WEBVTT - FULL FLEDGED CFB 0:01:00.320 --> 0:01:05.080 Oh yes, yes, the sounds of college football, the sounds 0:01:05.080 --> 0:01:07.600 we were starving for a year ago in that weird 0:01:07.720 --> 0:01:11.560 muted season. The sounds that are back, along with the 0:01:11.640 --> 0:01:16.360 sites and the smells of full fledged college football returning 0:01:16.480 --> 0:01:20.319 fingers crossed. And this episode is going to be a 0:01:20.360 --> 0:01:23.040 celebration of all of that, all the stuff around the 0:01:23.080 --> 0:01:26.640 games to make this sports so unique and so special, 0:01:26.720 --> 0:01:30.040 so uniquely American. If you have any feel at all 0:01:30.120 --> 0:01:31.800 for the sport, I think you're gonna have a blast. 0:01:32.040 --> 0:01:35.040 Probably no surprise. I had a great time putting it together. 0:01:35.360 --> 0:01:39.200 I met six new friends age eighty two, got too 0:01:39.240 --> 0:01:41.960 reminisce with one very old friend who I first met 0:01:42.000 --> 0:01:45.600 thirty five years ago. Now, look, it's it's a huge sport. 0:01:45.720 --> 0:01:49.760 There were what a thousand worthy guests to help illustrate 0:01:49.800 --> 0:01:52.600 the unique passion surrounding this sport. We had to whittle 0:01:52.640 --> 0:01:56.440 that down. We chose just seven. But you're gonna enjoy 0:01:56.440 --> 0:01:58.919 getting to know all of them. We've got some tremendous 0:01:58.960 --> 0:02:03.600 tailgating legend. Now, they wouldn't always share their recipes, but 0:02:03.640 --> 0:02:07.080 they shared lots of stories. We'll talk to the Ohio 0:02:07.120 --> 0:02:09.639 State susophone player, who's gonna dot the eye at the 0:02:09.680 --> 0:02:12.760 Buckeyes home opener. He's waited a lifetime and then had 0:02:12.800 --> 0:02:16.680 to wait the whole extra year to live his dream. 0:02:16.760 --> 0:02:20.560 We'll talk to the leader of the one fab four Horsemen, 0:02:20.840 --> 0:02:24.440 the tremendous drum majors of the mighty Marching Wildcats of 0:02:24.480 --> 0:02:28.160 b Thune Cookman University, a legendary band. We got the 0:02:28.200 --> 0:02:30.960 mascots covered. They're back this year too, and you're gonna 0:02:30.960 --> 0:02:33.880 hear exactly what it's like to run with Ralphie, the 0:02:33.919 --> 0:02:36.920 beloved Buffalo and Boulder and the hazard they don't warn 0:02:36.960 --> 0:02:39.600 you about beforehand, and what it was like to be 0:02:39.639 --> 0:02:42.480 the ultimate bad boy mascot in college football back in 0:02:42.520 --> 0:02:45.280 the day, back when there were no rules. We're gonna 0:02:45.280 --> 0:02:48.440 start though, two very generous souls who are experts to 0:02:48.520 --> 0:02:51.680 throw on one hell of a party. Jane and Lance 0:02:51.680 --> 0:02:55.160 Foster are creators of the Zebra Tent, which is the 0:02:55.240 --> 0:02:59.919 centerpiece and the epicenter of tailgating the Grove in Oxford, Mississippi. 0:03:00.440 --> 0:03:04.359 We're socializing, eating, and drinking before a football game. Our 0:03:04.480 --> 0:03:20.680 sacred rituals elevated to an art form. Well. The grove 0:03:20.919 --> 0:03:23.320 is ten precious acres of land at the heart of 0:03:23.320 --> 0:03:28.960 the old miss campus with magnolia and elm and oak trees, 0:03:29.200 --> 0:03:33.560 and it comes alive on home football Saturdays with a 0:03:33.680 --> 0:03:37.280 barrage of tense and is probably the epicenter of tailgating. 0:03:37.400 --> 0:03:40.640 So Jane and Lance Foster take us through what makes 0:03:40.720 --> 0:03:43.600 the grove such a special place of what sets it apart, 0:03:43.680 --> 0:03:46.680 Jane from all the other spots on the tailgate landscape. 