Showing posts with label tailgate. Show all posts
Showing posts with label tailgate. Show all posts

Monday, October 10, 2011

On Rivalry Canines

Below is the story of an ordinary dog and her battle to overcome the cruel and and unfortunate circumstance of Spartan torture. 

As in all great tales, there is a beginning.

At a mere 8 months of age, she was already pure Michigan.   Inquisitive, relaxed, comfortable. 
Cheers for Michigan and runs 5K's for charity.
But only pain can forge a true sense of self, of being, of home.   As many have done before, she too went through trial and tribulations.  She was still only a pup when she was so brutally treated at an East Lansing tailgate four seasons ago.  Michigan would win that day, but the scars to her psyche have never relinquished their horrifying hold.  

That's Tbone manhandling my dog.
Look at how miserable she looks!  She clearly hates Drew Stanton.  And the color green.  And drunk, loud, obnoxious humans who believe alcohol transforms them into the characters of 300.  Her eyes are screaming for help as Tbone's grasp strangles her spirit.  This is misery.   This is MSU.

But could it possible get worse?  Indeed, her suffering had not yet ceased.  We all know Spartans are repeat offenders...(I'm looking at you Glenn Winston)  So of course Tbone can't keep his grubby, filthy, slimey green hands off my dog and defiled her yet again. 

Anyone else notice the Boddingtons on the table and get thirsty?
Humiliating.

Desecration of a man's best friend shall not go unpunished!  Brady Hoke and Denard Robinson agree, they love dogs, unlike cruel and indecent puppy hating Spartans.  Tbone probably has Michael Vick as his fantasy team captain and quarterback....yeah, I went there.

Ah but there is salvation, casting aside dirty Spartans, she rises a Wolverine.

That's a good looking collar.
Now look at her.  Classy.  Stoic. Proud.

Celebrating a Michigan victory with a little climbing.

Thursday, September 29, 2011

3 Things (Attending Game Edition)

I've made par on this hole, I promise.

1) Phase I: 8 til Noon - The Tailgate

I know the football game doesn't begin until noon, but the real sporting begins when I wake at about 6am.  A quick Meijer run to secure the tailgating essentials and then round up the rest of the crew at the hotel. (how lame is it that I'm now on old person who must stay in a hotel?) We will head down the UM golf course, pay our $30 fee and begin consumption.  Is there anything more glorious than a college football tailgate?  Ahhhh, I'm tingly.



2) Phase II:  Noon til 3 - Gametime

Oh yeah, there's a football game going on.  I'll be watching to see if Michigan's passing game can get on track, if the defense can shut down Minny's run game and whether or not we get to see some young guys (Devin Gardner puhlease) early in the 2nd half.  Also, it has been far too long since I've experienced the best wave in the world.  This game should provide ample opportunity for waveage.

Prediction: 33-16 Michigan


3) Phase III: 3 til Snooze - The Bar

With only one weekend in Ann Arbor, where is my time best spent?  This is going to be a major decision that will influence my entire experience.  In the afternoon I will need to be somewhere that will allow for more football to be watched on television and as night comes it's going to be about staying up and staying inebriated.  I'll be reminiscing on my lost college days and trying to recreate them with the powers of booze.  Dominick's will surely find it's way into the mix somewhere on this timeline, as will some spectacular Ann Arbor eats. 


Glory awaits me this weekend, for now I'm off to coach my 2-1 freshman squad to victory. 

The atmosphere won't quite be as awesome as the night game, but I'm pumped to head back to Michigan Stadium nonetheless.  Here's a little piece of what it was like just a few weeks ago.  Take it away Jack White.

Thursday, August 25, 2011

Culinary School

Who knew Spartans were culinary masterminds?   All the time Wolverines are in the library getting educated Spartans must be in the kitchen gorging themselves on delicious treats.

Despite my pal's scrumptious recipes, he's got it all wrong.  There is one, and only one, tailgating food.  The bratwurst.  Dress it however you like: mustard, spicy brown mustard, ketchup (not really, we both lived in Chicago so ketchup on a brat is a sin), relish, hot sauce, onions, giardeniera (my personal favorite, once again, the Chi), jalapenos, chili, sauerkraut, or whatever else you can think of, but make no mistake, there is one and only one ideal tailgating food.  The Brat.


Bratwurst Recipe:

Purchase Brats

Preheat Grill

Cook Brats Thoroughly

Eat and wash down with cold light beer.

Play Thunderstruck to celebrate.  1...2...3... Drink that shit, b***h.  

Eat another bratwurst to soak up that beer you just chugged when you got thunderf***ed.

Discuss detailed statistics of football and why they prove Denard Robinson is the best quarterback ever.

Srsly, ever.

Explain to Sparty friends what statistics are and how they are relevant to football.

Give up explaining anything math related to Spartans.

Challenge Sparty friend to beer bong contest.

Lose.

Challenge Sparty friend to beer shotgun contest.

Lose.

Bring back discussion on statistics and explain that beer drinking ability is not nearly as important as knowledge of statistics when it comes to future success in life.

Acknowledge to self that this argument has only been used because you lost those damn drinking contests, resolve to do better the next time.

Promise to learn to open throat during bye week.

Realize that every Spartan within 200 miles would love to add a joke to the last statement.

Shake fist at juvenile nature of Sparties.

Chug beer to prove you aren't a total nerd after everyone has been looking at you while you made that weird face during your inner turmoil.

Vomit. A different type of inner turmoil.

