Southern University Tailgating Tradition
BATON ROUGE — Tailgating at Southern University transcends mere football games, as fans have shown up for decades to celebrate a rich cultural experience.
Roosevelt Johnson, a regular for 38 years, emphasizes the importance of family, culture, cooking, and camaraderie in this tradition.
The festivities begin well before kickoff. “After we get everything all set up, we start cooking, music and enjoying ourselves,” shares Roman Smith. Beyond food, Johnson mentions that the joy of playing dominoes, dancing, and the shared excitement among generations enrich the experience.
“The Southern experience, if no one has experienced it, they need to,” he asserts, highlighting its uniqueness.
For Jaguar fans, tailgating is just the prelude. The real thrill awaits at the game: “Once you get to the game, the excitement, the Human Jukebox, there is nothing like it anywhere in the world,” says Johnson.