0:03:47.280 --> 0:03:51.040 I like to describe it like this, the tailgating, other 0:03:51.120 --> 0:03:54.440 than the food is for the ladies. The football game 0:03:54.520 --> 0:03:57.120 is for the men. And in the grove, both of 0:03:57.120 --> 0:03:59.840 those things meant me. You know, you've got your fashion, 0:04:00.000 --> 0:04:02.080 you've got your fancy, but you've got your rough and 0:04:02.200 --> 0:04:07.120 raality football. It is just such a combination of family time, 0:04:07.200 --> 0:04:10.720 girl time, guide time. It's just such a mix and 0:04:10.720 --> 0:04:14.520 that's what makes it so different. Yeah, it feels like 0:04:14.560 --> 0:04:17.520 a celebration. Even though there's an important game that a 0:04:17.520 --> 0:04:19.479 lot of folks might be nervous about. It seems like 0:04:19.520 --> 0:04:22.120 they checked their their worries and cares about that and 0:04:22.160 --> 0:04:24.039 just kind of have a good time and learn to 0:04:24.080 --> 0:04:26.600 separate the party going from the serious business of the 0:04:26.640 --> 0:04:30.760 football game. Right. It's it's just like you just have 0:04:30.960 --> 0:04:34.160 to experience it. I've had people come in and writers 0:04:34.160 --> 0:04:37.800 have described it as like a wedding reception before the 0:04:37.800 --> 0:04:41.000 football game because everything is so fun and fancy, and 0:04:41.000 --> 0:04:43.800 the women are dressed so keyed, and the men really 0:04:43.920 --> 0:04:46.640 are enjoying the women and the you know, it's just 0:04:46.720 --> 0:04:48.880 such a good time to enjoy each other and have 0:04:49.000 --> 0:04:53.679 two good things, fun things going on that everybody enjoys. Well. 0:04:54.880 --> 0:04:57.160 At the heart of all this, with the tense and 0:04:57.200 --> 0:04:59.840 old miss colors red, white, and blue, there is the 0:05:00.160 --> 0:05:03.000 tent that has painted black and white and zebra stripes 0:05:03.040 --> 0:05:05.719 with the decor under your tent as plenty of zebra 0:05:05.760 --> 0:05:09.320 stipes as well, so it stands out. But why zebra 0:05:09.400 --> 0:05:14.120 stripes in the middle of Oxford. Well, I went to 0:05:14.160 --> 0:05:21.320 Mississippi State, So what I went. I attended Mississippi State 0:05:21.360 --> 0:05:25.320 and I'm from Star from Mississippi. So I had never 0:05:25.400 --> 0:05:28.039 been to the grove when I met my husband because 0:05:28.360 --> 0:05:31.719 when I was in college we played each other in Jackson. 0:05:32.240 --> 0:05:35.360 It was such a rivalry. We played on neutral field. 0:05:36.080 --> 0:05:39.480 So when I got there, I was like, Okay, I'm 0:05:39.480 --> 0:05:41.680 going to calm, but I'm gonna have this tent where 0:05:41.760 --> 0:05:45.159 everybody's welcome and we're gonna just painted zebra stripe, and 0:05:45.200 --> 0:05:47.720 I have a little chip on my shoulder, and I 0:05:47.960 --> 0:05:50.000 got there loved it so much that now when you 0:05:50.080 --> 0:05:52.200 come to the zebra tent, it has red and blue 0:05:52.240 --> 0:05:55.760 stripes all over it too, with fans up and hotty 0:05:55.839 --> 0:06:00.400 tiddy everywhere. So she became a rebel. Yeah, you still 0:06:00.440 --> 0:06:04.200 got that bulldog inner because it's where she went to school, 0:06:04.200 --> 0:06:06.920 which she is a relevant You can love taste scoots, 0:06:07.400 --> 0:06:10.279 you can do it. Oh that's you just upset Mississippi 0:06:10.279 --> 0:06:12.600 Safe fans. But because it is a fierce rivalry down there. 0:06:12.600 --> 0:06:14.479 But I'll tell you what I've been to both places. 0:06:14.480 --> 0:06:17.359 Tailgating Old miss has a clear edge. There's no question 0:06:17.360 --> 0:06:21.640 about that. It is a fabulous place. Now you mentioned 0:06:21.680 --> 0:06:27.120 it's like a wedding reception. I mean food, drink, hospitality, 0:06:27.200 --> 0:06:30.640 the guest list, rank in order of importance, those those 0:06:30.680 --> 0:06:34.080 crucial components to a tail okate, what what what's first? Second, 0:06:34.120 --> 0:06:36.719 third in that group? Okay, we're gonna go with the 0:06:36.760 --> 0:06:40.880 food as number one. Then we're gonna go with the decorations. 