Thousands of North Carolina A&T students and alumni come together to rejoice in “Aggie Pride” is at the Homecoming Tailgate.
There are two places on campus where tailgates are usually held. One tailgate area is the Laurel Street parking lot, which is right off of E. Lindsey Street, and the other being outside of Aggie Stadium.
The tailgate preparation begins the night before when some of the tailgate goers bring their grills and tents to set up for the next day’s festivities. The preparation continues with the grills being lit and the food being prepared as alumni and students make their way into the tailgate areas.
For much of the alumni, the tailgate is more than just a day of food. The tailgate is a way for alumni to catching up with old classmates to reminisce about their time at NC A&T.
Ken Pulliam is an NC A&T Alum who said that the tailgate is the most important part of GHOE.
“It’s most important because it is the largest social gathering on campus for GHOE. You have thousands of people in a relatively small area thus it is easier to see old friends and classmates.”
The alumni that are in fraternities and sororities use the tailgate to catch up with their line brothers/sisters and to connect with younger members of their organizations.
For students, the tailgate is an opportunity for the free food from the welcoming alumni. It’s also about meeting the alumni and hearing stories about their time at NC A&T. Along with the stories, the alumni will share advice and wisdom with current Aggies.
“I went looking for a free meal but I ended up meeting a lot of great people that shared great stories and insight with me.” Said Matthew Mayes, a sophomore agribusiness student, when sharing his experience at the GHOE tailgate.
There will be plenty of food for everyone in attendance but be careful when going to tailgates asking for food. Remain polite and ask before partaking in anyone’s tailgate.
Along with the attendees, there are numerous local vendors selling things and promoting their business.
The GHOE tailgate officially starts at 10:00 a.m. on Saturday, October 7th. To attend the Aggie Stadium tailgate you must have a valid ticket for the NC A&T football game. To purchase a football ticket, go to https://tkt.xosn.com//tickets/TicketLanding.dbml?DB_OEM_ID=24500&.
Brodcast Network 