Avoid arrest but watch Sparty fans herded by police on horseback (in person or on tv, either works...did their women's basketball team make the Sweet 16 or something?)

Listen to Sparty friend tell story about how "awesome it was when we got teargassed, bro!"

Roll eyes, because, c'mon, "We're Michigan" and yes, that's a pretentious thing to say and we know that.  In fact, we're pretentious enough to know that we're clearly better than you, your riots, your recipes and even the color green.  It's putrid.  In fact, it's the color of that beer/brat/relish mix I just regurgitated.

Pound one final beer to wash it all down.  Follow it with one final brat, and one more final, final beer.

Enter stadium.

Make little brother joke, not because you think it's clever or original but because you just pounded two beers after shotgunning one and beer bonging another and being thunderf***ed and having 4 or so more to start the morning, not to mention those GD jello shots your girlfriend made, and after all of that you're good and drunk and "little brother, ughh" is the best you can come up with.

Think to yourself how sh***y that joke was, and then remember "Henne rhymes with douche bag" and how every Sparty you know used it for two years and rolled on the floor like an idiot laughing every time it was ever said and the satisfaction you gained from victory in those years and feel much better about yourself and your cleverness and gain a pleasant satisfaction in the knowledge that a bunch of your future employees make up the MSU fanbase.  

Remember that you are currently unemployed.

Blame economy.  Those bastards in California don't recognize the value of a degree from the University of Michigan.

Feel reassured, not for any real reason but you just drank a lot of beers and emotional rollercoasters are the way of life when you're buzzed up.  There's no reason to get down about your employment status.

Think about how fast Denard is, smile.

Watch a Michigan victory.

Boom.

Best. Tailgate. Ever.





Wednesday, August 24, 2011

Tailgate Recipes

With college football season just around the corner, I’ve started to think about my favorite tailgate recipes. I love to tailgate. The tailgate can sometimes be the best part of the day.  And if you have been rooting for Michigan for the last few years, the tailgate was better than the game.....  So here I go with some tailgate deliciousness. 

Roasted Potatoes with Onions - Easy to make and a big hit for breakfast!
2 lbs. red skinned potatoes, cut in 1 1/2 to 2-inch chunks
1 large sweet onion, cut in large chunks
1/4 tsp dried thyme
3 tbs olive oil
salt and pepper to taste
Line a large disposable baking pan with foil; spray with cooking spray or lightly grease. Heat oven to 400. Combine all ingredients in a large bowl or food storage bag; toss to coat thoroughly. Arrange in the baking pan and bake for 30 to 40 minutes, until potatoes are tender and nicely browned. *Cook the morning of and then place covered on the grill to re-heat.  (be careful you dont over heat on the grill, keep an eye on these puppies - tbone)

French Toast Casserole – Kids & adults, sober & drunk, everyone likes this recipe!
1 (1 pound) loaf french bread, cut in 1 inch slices
6 eggs
2 cups milk
1 cups half-and-half cream
2 tsp vanilla extract
1/4 tsp ground cinnamon
3/4 cup butter
1 1/3 cups brown sugar
Butter 2 disposable 9x13 inch baking dishes. Arrange the slices of bread in the bottom. In a large bowl, beat together eggs, milk, cream, vanilla and cinnamon. Pour over bread slices, cover, and refrigerate overnight. The next morning, preheat oven to 350. In a small saucepan, combine butter and brown sugar; heat until bubbling. Pour over bread and egg mixture. Bake in preheated oven, uncovered, for 40 minutes. *Place on grill covered with foil to re-heat.  (this is also great if you grill up some breakfast sausage on the grill -tbone)

The Classic Veggie Pizza – This is my most requested recipe.
2 pkgs. croissant rolls
8 oz. cream cheese
1 cup mayo
1 packet Hidden Valley Ranch dry mix
shredded cheddar cheese
Chopped vegetables: broccoli, pepper, and halved cherry/grape tomatoes

Place croissant rolls on a 9x13 pan flat with seams pressed together. Bake croissants as directed (usually 8 to 10 minutes) until golden. Mix cream cheese, mayonnaise and Ranch mix together. Spread cheese mixture over baked croissants. Sprinkle with shredded Cheddar and chopped vegetables. Cut into squares for serving. *I make this the night before and then add the veggies & cheese the day of.

Chinese Chicken Salad – This is always a hit. Takes you back to college when all you could afford was Ramen!
2 pkgs. Top Ramen chicken flavored noodles
3 chicken breasts, cooked (you can also use a pre cooked roasted chicken and shred it up)
2 pkgs cabbage mix
toasted sliced almonds
3 tbsp sugar
3 tbsp lemon juice
5 tbsp olive oil
1 tbsp peanut oil
Remove Ramen flavor packets and set aside. In a large bowl combine cabbage mix and chicken (chopped). Mix in another small bowl sugar, lemon juice, oil and contents of the two flavor packets. Mix well. Mix thoroughly with cabbage and chicken. Add crunchy Ramen noodles and cover. Let it set for 24 to 36 hours before serving, tossing it several times. Scatter toasted almond on top before serving. Do not cook noodles.


 And saving the best for last…Skippy! (Or Skip & Go Naked!)

3 beers (Light beer works best)
2 cans frozen lemonade concentrate
Vodka

Mix beer and lemonade into a pitcher. Fill lemonade cans with vodka and add. Mix, drink and good luck! 
(Ed Note: this will get you very drunk and tastes FANTASTIC.  so be careful)

So next time you’re walking by the Admin Building parking lot before the game stop by, say hi and grab a bite to eat. GO GREEN!