0:06:41.000 --> 0:06:45.839 It's number two. Um, then we'll probably go with what 0:06:45.960 --> 0:06:48.640 you're gonna wear men and women because the men look 0:06:48.720 --> 0:06:51.120 good to know they're all they're both tied up and 0:06:51.160 --> 0:06:55.120 they this one in but both ties on as big 0:06:55.160 --> 0:06:58.080 as people might come out. But everybody is really fresh 0:06:58.120 --> 0:07:01.360 and looks looks really nice for the football game. And 0:07:01.400 --> 0:07:05.040 then I would go number four with the party, the drinks, 0:07:05.200 --> 0:07:08.440 that kind of thing. Well, some tailgates have special food. 0:07:08.480 --> 0:07:10.480 You know, it might be barbecue. Throughout the South, it 0:07:10.600 --> 0:07:14.480 might be and delay at L. S U. Or crawfish 0:07:14.520 --> 0:07:16.760 at Toufe. It might be broughts. They keep it pretty 0:07:16.760 --> 0:07:19.440 simple in the Midwest. You guys, I've seen your tent. 0:07:19.680 --> 0:07:23.040 You have something of everything under there. Well, why is 0:07:23.080 --> 0:07:27.800 it so important to be so comprehensive of the menu. Well, 0:07:28.040 --> 0:07:30.800 one thing we do is every ball game is a 0:07:30.800 --> 0:07:34.880 different thing. So if we're playing L. S U. Then 0:07:35.000 --> 0:07:37.880 we have a lot of swamp food. We have corn 0:07:37.920 --> 0:07:42.000 dogs number one, but we also have you know, we 0:07:42.120 --> 0:07:48.360 have like fried fish. We have shrimp usually ball two 0:07:48.440 --> 0:07:51.960 hundred three hundred pounds of shrimp. I respect that you guys, 0:07:52.000 --> 0:07:54.720 honor the opponent with the themes though you've had. If 0:07:54.760 --> 0:07:57.560 Texas comes in or another sec temp comes in, you're 0:07:57.600 --> 0:08:00.000 not just about old miss. You're you're welcoming the hospit 0:08:00.000 --> 0:08:02.200 mentality is amazing. Talk about the different themes and how 0:08:02.200 --> 0:08:04.880 you come up with that. Um Texas, of course, it's 0:08:04.920 --> 0:08:08.080 like a Southwestern theme, and that's my favorite one. I mean, 0:08:08.120 --> 0:08:11.880 we pull out saddles. Sometimes we have little uh cutouts 0:08:11.880 --> 0:08:14.160 where people can have their face in a cowboy and 0:08:14.200 --> 0:08:16.680 a cow girl, and we do all the hay bells. 0:08:16.720 --> 0:08:20.280 But we'll do like a Mexican fiesta bar for that. 0:08:20.800 --> 0:08:23.800 When when we did the Hawaiian thing, we played Alabama, 0:08:23.880 --> 0:08:28.480 both quarterbacks were from Hawaii. It was extravagant. We had 0:08:28.600 --> 0:08:32.959 palm trees like big like I mean, we went and 0:08:33.040 --> 0:08:37.040 bought the fake palm trees. We it was. We ordered 0:08:37.080 --> 0:08:41.520 I think ten thousand lays and they lit up all 0:08:41.600 --> 0:08:47.240 different type and gave those away to everybody. Um I enjoyed. 0:08:47.320 --> 0:08:52.480 When Cal came, we did Surfing with the Sharks was 0:08:52.520 --> 0:08:56.920 our theme, and we we made it twhere. I mean, 0:08:57.440 --> 0:09:01.200 we had surfboards all of that type of stuff in there, 0:09:01.280 --> 0:09:05.760 and that was a lot of groovy surfer surfing kind 0:09:05.760 --> 0:09:07.560 of and we had a lot of fins up and 0:09:07.640 --> 0:09:11.440 shark things. And Lance said not to mention this because 0:09:11.520 --> 0:09:14.560 people don't like to. But I thought it was so cute. 0:09:14.559 --> 0:09:18.400 Our shark had this big mouth and it coming out 0:09:18.440 --> 0:09:20.840 of the mouth was this chewt up sign that said, 0:09:20.840 --> 0:09:25.840 ain't never lost a party, You're still undefeated. Criss back 0:09:26.160 --> 0:09:30.160 my favorite um We when l s U came, I 0:09:30.240 --> 0:09:35.400 believe it would have been in thirteen. We had live 0:09:35.520 --> 0:09:41.360 fish and we had fish bowls with fish swimming around it. 0:09:41.520 --> 0:09:44.360 Dry we we did a pi row half of pier row. 0:09:45.040 --> 0:09:47.440 We put drys behind it, and we had all the 0:09:47.480 --> 0:09:50.679 bold shrimp in it. So it was it was like 0:09:50.720 --> 0:09:55.320 a cauldron with that, and it was the whole thing. 