Tailgaters use tradition to spend time with friends before football games

By Marissa Shonkwiler

Tailgating isn’t just cracking open a beer and grilling a few hamburgers for Paula Hiememan — it’s a tradition she can share with her children.

Hiememan, a 1978 UK graduate, tailgated as a student and decided to start again when her son and daughter began attending UK. After a few tailgates with her children, Paula and her husband, Tim, decided to buy a camper.

The couple travel from Ashland, Ky., to spend the weekend in their trailer and enjoy game day in the parking lot of Commonwealth Stadium. She and Tim usually arrive Friday morning and set up for the game early Saturday.

“At first we knew no one else who was camped out in the parking lot, but now the parking lot of Commonwealth Stadium is like our own community on Saturdays,” Paula Hiememan said. “If one of us is missing one day, it’s noticeable. We all help each other out and share everything we have. These people are like our second family.”

For the Hiememans and many others, tailgating is an event as big as the game, with a set-up including food, cornhole, drinks, trailers, family and friends.

Bernie Reddy, a UK alumnus and football fan, has tailgated for over 10 years at UK. Every game day, he and about 10 of his friends set up his tent in the same spot and start the tailgate party in the early morning hours.

Reddy, who was in a fraternity while he was a student at UK, returns to the stadium to enjoy the same traditions he did years ago.

He is proud to be the cook of the group and brings a huge charcoal grill since he enjoys cooking throughout the day for everyone.

“I used to tailgate with my fraternity and now I party with my best friends,” Reddy said. “Saturdays are what I look forward to all week, a time to relax with my best friends.”

Current students join in on tailgating, too.

Karleen Shiner, an integrated strategic communications junior, said not even cold weather and a 12:30 p.m. kick-off could keep her from tailgating before the game against the University of Georgia on Saturday.

“Even though the game was early, I was up at 7:30 a.m. after a long Friday night to hang out with my friends before the game started,” she said. “It’s so cold outside and any other time it would matter, but right now it does not even faze me.”

Julie Schaefer, a social work junior, said she makes tailgating a priority during football season.

“I stayed in (Friday night) to study and work on homework just so I could tailgate all day,” she said. “I tailgate every possible chance there is. I love spending time with my friends while supporting UK.”