RU-Indiana Tailgate discussion

BREP needs everyone to step it up this week. 

Down our fearless leader Bill this week, we look to rebound against Indiana with a noon start. Let's get the tailgate discussion started. I'm guessing we are looking for a breakfast themed tailgate, so if anyone has some specific ideas lets throw them out now.

The Children R Our Future

We take a step back for a moment from the typical tailgate posts to present the artistic avant-garde musing of a Rutgers game day as taken by "BRES n SIS."

Shake It Off, B-REP Nation

At least Brepnation followed directions to wear the right colors! 

We've got a few more hours to stew over perennial jerk-off and pleated khaki wearer Jim Harbaugh going for a 2-point conversion up 20+ points again for the second season in a row, but the season is not lost as our most-brutal stretch of games is done and we turn our attention to Lovie Smith's comparably hapless University of Illinois.

The Illini are 1-4 and probably have us circled on the calendar as their last winnable game.

Deservedly so after Rutgers losses of 58-0 and 78-0 in back-to-back weeks and with what is perhaps the most inept offense that I can recall On the Banks since my first home game in 1987. 

Andrea trying to
steal ideas from the
Festmeister for the
Burk Halloween
shindig

Surely, however, Illinois is double-circled on our calendar as we look to go 3-4 and get our first B1G win of the season.

If nothing else, Saturday's tailgate was as convincing a pregame win as Michigan's destruction of the Scarlet Knights on the gridiron. 

We have evolved into a Top 10-caliber tailgating group, even if Rutgers Stadium personnel are too lazy to come all the way out to the Black Lot to dub us "tailgaters of the game."  In our hearts and minds we know who's best.  Others may have RVs and couches, but find me another group that has its own publicity director and beer concierge. 

And we don't need questionable monikers like "The Hunt" that serve to confuse our audience.

New spin on loaded
tots -- the loaded
potato pancake!

Festmeister Skurat masterfully constructed a menu of beer brats (w/onion, kraut, etc.), Sauerbraten sandwiches, cucumber salad, German potato salad, red cabbage and other Oktoberfest delicacies for the nearly 30-person B-Rep Nation contingent.  Everything was absolutely delicious and make for tremendous gastrointestinal fun for watching Sunday's NFL slate.

Yes, Yes, Fire, Fire, Fire!

All main dishes and desserts were a hit, as were the Schaefers that flowed like a mountain stream and reminded all that "es la mejor, cuando se toma mas de una!"

After an 11-touchdown plus 2-point conversion loss, however, we may need to reconsider the karmic element of our growing South Amboy-Sayreville presence, what with the addition of the Brians and the Thurkauf twins and Dad. 

Keep in mind, however, that these guys, are not the ones calling the minus-2 yard roll-out passes to the left, or playing O line and waving the matador flag for what seemed like 30 Michigan defenders per play, or running the hurry-up offense just to let our punter rack up a record number of punts. This was what BREP presented to his new coworkers John and Pete as entertainment.

Obviously their foodie and beverage prowess are huge pluses to B-REP Nation, and so we hope to see them back on the pavement vs. Illinois and elsewhere down the road. 

Great food, great beer, great company, but ready to disown
B-REP as a neighbor for being subjected to 78-0 torture.

Now, Saturday's was such a big undertaking that Festmeister's on a bye vs. Illinois, as are the Ungemahs, as the Scotts made their 2016 debut but will be back to the baseball diamond this coming Saturday, where rumor has it Jr. has already issued a combo home run hitting/Fat Cat food challenge to travel-team mentor and RU Alum Todd Frazier.

So, before the week gets away from me, I'm proposing that with a noon kickoff vs. Illinois that we meet at 8:45 a.m. this week at our usual carpooling spot. 

"Where's the Schaefer?"

As for food, it's all about "Cracked: The Egg Came First" -- the popular breakfast food truck at the University of Illinois -- and its "Vegasm Ciabatta Sandwich" and "Bacon-White Cheddar Tots." BTN featured these guys on the TV Network too.

Here are the things we need, and it's a combo we can do either vegan or with meats.

• Ciabatta bread
• Costco's Kirkland Signature Imported Basil Pesto (or any basil pesto)
• Fresh spinach (the salad kind that we can saute w/garlic)
• Sundried tomatos
• Hash browns
• Eggs
• Sharp cheddar
• Chorizo
• Bacon
• Tater tots

Let's start weighing in on this and get everything resolved by midweek if possible, this way I can hit Costco for whatever goods we need. I'm figuring, too, that we are OK on the beer front; figuring we have a lot left over from yesterday, but let me know if we look short. I know I have a few Schaefers left, and also Sam Adams Oktoberfest sitting around.

TICKET-WISE: I'm hoping Kathy will finally join us this week and would use Chris's ticket for that, but we also have Scott Ungemah's available and two of Dave's (Tom's using 1 of Dave's 3 on their dad). Great time yesterday up until kickoff, and more to come this Saturday vs. Illinois!

