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PROVO -- As Brigham Young University tries to build a national brand around its move to football independence, some Cougar fans are concerned that lack of understanding between the university and its fans will be detrimental to the goals of the athletic department.
The BYU Athletic Department released a "fan playbook" earlier this season in an attempt to raise school spirit on game day. Although the video was met with some criticism both on campus and off, the sentiments expressed therein were taken to heart by many a Cougar fan. It's the second of the video's guidelines, tailgating, that seems to be causing game-day problems on campus.
The video states, "Tailgate 2.5 hours before kick off on the west side of the stadium." Some Cougar fans claim, though, that the existing parameters for tailgates are restrictive and confusing.
According to BYU Parking Enforcement, a tailgate is allowed "as long as it does not take additional stalls and/or block the travel lanes." Large tailgates involving RVs and trailers are only allowed in the parking lot north of the Indoor Practice Facility, south of Canyon Road at 150 East. Tailgating in other parking lots is limited to one parking stall per car.
The rules are in place to prevent inconveniences to guests who may drive to football games, according to Lt. Greg Barber, of BYU Police.
"We are not set up with the facilities like other universities to do large tailgating groups," said Barber. "We have very limited land and obvious parking problems, and, as such, we have had to impose certain rules for tailgating."
Tailgater Michael McQuain thinks the pre-game experience at BYU could be vastly improved by changing the rules.
"We are trying to build, with BYU's blessings and guidance, a vastly improved tailgating experience on a much, much larger scale than a few small groups sprinkled across scattered, isolated areas," he said.
"You can have one vehicle in one stall," he added. "You can't block the roadway. The problem with that is if you have a grill, a big screen TV and a canopy, you can't set that up in one stall. One stall with chairs at the end of it -- that's not what people think of when they think of tailgating."
McQuain was part of a group that organized the Cougar Center tailgate in the Marriott Center parking lot before the BYU - Utah State game Sept. 30. The gathering grew to 50-60 people before Barber arrived and informed the group that tailgates of that size are only allowed on the IPF lot at the southwest end of campus.
"We called a few different times before the game to clear the tailgate," said McQuain. "So we were able to stay for the USU game, but we've been in the IPF lot ever since. We acknowledge that there are parking problems on campus, but it's hard to build a tradition when you're that far removed from the stadium."
Barber said he can make recommendations for a rule change, if he felt it were necessary, but ultimately the decision lies with BYU administrators and the athletic department.
The university is certainly aware of the situation, according to Bill Hoops, marketing coordinator for BYU Athletics. Hoops said a move to a more centralized tailgating experience is possible, but depends on BYU tackling current issues with parking campus-wide.
"We are definitely looking at all the possibilities," he said.
While the current parking situation at BYU persists, the status of tailgates at BYU remains tremulous at best. Those wishing to tailgate on campus are urged to either keep them small or set up in the IPF lot, where large tailgates are permitted.
We have very limited land and obvious parking problems, and, as such, we have had to impose certain rules for tailgating.
–Lt. Greg Barber
University administration and the athletic department want to work with Cougar fans to make the game day experience more enjoyable, according to Hoops.
"We are constantly listening to fans and trying to rearrange things to support fans in whatever will make our stadium great," he said. "If we can make the fan experience better, we want to do it."
If the department is willing to listen, fans will certainly make themselves heard, according to Jake Hatch, another tailgate organizer. Hatch believes tailgating can become a strong BYU tradition.
"We are basically trying to get a dialogue started -- to get the word out," he said. "We want a centralized location so we can really start a tradition and create an identity. We want to create unity among the fan base."
"When a lot of people think tailgating, they automatically think drinking and bad behavior, and that's just not the truth," added McQuain. "We're proving that every week."
"It's about food, and fun, and friendship," he continued. "Come early, stay late, and eat a lot."
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