0:09:55.400 --> 0:09:59.840 We had magnolia leaves hanging from them and hanging moss 0:10:00.000 --> 0:10:05.720 is all that. That one was really very extravagant before 0:10:07.200 --> 0:10:10.440 with that, that was a fun one. I would imagine 0:10:10.840 --> 0:10:13.040 even though it's Austin p one of those opponies talked 0:10:13.000 --> 0:10:15.040 about that doesn't have a lot of tradition with the Rebels, 0:10:15.200 --> 0:10:18.600 I would imagine the build up, the anticipation, the excitele 0:10:18.640 --> 0:10:21.360 for this coming season at the Zebras must be off 0:10:21.400 --> 0:10:25.520 the charts. It is going to really be kind of 0:10:25.520 --> 0:10:30.320 a welcome home for us. It's gonna be we look honestly, 0:10:30.640 --> 0:10:32.480 to be really honest, with you as far as the 0:10:32.480 --> 0:10:35.600 tailgun he goes. When it's a place like that, you 0:10:35.720 --> 0:10:38.840 have time to visit with your guests because it's not 0:10:38.920 --> 0:10:42.959 a mad, crazy crowd. You learned so much about their 0:10:43.000 --> 0:10:47.839 school and their traditions, and we really enjoy those games 0:10:47.920 --> 0:10:51.520 so much. We've made friends. People have sent us like 0:10:51.760 --> 0:10:55.200 concert tickets and paid our way to go see concerts. 0:10:55.240 --> 0:10:57.560 We've been paid. They paid our way to Mardi Gras 0:10:57.800 --> 0:11:04.559 with the hotel. I went to the man because they 0:11:04.600 --> 0:11:06.600 came to the Zebra tent and we're so impressed and 0:11:06.679 --> 0:11:11.440 had so much fun. So honestly, we can't wait to 0:11:11.520 --> 0:11:15.880 host those people. They seem to be really wild. Really, 0:11:16.240 --> 0:11:19.080 they just love it so much. They've heard about it 0:11:19.120 --> 0:11:21.480 for so long. I mean, it's legendary. It's a it's 0:11:21.480 --> 0:11:24.040 a tourist attraction on Saturday morning, says, folks have heard 0:11:24.080 --> 0:11:27.640 about it, and the legends spread all across the landscape. 0:11:27.720 --> 0:11:30.600 What I think is great about the grove and in 0:11:30.640 --> 0:11:34.240 particularly your tent, is the hospitality that you are welcoming 0:11:34.280 --> 0:11:37.240 to folks, because there's this idea that SEC football is 0:11:37.280 --> 0:11:40.800 so fierce that fans get to scuffling before, during, and 0:11:40.880 --> 0:11:43.240 after the game and there's no way to break bread earlier, 0:11:43.400 --> 0:11:47.040 because folks are just so mad at each other, right 0:11:47.559 --> 0:11:50.400 and and we you know, we've had some things break 0:11:50.440 --> 0:11:54.160 out around the tent before. They wouldn't dare inside the 0:11:54.240 --> 0:11:58.360 zebra tent. But I had to beat some some young 0:11:58.440 --> 0:12:00.360 boys out of the tent with the metal here one 0:12:00.360 --> 0:12:02.240 time to the police could get there. But they were 0:12:02.240 --> 0:12:05.720 actually watched her. They thought it was funny. Security did 0:12:06.120 --> 0:12:07.600 Wait a minute, Wait a minute, wait a minute. You 0:12:07.600 --> 0:12:10.440 had some visiting fans, some unruly young college sentence you 0:12:10.440 --> 0:12:12.920 had to hit with a chance. I can't blame it 0:12:12.920 --> 0:12:16.240 all on the visitors. It was a combination, and it 0:12:16.400 --> 0:12:19.520 was it was younger college, it was college kids. And 0:12:19.559 --> 0:12:22.600 they got into a huge brawl which just kept growing 0:12:22.600 --> 0:12:24.560 and growing, and then they just kind of they fell 0:12:24.600 --> 0:12:27.360 over into the tent. They knocked the champagne fountain down, 0:12:27.720 --> 0:12:29.720 and all I could do was, I mean, I sent 0:12:29.800 --> 0:12:31.760 people to get the cops. But all I could do 0:12:31.800 --> 0:12:34.280 is fold that metal chair up and start swinging to 0:12:34.320 --> 0:12:38.720 get them back out of the tea. Chris, I wasn't 0:12:38.720 --> 0:12:41.120 in the tent, so I got to hear