Your Splendid Tailgate is as unique as your mama’s potato salad recipe — and just as hotly defended. There’s no “right” way to do it; it’s all about heart, hospitality, and maybe a little harmless braggin’. But here are a few pearls of wisdom to keep your tailgate as smooth as a mint julep on a porch swing.

Bring Plenty of Beer, Ice & Mixers – This right here is the heartbeat of any respectable tailgate., sugar. Never — and we do mean never — show up short on beverages. You’ll make friends faster than a dog with a plate of bacon. And if you bring too much? Well, leftover bourbon and beer never broke anybody’s heart.

Timing is Everything – Tailgating’s a lot like Sunday dinner: if you don’t start early, you’ll be scrambling. Get that grill fired up before the crowd rolls in. You don’t wanna be flipping ribs while everyone else is hollerin’ “Go DAWGS!”

Don’t Show Up Empty-Handed – Even if your host swears they’ve got it handled like Scarlett at a soirée, show up with something anyway. Homemade pimento cheese, deviled eggs, or your favorite bourbon — it’s the thought (and the flavor) that counts. Showing up empty-handed is like showing up without lipstick — just plain rude.

Help Clean Up – When that whistle blows and everyone’s itching to head inside, don’t you dare vanish like a cat in a rainstorm. Pitch in, tidy up, and leave things prettier than you found ’em.  It’s a kindness your friends — and your campus — will surely appreciate. True Southern charm means never leaving a mess — or a bad impression — behind.