Prepare as much as possible beforehand. Make a list of everything you need. Check out the stadium website for rules and regulations on tailgating.
Get organized and don’t forget to plan your exit!
Stock up on disposable items like paper plates and napkins.
Tip– Freeze water bottles to use in place of ice in coolers so you have cold water to drink after they melt.
Tip— Fly a flag or balloon on a very high pole so friends can find you.
Must haves: jumper cables toilet paper trash bags extra ice rain gear
first aid kit
sunscreen
Buffalo Cauliflower bites
INGREDIENTS
• 6 cups of fresh cauliflower florets
• 2 teaspoons garlic powder
• a pinch of salt
• a pinch of pepper
• 1 tablespoon butter, melted
• ¾ cup Frank’s RedHot hot sauce
Instructions
1 Preheat oven to 450. Spray a baking sheet with cooking oil, or olive oil. Set aside.
2 Mix the garlic powder, salt, pepper, melted butter, and hot sauce in a small bowl.
3 Add the cauliflower into a large gallon-sized bag, pour the buffalo sauce into the bag. Shake until the cauliflower florets are fully coated. Spread on a baking sheet.
4 Bake for 20 minutes.
5 Serve with yogurt ranch or blue cheese dressing.
Tomato Basil White Bean Dip
INGREDIENTS
• 4 cloves of garlic, smashed and minced
• 1/2 cup extra virgin olive oil, plus extra for drizzling
• 2 (15 oz) cans cannellini beans, drained and rinsed
• 1/4 tsp lemon zest
• juice of 1 lemon, approx. 4 TBSP
• 1/2 tsp dried oregano
• 1/8-1/4 tsp dried thyme (or fresh if you have it!)
• 1/4 tsp salt + extra to taste
• black pepper, to taste
• 1 cup cherry tomatoes, halved
• 1/4 cup fresh basil leaves, chopped
• 1/4 tsp paprika (optional)
• toasted pita bread/chips and assorted veggies for dipping
Instructions
1 To take the bite out of the garlic and amplify the flavor, microwave 4 smashed + minced cloves 1/2 cup of olive oil. You can also sauté them stove-top.
2 In a food processor, combine beans, lemon garlic, olive oil, lemon juice, lemon zest, oregano, thyme and pulse until well blended. For an even creamier dip, add some extra EVOO and blend.
3 Season with salt and pepper to taste, as well as any additional oregano… let your taste buds be your guide!
4 Toss tomatoes and basil in a drizzle of EVOO and toss.
5 Spread bean mixture onto a shallow bowl or plate and top with tomatoes and basil.
6 Sprinkle with paprika and serve with freshly warmed pita bread, pita chips, and/or assorted veggies for dipping.
Jambalaya – Serves 10
INGREDIENTS
2 tsp olive oil
Cajun seasoning, to taste
16 oz boneless, skinless chicken breasts, cut into 1 inch cubes
16 oz lean turkey sausage, cut into 1 inch cubes
1 large onion, diced
3 ribs celery, diced
1 green bell pepper, diced
1 yellow bell pepper, diced
1 orange bell pepper, diced
6-7 cloves garlic
1 & 1/2 cups brown rice
2 15-oz can no salt added tomatoes
2 c low-sodium, fat-free chicken broth
4 tsp Worcestershire sauce
2 tsp cumin
2 tsp thyme
1 tsp cayenne pepper
2 tsp black pepper
2 tbs parsley, optional
2 tbs green onions, optional
Prep Time: 10 minutes
Cook Time: 55 minutes
Total Time: 1 hour, 5 minutes
Yield: 5 servings
Calories per serving: 370
Fat per serving: 8.6g
Instructions
Heat oil in a large skillet over medium high heat.
Toss chicken cubes with Cajun seasoning and saute, stirring occasionally, until brown, about 5-6 minutes. Remove to a plate. Saute sausage until brown, about 6-8 minutes and remove to a plate. Reduce heat to medium and add onion, peppers, and celery to the pan. Continue cooking, stirring, until onion is translucent.
