Thursday, November 5, 1998
Good Fans Die Hard
FOOTBALL: Tailgating before football games brings out the best
in Bruins who get together every weekend to relax and cheer their
team to victory
By Pauline Vu
Daily Bruin Contributor
John Varga became a devout Bruin fan in 1950 at the age of 9
 a time when radio was the main form of entertainment, Red
Sanders was leading the football team into national respectability
and UCLA "started beating SC like a drum."
Varga grew to love Bruin basketball as well when John Wooden
came to town, and he began purchasing season tickets for both
sports and raising his children as Bruin fans.
But it wasn’t until 1982, when UCLA moved from USC’s Coliseum
and took the Rose Bowl as its home field that Varga took the last
step toward true-Bruin fanhood.
He became a tailgater.
"I love football. We didn’t like (former coach Terry) Donahue at
all, but we suffered him for 20 years and still remained loyal,"
Varga said.
"We were still here when UCLA was losing," he added, referring
to the team’s mediocre years.
Such is the mark of a true tailgater.
With every Saturday comes the onslaught of college tailgating.
Hours before the game, before other fans show up and sometimes even
before the players and the band shows up, RVs and trucks pull into
the parking lot, miniature barbeque pits are hauled from car trunks
and plastic tables are set up.
The tailgating scene differs from area to area  in some
places, people huddle around a tiny TV or radio, anxiously awaiting
the pregame show.
Others might have tiny picnic tables complete with china, a
tablecloth and wine glasses. Still other tailgaters play a rousing
game of football to pass the time.
Charlie Fears, class of 1942, and his wife June, travel to each
home game with the Orange County Bruins on their charter bus.
Fears was captain of the 1942 team that defeated USC and ended
up going to the Rose Bowl.
"I played tackle. We played both offense and defense then. It
was in some ways rougher," Charlie laughed.
Immediately after he graduated in 1942, he fought in World War
II as a naval officer. After his return, Fears and his wife would
occasionally tailgate with friends. They began tailgating regularly
with the OC Bruins about 12 years ago.
"We go to every single home game," June said.
"And we’ve also been to Berkeley, Seattle and the Cotton Bowl,"
she added.
Krista Folk graduated in 1989 but started tailgating as a
student in 1986. Tailgating has changed in one small aspect
throughout the years.
"I drink less now. We used to do it both inside and outside the
Rose Bowl, but now we just drink outside. You have to drive home
later, and it’s more responsible," she said.
Folk paused briefly as the words sunk in, then wailed, "Oh, that
sounded really bad!"
UCLA tailgating has a few distinctive memories and traditions.
Varga recalled that there once was a Bruin Beer Truck about 10
years ago that passed out free beer.
"They don’t serve beer in the Rose Bowl anymore and people have
to get it out in the parking lot, which is fine," he said.
"I’m not anti-beer or anything," he added, holding a Miller in
his hand.
Another Rose Bowl tradition is when the marching band plays
pregame fight songs to the tailgaters.
As a group of band members approach the OC Bruins, the Fears
began clapping in tune to "Sons of Westwood."
"They always come around here," June said.
At last Saturday’s game there were loyal Stanford tailgaters as
well.
Carl Marcoux and his wife Virginia from Orange County reunited
with his sister, Patricia Thomas, and her husband George at the
Rose Bowl. Carl and Patricia graduated from Stanford in 1950 and
George graduated in 1949.
Growing up in the Bay area, there was no question that Carl and
Patricia would be fans of the Cardinal.
"We always planned to go to Stanford," Carl said.
Although the Marcouxs live in Orange County, the Thomas’ still
live up north and must sojourn down to Los Angeles to watch
Stanford play the Bruins. Sometimes it’s just an hour flight, other
times a six to seven hour drive.
Carl, however, recalled that tailgate traveling wasn’t always so
easy.
"I remember when we went by horse it was slower. Those old
wagons. And we always had to stop to water the horses and camp
out," he joked.
Up in Stanford the Thomas’ are a common site at the Stanford
Stadium parking lot. They park in the same lot at every game and,
before big games, park in the lot the night before and then spend
the night at the Holiday Inn across the street.
George recalled that one time, after he and Patricia had parked
their car overnight and tried to get into the lot, it grew full and
the police wouldn’t let them into the lot.
"I told them, ‘Look, my car’s right there,’ but they didn’t
listen. You can’t reason with some people," he said.
The Thomas’ had to carry all their tailgate equipment Â
table, lawn chairs and food  from their hotel by
themselves.
"Tailgating in the rain isn’t much fun," added Patricia.
For the Stanford game, the Thomas’ and Marcouxs hoped UCLA would
have lost. The matter is entirely different when it comes to
USC.
"We love to see UCLA beat USC. Nobody likes USC. I don’t even
think people who go to USC like USC," Carl said.
Although UCLA has a loyal flock of tailgaters, it does not come
remotely close to being a great tailgating school.
"For a school that doesn’t have a stadium on campus, we’re
actually pretty good," Folk said.
However, she admitted, it is the East Coast schools like Harvard
and Lehigh that really know how to tailgate.
June Fears goes so far to admit that USC tailgates much better
than UCLA and that she has been to some USC tailgate parties.
"My daughter goes to USC. It’s an old school, very traditional.
UCLA isn’t quite as strong in its unity," she said.
Many UCLA tailgaters cite Arizona as a warm, welcome place to
enjoy themselves before a game, and also say that Washington
weather prevents enjoyable tailgating.
"The worst place to tailgate is Berkeley–it’s too hilly and
there’s no place to park," Patricia said.
UCLA’s game management department set up an organized tailgate
area in Lot H starting in 1994, the main feature being the Food
Zone, which sells such vendors as Subway.
There are other features at the Food Zone area, such as radio
stations like XTRA and KIIS, companies like Claritin giving away
prizes, and other organizations like the Los Angeles Galaxy
promoting soccer.
In fact, at this season’s Washington State game, Winchell’s
Donuts built and broke the world record for the world’s largest
fritter.
The football team also walks through the area before the
game.
"People get very excited. Everybody gets to say hi and see the
players. Everyone loves it," said Nadia Lazarovici, Food Zone
director.
Groups who order at least 30 tickets can reserve a space in the
area. They also have the option of ordering chairs, tables and
catering, though it is by no means necessary.
No matter where you tailgate, tailgating is a time-honored
tradition that’s more than football scores.
"You get together and build a sense of camaraderie. You get all
fired up for the game," June Fears said.
"It’s just fun. You see people you haven’t seen in a long time,"
Patricia Thomas said.
Lazarovici does not have a preference between organized and
non-organized tailgating.
"Reserved tailgating isn’t more fun. Everyone’s there to have a
good time and enjoy the festivities before the game," she said.
It can also be a time to meet new people.
A few weeks ago Varga met a man who played on Mark McGwire’s
youth baseball team.
"He had pictures and everything. People are nice here," he
said.
Varga also dislikes USC and did not like the atmosphere at the
Coliseum when the Bruins played there.
"When I park my car, I like to know it’ll be there when I get
back. I guess I just don’t want to walk home," he said.
"And besides, we don’t carry Uzi’s," he said with a grin.
Varga’s appreciation of the Rose Bowl is clear.
"This is the best place to tailgate; the atmosphere is nice and
it makes the game better. I hope UCLA never moves," Varga said.
He once bought 10 tickets to a game and threw a big tailgate
party at the Rose Bowl.
"Everyone had fun, even the non-football fans," Varga said.
BAHMAN FARAHDEL/Daily Bruin
Tortilla chips, tequila and a television are the only the
necessities for these UCLA football fans who tailgate before the
start of another game.
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