her side 0:12:41.120 --> 0:12:43.360 of the story, and all of you p d they 0:12:43.400 --> 0:12:46.280 come to our tent. They know us. Well, just listen 0:12:46.360 --> 0:12:48.600 to them tell the story. And one guy's I just 0:12:48.679 --> 0:12:53.880 crossed my arm, Lance, you hadn't handled its beautiful. Don't 0:12:53.920 --> 0:12:56.200 mess with Jane and the Zebra to I'd say what, 0:12:56.960 --> 0:12:59.000 somebody should have spent a week in jail for knocking 0:12:59.040 --> 0:13:01.880 over the champagne because that that is sacrily that. I 0:13:01.920 --> 0:13:04.440 know that Mimosa fountain is is a feature part of 0:13:04.640 --> 0:13:07.520 the beverage table back there. Someone dared knock that over 0:13:07.559 --> 0:13:09.840 that they should get banned for life from the grove. 0:13:10.480 --> 0:13:15.840 We've had some crazy it's happening there, beautiful. We've had 0:13:15.880 --> 0:13:19.360 waiting for proposals, you know, I mean so many great things. 0:13:19.400 --> 0:13:22.000 The most memorable moment to us of people coming in 0:13:22.160 --> 0:13:25.120 we had six New York firemen reach out to us 0:13:25.120 --> 0:13:29.600 and ask if they could have a bachelor party. And 0:13:29.679 --> 0:13:33.400 you talk about fun, Well, I'm imagining, Lance, I'm trying 0:13:33.440 --> 0:13:36.280 to imagine the collision of cultures. Let's say the meeting 0:13:36.320 --> 0:13:39.439 of cultures between New York City firemen and the genteel 0:13:39.720 --> 0:13:43.600 tailgate scene in the Zebras. And how how did that go? Well? 0:13:43.679 --> 0:13:46.959 They they were so enamored with the women, and they 0:13:46.960 --> 0:13:50.400 were so funny. We I mean we planned it ahead 0:13:50.400 --> 0:13:54.960 of time and we it was just just watching them 0:13:55.000 --> 0:13:57.480 watch the women. I mean it was like they had 0:13:57.600 --> 0:14:01.840 never seen women for I can't. I mean they could, 0:14:02.360 --> 0:14:04.400 I'm telling you. It was maybe like what you would 0:14:04.440 --> 0:14:07.360 expect if a man went to Hugh Hefner's house for 0:14:07.400 --> 0:14:10.240 the first time or something. They were very I hope 0:14:10.280 --> 0:14:14.760 they were well behaved despite yes they were. They were great. 0:14:14.920 --> 0:14:22.760 And they wore Yankee pin stripe overalls with no shirts 0:14:22.800 --> 0:14:25.440 and they were, you know, twenty four seven years old. 0:14:25.560 --> 0:14:28.240 Buff could have been on account. Yeah, I mean they were, 0:14:28.400 --> 0:14:32.240 and they mean they truly had an absolute I think 0:14:32.280 --> 0:14:35.720 they were thinking Mississippi and the overalls, and when they 0:14:35.720 --> 0:14:38.520 got there, they were like, I think we wore the 0:14:38.560 --> 0:14:41.800 wrong thing, you know, a little underdressed, a little underdressed 0:14:41.840 --> 0:14:45.440 for the Zebra na. It was so much they were cordious. 0:14:45.440 --> 0:14:47.280 I mean, they had great manners. I don't mean that 0:14:47.320 --> 0:14:50.480 they but I just mean they were so taken with 0:14:50.520 --> 0:14:53.200 the women. They just could not. It was so much 0:14:53.320 --> 0:14:56.040 they didn't. They weren't accustomed to women dressing up like 0:14:56.080 --> 0:15:00.000 that football games, you know, I find that incredibly easy 0:15:00.040 --> 0:15:01.960 you to believe what you just said, but I've just 0:15:01.960 --> 0:15:04.440 said that that's I'm glad they behaved themselves. I'm glad 0:15:04.440 --> 0:15:06.680 they had a great time and they certainly left Fox 0:15:06.760 --> 0:15:09.360 were some some great memories to tell around the fire 0:15:09.440 --> 0:15:12.960 station back in New York City, I'm sure. And we 0:15:13.080 --> 0:15:15.120 do a lot of Make a Wish Kids, and we 0:15:15.200 --> 0:15:18.160 did Tim Tebow's Tim Tebow since his make a Wish 0:15:18.240 --> 0:15:23.560 Kids every year. We that is so rewarding. I mean 0:15:24.920 --> 0:15:28.720 we've also done like um, we had three brothers