $5 dues from each tailgate group. So if you are bringing 4 in your group it is $5 and if you are coming as a single it is still $5. The money will be used to buy a canopy and some supplies to get us started. I have an initial roster done in Excel. I'll bring it to the tailgate for final editing.

Mark

Washington Prep

2007-08-19T17:48:00.000-04:00

Gang:

Right now this is the list of primary attendees for UW at the Fine Lot: TexanMark, RRLbees+(Family?), LincolnCuse + wife, Quatsy, storange+(kids?), CuseHoops11, sutomcat+(brothers?), TheRealJoeCollege + his biotch(Pete Calvin), JeremyCuse+Dad and RayinVA and Carol

Hoping for cameos by Cuseregular + wife and Q3Cuse (they'll be tailgating on the quad) and hopefully we can see CaliCuse

Still haven't heard from DCuse (slacker) and a couple guys + families from the RealCuseFans Board might attend: reedny and dutchhart03

Cusefan95 (will attend other games not this one)

If you haven't met me before I'm the big stupid looking guy in the Orange Syracuse T shirt...the young man standing next to me is my son Mike (BTW, trust fund girls he is currently unattached)

What do you need to do?

Reply to this post via the comment button and tell us how many you're bringing. If you post as anonymous (in the post tell us who you are: what are you bringing and how many folks are coming)

I'll start it off: TexanMark will be setting up no later than 3:30pm, I'll bring 3 lbs of Hoffman Coneys, about 12-18 cans of LaBatts Beer, some Diet Coke (6 cans), a midsize cooler, rolls, mustard, some paper plates, napkins and a small grill and a portable table and two chairs.

Look for a canopy (color unknown right now--courtesy of Cuseregular), if I can find one for under $100--I'll try and buy one for the group.

Here's the Plan ...

2007-08-17T13:49:00.000-04:00

Right now I have about 8-10 folks who have said yes to start this group. This is a formal call for folks to let me know if you're interested. I realize due to the unique nature of my target audience (you) not everyone can be there for every game. That is okay. If you join you are expected though to donate something: Time, Talent, Consumables, Equipment or Money. The ultimate goal is to create a tailgate environment with established consistency. What this group won't be: A reliable place for the lazy and cheap to crash for free beer and coneys. That said I hope we become a place that welcomes guests.

Starting Rules: Identify yourself to me: Send me your email address and cell phone number (if you bring one on gameday) or another contact number via PM. Tell me if you expect to be tailgating: (1 or 2 games), (about half of the games) or (probably every game) with us. NOTE: If you already know what exact games you will attend--identify them to me.

Identify your Talents: love to grill or BBQ, have pickup or SUV to help move/get equipment, have grill, have canopy, connections in the business community or I fly in for the games and can help out financially.

Example to Send to Me: at syracusetailgating@gmail.com, can usually bring small grill and cooler with beer and soda and Coneys, will attend Washington , Illinois and Rutgers

Initial CONOPS (Concept of Operations):

We want to be running 4 hours before kickoff. Cuseregular has a canopy we can use. The first tailgate ( Washington ) will have no menu. You need to plan your own food/beer/drink/equipment initially. Once we figure out who is reliable and the desires of the group we will adjust our plan. The tailgate group can evolve into a loose confederation of small tailgates or into a bigger mass event. Obviously, I want to use the KISS principle initially. The Washington Game will be the trial run.

Once I get the list of names (internet names only) I'll post a roster on the board in a few days. This should help you to link up with a buddy.

Don't have a parking pass at the Fine Lot? PM me for top secret parking ideas.

Hint: If you are dropping stuff off and will park elsewhere: Everything you want back please put your name on it.

Washington Tailgate

2007-08-17T11:38:00.001-04:00

(From TexanMark)

We'll need everyone to send me a cell phone number to build a contact list...people who do not have Fine Lot passes should call as they are approaching the Fine Lot to drop off your supplies, we'll bring them in while you go park. I suggest using a plastic crate with your name on it if you are not parked in the Fine Lot.

Here is a list of items I think we need:

Some of the items are weather dependent, can you think of anything else?

Menu: Gotta keep it basic at first, Hoffman's or Zeigle's (for the Rahchester people), Gianelli Sausage, rolls, prepackaged coleslaw and potato salad. Beer, Soda, mustard, plastic silver

Anybody have a portable canopy? a SU Flag?

I have a small portable Grill, I think storange has one too.

Reply back to me if you are coming and a headcount.

P.S. I have several people interested in tailgating with us not on the list (1-2 game a year attendees) so I expect they'll chip in some money to help or can supplement our supply needs.

SUPPLIES
tickets	parking passes	tent or canopy
flags	duct tape	tent or canopy weights
grill + propane	gloves	plates (paper or plastic)
flippers/tongs	rubber gloves	garbage bag(s)
spatula	aluminum pan	aluminum foil
radio (car--ok)	chairs	tables
coolers + ice	rain suits	stadium seats
backpack	sunscreen	plastic forks, spoons, etc
paper towels	hand cleaner

Thanks

TexanMark