Add garlic and rice. Saute until rice is opaque and begins to brown. Add tomatoes, broth, Worcestershire sauce, and spices. Bring to a boil, reduce to simmer, cover and cook until rice is tender, about 30-40 minutes depending on the type of rice.
Uncover and add chicken and sausage. Cook until chicken and sausage are warmed through, and any excess liquid has boiled out.
Stir in parsley and green onions. Serve.
Tailgating tips
- Prep your meats the night before the big game by storing them in an aluminum pan between sheets of wax paper.
- A cooler doesn’t just have to keep your drinks chilled! Turn your cooler into a warming over with some hot bricks wrapped in aluminum foil laid across the bottom of the cooler!
- A windy day can be a pain when it comes to grilling at a tailgate, but the position of your grill against the wind can make a huge difference! If you are using a kettle grill, point the front leg into the wind, and if you are using a gas grill, turn the whole thing perpendicular to the wind.
- Repurpose a six pack holder by placing condiments in it, allowing for both easy access as well as mobility.
- Since bathrooms might be hard to come across at a tailgate, set up a handwashing station by filling an empty drink or laundry detergent dispenser with clean water so guest can rinse their hands after a good meal!
- Starting game day off early? Serve up hands-on breakfasts, such as breakfast burritos, that are easy to eat without utensils.
- Get ready for some chilly days during the football season by bringing hot soups in thermoses to warm you up at a game!
- When loading up your cooler for the big game, make sure to place all cans or bottles on the bottom of the cooler, put a layer of ice over those to lock in the chill, and place all bagged food items on the top.
- A quick and easy tip is to label each cooler with the drinks inside so guest don’t have to look through each cooler to find what they want.
- Prepack all your silverware, plates, napkins and more into plastic drawers to have easy storage to everything you need for a great tailgate!
Loyal Blue Weekends in Ruston
There are few things Ruston loves more than football season. Game days and tailgating are a special time when students, alumni, locals and visiting fans come together to eat great food and cheer on LA Tech. Louisiana Tech will play host to seven game day experiences for locals and visitors alike – Loyal Blue Weekends.
Loyal Blue Weekends at Rock the Railroad in Downtown Ruston is the newest and best tailgating extravaganza. Friday nights before home games there will be live music, food and brews. Unique pop-up shopping opportunities will be available in Railroad Park, as well as the Tech Bar Bop Band making special appearances in downtown stores and restaurants. Saturday activities follow with downtown shopping and dining, shuttle services and tailgating outside of Joe Aillet Stadium.
The first Loyal Blue Weekend will be celebrated September 1-2. LA Tech is up against Northwestern State University and Ruston intends to “Celebrate the State” the way football lovers should! Starting at 5:30pm on Friday, Sept. 1, Rock the Railroad will begin with live music and a pep rally with LA Tech spirit groups. The celebration continues with Louisiana’s favorite food and brews – jambalaya, meats pies, boudin, cracklins, beignets and Abita Brewing Company on site. On Saturday, Bulldog fans can take advantage of downtown shopping and dining prior to kick-off. Locals and visitors can avoid game day traffic by parking downtown. Shuttle services will be provided from Downtown Ruston to Joe Aillet Stadium and back again, running continuously starting at 1:00 pm until one hour after the game ends.
September 8, come out and celebrate “Bulldogs and Brews” as LA Tech takes on Mississippi State. Rock the Railroad will have Josh Madden Band on stage, food trucks on site, and tastings from Flying Tiger, Ouachita Brewing, Great Raft and Red River Brewing. Then on September 29, get a sneak peak of the fall Ruston Makers Fair at “Makers Night.” Food and brews will be on site, along with live music and pop-ups from local artists.
Embracing football traditions makes Ruston one of Louisiana’s best college towns. Grab some lawn chairs and blankets and come join La Tech Nation in downtown Ruston for every home game as we celebrate Louisiana’s culture and loyalty to the Bulldogs. For more information and a complete list of events, visit www.experienceruston.com or give us a call at (318) 255-2031.