who 0:15:28.840 --> 0:15:31.160 had a deal where they were going to all SEC 0:15:31.360 --> 0:15:35.920 schools around the nation, and the one brother died before 0:15:35.960 --> 0:15:38.480 they made it to the groves. So the two brothers 0:15:38.520 --> 0:15:41.840 contacted us and so we were able to get them 0:15:41.880 --> 0:15:44.680 on the field. We were able to get them tickets 0:15:44.800 --> 0:15:48.400 in the club house. Surprised them with it. So they 0:15:48.440 --> 0:15:51.720 came to the Zebra tent and they had this last 0:15:52.440 --> 0:15:55.560 you know, hurrah that they didn't get to have with 0:15:55.600 --> 0:15:59.520 the third brother. It was the most I mean, I 0:15:59.520 --> 0:16:02.080 get a little teared up when I think about it 0:16:02.160 --> 0:16:06.000 because it was such an emotional time and they had 0:16:06.040 --> 0:16:08.560 no idea we had planned all this form. You know, 0:16:09.160 --> 0:16:11.720 that's a wonderful surprise. You guys have made great use 0:16:11.760 --> 0:16:14.880 of the platform. You created another fundraising components of what 0:16:14.920 --> 0:16:17.000 you do with the zebra tense. So I I applaud 0:16:17.040 --> 0:16:18.720 that it's Folks need to know that it's a whole 0:16:18.760 --> 0:16:21.680 lot more than than food, fancy dress and drink before 0:16:21.680 --> 0:16:24.240 a game. I appreciate what you guys, what you guys 0:16:24.240 --> 0:16:26.800 have done. It takes a team, though, right there's no 0:16:26.960 --> 0:16:28.840 way if you feel if folks were to see the 0:16:28.960 --> 0:16:33.720 spread of food and deserves, there's no way two humans 0:16:33.760 --> 0:16:35.000 can do that just in a few days. I know 0:16:35.040 --> 0:16:37.880 you're surrounded by folks who support you and and and 0:16:37.920 --> 0:16:39.800 you know I get a lot of credit that I 0:16:39.840 --> 0:16:43.080 do not deserve. So if there's one statement I ever 0:16:43.200 --> 0:16:46.920 make that they often did cut out, is we have 0:16:47.160 --> 0:16:49.560 the We have an encrea. We have a team that 0:16:49.600 --> 0:16:53.280 could plan an inauguration. We get there at five o'clock 0:16:53.320 --> 0:16:57.280 on Saturday morning. We're there Friday night usual until about 0:16:57.400 --> 0:16:59.880 nine thirty or so. We get there at five a 0:17:00.040 --> 0:17:04.159 clock Saturday morning, and that's when the decorations, everything is 0:17:04.200 --> 0:17:06.960 set up, The decorations are done, then we leave in 0:17:07.080 --> 0:17:09.240 about an hour later. We're back and all the food 0:17:09.320 --> 0:17:13.000 is brought in and then that's where the ladies get 0:17:13.119 --> 0:17:16.920 all the the food styling. It takes two and a 0:17:16.920 --> 0:17:19.480 half hours to put out all the food and styling 0:17:19.800 --> 0:17:22.200 the college game. They finally made it to the grove 0:17:22.280 --> 0:17:24.840 to document that scene in two thousand and fourteen. It 0:17:24.920 --> 0:17:27.760 was my most enjoyable episode in twenty five years of 0:17:27.840 --> 0:17:31.360 hosting the show. Katie Perry as the guest picker did 0:17:31.359 --> 0:17:34.080 it as well as anybody ever has. But Lands and 0:17:34.160 --> 0:17:35.959 Jaine were also a part of that show. They were 0:17:36.000 --> 0:17:39.200 so hospitable and they told me that that fourteen game 0:17:39.280 --> 0:17:41.840 day that was kind of an equation changer for the 0:17:41.920 --> 0:17:48.680 Zebra Tent Chris. Before fourteen Game Day on an SEC weekend, 0:17:48.800 --> 0:17:54.359 we would feed in the neighborhood of five hundred. After that, 0:17:54.840 --> 0:17:59.040 now it's anywhere from twelve hundred to seventeen hundred that 0:17:59.119 --> 0:18:03.439 we feed in, and we've counted before we've had have 0:18:03.560 --> 0:18:07.280 over five thousand come through the tent most SEC games. 