This post is sponsored by EA Sports NCAA Football 2011
Tailgating Traditions. What else can you say? The Mall. No question about it, this is Arizona's main thing. The Mall on gameday is a place like nowhere in the country. Hundreds, if not thousands during some games, flood to The Mall to set up their tents and settle in for an entire day of sun, co-eds, good food, plenty of beer and lots of football watching.
One of the best pre-games I have ever been to was the Arizona Fiji homecoming tent on the mall in 2003. Maybe I was just reminiscing about college and stuck in the real world or maybe I was basking in the glory of a 75 degree day, plenty of beer, old friends, lots of co-eds and a DJ that kept the tent slamming for six hours straight.
Tailgating on the U of A Mall is definitely the best on campus. This doesn't stop other fraternity houses, off campus houses and even dorms from throwing their own bashes. Coronado, Pima, Yavapai, Cochise, Graham & Greenlee,Hopi, and La Paz all are places so close to the mall you could hit a 5 iron and land on its perfectly manicured green.
I enjoyed many tailgates while attending U of A and remember only a handful of them. I do have pictures to prove how awesome they were though. The Zona Zoo is another elite club that is only open to U of A students. The Zoo was started in the fall of 2008 and has taken on a life of its own. They have a tailgate before every home game and bring tons of spirit to the campus on game day. The Zoo will undoubtedly continue for years to come and is a great asset to the spirit of Arizona, especially for game days.