Mercer students, faculty and alumni gathered on Black Field on Saturday, Sept. 30, for the first tailgate of the season as the Bears prepared to face Presbyterian College.
The first home game of the season is a tradition for students as freshmen experienced the excitement of their new college football team for the first time, while upperclassmen reconnected with friends and campus life. Fraternities and sororities had tents with food, popsicles and games. President of Alpha Tau Omega Nolan Barnes ‘26 said tailgates are an opportunity to enjoy Mercer’s community.
“Mercer provides really great opportunities, really cool bands, and if you don’t take advantage of it, you’re missing out on something great,” Barnes said. “You don’t get these things at other schools.”
Barnes’ said his favorite part of tailgating is hanging out with his fraternity brothers and being able to see people in a different setting and catch up. While upperclassmen were reentering familiar territory, freshmen were experiencing Mercer game-day culture for the first time.
“I definitely think it’s whatever you make of it,” Amira Holland ‘29 said.
Holland, Candejia Brissett '29 and Morgan McCain '29 said their favorite part of the tailgate was the walking tacos – a food tent with a bag of chips and traditional taco toppings like tomatoes, ground beef and lettuce. Attendees put their toppings of choice into the bag and eat it with a spoon.
While the walking tacos drew them to the tailgate, they stayed to walk to other tents together.
While Ole 60, the band playing live country music, wasn't as popular as the meal on Black Field, the atmosphere of the tailgate was enough to keep students interested.
“Even though it’s not my vibe, I feel like it’s very fun, it’s entertaining, and I kind of like to see the people having fun.” Brissett said.