0:18:07.520 --> 0:18:10.919 Two look, take pictures, you know, grab a bike. D 0:18:11.920 --> 0:18:14.399 I feel like I should apologize. ESPN has got a 0:18:14.440 --> 0:18:16.040 lot of money. Send us the bill for all the 0:18:16.080 --> 0:18:18.200 extra folks that are showed up since game day. That's 0:18:18.320 --> 0:18:21.080 that's pretty overwhelming. I hope you guys seem to be 0:18:21.160 --> 0:18:23.920 taking it in the right way to think that this 0:18:24.000 --> 0:18:27.240 began with pickup trucks and station wagons driving to a 0:18:27.240 --> 0:18:30.280 stadium and dropping their tailgate and getting out a little 0:18:30.280 --> 0:18:32.760 beer and maybe some tupper worth full of food. Maybe 0:18:32.760 --> 0:18:35.120 eventually they began to grill in a habachi and it's 0:18:35.119 --> 0:18:37.280 grown into this. You guys have been at the top 0:18:37.320 --> 0:18:39.560 of the game for so long. What's left to do? What? 0:18:39.560 --> 0:18:43.240 What can the zebra tempt possibly do next to top 0:18:43.280 --> 0:18:46.360 what you've done? Are the wheels turning now they are 0:18:48.359 --> 0:18:52.439 really thought about it? I mean, we just have you know. 0:18:52.560 --> 0:18:55.320 We we do the Breast Cancer Awareness because we've had 0:18:55.359 --> 0:18:59.760 several of our members who are breast cancer survivors. We 0:19:00.040 --> 0:19:04.360 usually do another charity um different, We've done Palmer Home, 0:19:04.400 --> 0:19:06.639 We've done so we look, we have kind of goals 0:19:06.680 --> 0:19:09.240 that we set with that. But for the most part, 0:19:09.320 --> 0:19:12.960 I don't ever want it to be something where it's 0:19:13.000 --> 0:19:17.479 not fun anymore. You know. We do try to do 0:19:17.560 --> 0:19:21.240 it cuter or better every time, just because we like 0:19:21.440 --> 0:19:23.840 what we do. But I don't ever really want it 0:19:23.880 --> 0:19:27.440 to be competitive, and I don't even want to feel 0:19:27.480 --> 0:19:31.879 like I have to outdo it every time. I'd say 0:19:31.920 --> 0:19:34.439 if the Fosters have it wired, I don't mean just 0:19:34.720 --> 0:19:37.439 party giving, I mean life. Throw yourself into it with 0:19:37.520 --> 0:19:40.800 passion and energy, but never take it so seriously that 0:19:40.840 --> 0:19:44.040 the fun is robbed. They're very modest and talking about 0:19:44.080 --> 0:19:46.600 how inclusive and hospitable they are. But I'm just gonna 0:19:46.600 --> 0:19:49.399 tell you everyone is welcome with the Zebra Tent. If 0:19:49.400 --> 0:19:51.200 you were an Oxford you don't know a lot of people, 0:19:51.280 --> 0:19:53.520 you're new in town, you don't have a social click 0:19:53.640 --> 0:19:56.840 to hang onto, you are welcome to visit the Zebra 0:19:56.960 --> 0:19:59.359 Tent on a football Saturday along with fans of the 0:19:59.359 --> 0:20:01.679 other team in Folks who have just made pilgrimages to 0:20:01.680 --> 0:20:04.520 Oxford to be a part of it. Very grateful for 0:20:04.560 --> 0:20:07.680 their time. Now two thousand miles away from Oxford. Another 0:20:07.720 --> 0:20:11.520 tremendous tailgating scene at Washington Huskies games, or as they 0:20:11.560 --> 0:20:15.640 call it, salegating, or folks take their boats if they're lucky, 0:20:15.720 --> 0:20:18.800 they dock them in Union Bay, maybe drop bankor take 0:20:18.840 --> 0:20:23.320 a raft in and create a tremendous environment inside Husky Stadium. 0:20:23.400 --> 0:20:26.159 Genie Miles is the matriarch of that scene on the 0:20:26.200 --> 0:20:29.400 boat that her late husband Frank bought the Big Dog, 0:20:30.040 --> 0:20:33.720 and gen is filled with great stories and justice. Enthusiastic 0:20:33.720 --> 0:20:36.480 at age eighty two about husky sports as she was 0:20:36.560 --> 0:20:47.520 at age eight when her dad first took her to games. Okay, 0:20:47.600 --> 0:20:52.520 Gennie describe what a college football Saturday aboard the Big 0:20:52.560 --> 0:20:56.440 Dog is like. Well, we get up early at our house. 0:20:56.520 --> 0:20:58.800 The boat is docked at my home, but my son 0:20:58.840 --> 0:21:03.160 and daughter in their spot houses on the boat, and um, 0:21:03.240 --> 0:21:10.320 we take our customers, we take friends, UM and our 0:21:10.400 --> 0:21:15.640 family and m Under normal circumstances, with this particular boat, 0:21:15.720 --> 0:21:19.840 we can take eighty to people. So we have someone Greedim. 0:21:20.000 --> 0:21:22.160 They go down the hill and go to the dock 0:21:22.320 --> 0:21:26.600 and and we get going. We serve them coffee and 0:21:26.640 --> 0:21:31.159 a little um continental breakfast kind of thing. Because we 0:21:31.200 --> 0:21:33.720 have to start out early, we're normally the first ones 0:21:33.800 --> 0:21:37.760 on the dock, and it's a treat for lots of 0:21:37.800 --> 0:21:40.800 the people. They've never been to a husky game, let 0:21:40.840 --> 0:21:45.960 alone on my boat. So we beat the traffic. It's perfect, 0:21:46.800 --> 0:21:51.520 lots of fun and everybody enjoys it immensely. It's a 0:21:51.760 --> 0:21:55.440 full day. However, you're committed. When you're on that boat 0:21:55.440 --> 0:21:57.719 and you come back, you'll have to uber home if 0:21:57.720 --> 0:22:00.240 you don't want to come back with us, because we 0:22:00.240 --> 0:22:03.960 we get there early and we stay late. So that's 0:22:03.960 --> 0:22:08.679 how it goes, and it's it's awesome and I personally 0:22:08.800 --> 0:22:12.280 just love it. I can tell it in your voice. 0:22:12.680 --> 0:22:15.080 So you're sailing along, you leave Mercer Island, you get 0:22:15.119 --> 0:22:18.480 the Cascade Mountains over to the you're right, there's Mountaineer. 0:22:18.880 --> 0:22:21.080 The Olympic Mountains are across, and you make your way 0:22:21.080 --> 0:22:24.440 into Union Bay and Husky Stadium is totally unique. It's 0:22:24.520 --> 0:22:27.080 right there on the water. So then it's kind of 0:22:27.080 --> 0:22:29.239 a you're not you're not alone, there's you're surrounded by 0:22:29.240 --> 0:22:32.400 I'm sure plenty of friends and fellow voters on those saturdays, right, 0:22:32.440 --> 0:22:34.600 there's lots of voters there. I don't know how many, 0:22:34.680 --> 0:22:38.000 but probably a hundred and semi would guests, and they 0:22:38.119 --> 0:22:40.359 raft out. We have to be lucky to be the 0:22:40.400 --> 0:22:46.400 first ones on the on the dock and people will 0:22:46.480 --> 0:22:50.800 drive over and meet us um and we then before 0:22:50.840 --> 0:22:54.119 the game starts, we have the I Love My band 0:22:54.240 --> 0:22:56.800 comes down and entertains our folks. They get on the 0:22:56.880 --> 0:23:01.400 back deck and they play a lot of the songs 0:23:01.440 --> 0:23:04.720 to fight songs and the music and everybody sings and 0:23:05.040 --> 0:23:09.399 carries on and it's great fun. I absolutely love it. 0:23:09.600 --> 0:23:12.800 Somebody had invited me to do something this fall and 0:23:12.840 --> 0:23:14.920 I said, I can't do that. I go to this 0:23:15.240 --> 0:23:19.119 Musky season when loser draw, I just think it's a 0:23:19.440 --> 0:23:23.400 it's a wonderful pastime on Saturday. I love the game. 0:23:23.480 --> 0:23:26.160 I understand the game, and I'm not one of these 0:23:26.240 --> 0:23:28.679 ladies that sits there and doesn't know what's going on. 0:23:29.680 --> 0:23:33.080 And um, I just we all just love it with 0:23:33.520 --> 0:23:37.760 the kids. Um one of my grandsons that lives next door, 0:23:37.840 --> 0:23:42.159 he came as an infant, and you know, we just 0:23:42.160 --> 0:23:45.720 don't leave anybody home. We all go and um that 0:23:46.280 --> 0:23:49.159 it's just fun to be together, fun to be in 0:23:49.160 --> 0:23:52.840 that atmosphere, and um less to be able to do 0:23:52.920 --> 0:23:56.440 that and share with other people. I'm sure as much 0:23:56.440 --> 0:23:59.800 as you've appreciated it, season is going to feel even 0:23:59.800 --> 0:24:02.760 more special because, like so many other traditions, it didn't 0:24:02.800 --> 0:24:06.760 exist last year. There were some very quiet Saturdays around stadiums. 0:24:06.760 --> 0:24:08.720