The statue gained more yards than
Rutgers' offense vs. Michigan

BRES #2 (Big Red Evan Skurat) sporting his alpine hat 

Time for a little cough medicine

RU-Michigan Tailgate Discussion

As Rutgers comes off of the beat down at #2 Ohio State, we welcome in the #4 Michigan Wolverines this Saturday Night. As he did last year, Chris has volunteered to helm the tailgate this week and with an Oktoberfest theme! I will leave the first post up to Chris to let everyone know what he intends to do, and what he needs or what everyone else can contribute. This may be the week it makes sense to give Chris some bucks to cover his costs if there isn't a need to bring additional items. Chris is also looking to score some extra tickets, so if anyone has any to offer, please let him know ASAP.

We are proposing a 3 PM meet up at Walmart as this game will be a near sellout. It appears we will have a full crew going to the game plus some additional tickets bought before the season by Pete & BREP (4 total) going to the game with us already. Pete has pledged passage for his two in his vehicle, and Andrea & Eric have already agreed to take BREP's two extra in their car. If you plan on bringing extra people to the game, please try to coordinate how they will get to the game with the bearers of parking passes ahead of time. If anyone thinks they will have extra space in their car, please also let that be known.

When the Scarlet Knights host the Michigan Wolverines this Saturday at 7pm, we are going to Stripe the Birthplace of College Football! Even-numbered sections wear SCARLET. Odd-numbered sections wear BLACK - That's us in Section 121

RU-IOWA Recap

The late arriving RU crowd pours through the east side gate minutes before kickoff 

Getting the cheese steaks started!

BREB pondering while leaning on the BRF (Big Red Fist)

For this week's tailgate we were treated to hot off the grill cheese steaks from our BRES Father. With two grills going cooking the steaks, melting the cheese, and heating up the peppers and onions, the foods was awesome as we took our tailgate to the Black overflow lot for the first time this year. Kudos to BREB for dusting off the backup grill (found in the RU purple lot years ago) for use in our time of despair.  

BREP-Nation supports the Cheer Squad, Dance Team, and Cheerleaders 

 After throwing our money away to members of the Rutgers Cheer Squads on our usual fruitless effort to try and win the 50-50, we were honored to have our first tailgate 

presentation ceremony of the year. 

Whistle presented

Whistle acceptance

Adding to his growing list of accolades, BRES was presented with a football tailgating whistle, growing his arsenal of paraphernalia at his disposal on game day. As for the game, the RU football team put up their most spirited effort of the year despite coming in as a large underdog to Iowa. Even with bringing out all the stops (including the debut of the BRES popcorn rally bag),  RU came up short by a score of 14-7, as they were a few big plays going their away away from pulling off the upset.   

BRES Popcorn Rally BAG 

Be ready to stripe the stadium for our next home game versus Michigan - REMEMBER TO WEAR BLACK RUTGERS CLOTHING AS WE ARE AN ODD NUMBERED SECTION. 

RU-Iowa Tailgate Discussion

Now that we are up and running again, BREP-nation.com is back and bigger than ever.

 As per Bill's earlier post:

"I'm ordering enough steak (and prepping home fries and onion & pepper) for 25 people (~ 8 lbs. of meat), so if you plan to bring several others to the table let me know ASAP and I'll order more......

BRES casts a big shadow as he prepares for this week's game 

I need to pick up the meat Friday by 6pm, so speak soon if you're bringing a ton of people along. We'll DEFINITELY need the second grill this week, mainly for warming the spuds and O&P. Someone needs to borrow one from a neighbor or something if Basil and Scott are not around." 

RU-New Mexico Happy recap

A befuddled Eric struggling with leading us into the parking lot  

The breakfast buffet 

Rich. Lisa, & the MIB (with our resident photo bomber Eric)  

For the second of three consecutive weeks, the BREP-Nation crew assembled on a warm sunny morning to cheer on the Rutgers Scarlet Knights. After a bit of drama in getting everyone parked in the same area through some nifty BREP negotiations with the RU parking staff, we were treated to a breakfast of Pete's Burritos and a tasty tater tot casserole created by Chris (aka Richie).

After getting settled, we gave a warm welcome to the new comers Rich and his crew before getting down to business for some serious corn hole. The Men in Black (MJ and Mike) stunned the BREP/BRES team with a crushing loss via a 6 point last bag throw.   Order was restored when Skurat & Son team was able to take down the MIB later in the morning.

BRES goes double fisted on the RU parking lot couch  

After making the trek to the stadium, we were stunned as the Scarlet Knights were down 21-0 nearing the end of the first quarter, Desperate times called for desperate measures, which after mixing up the seating arrangements, there was only one thing left we could do - RALLY CAPS!!!

BREP-Nation turns their hats around to turn the game around!!

BABABOOEY!!!

Then something magical happened, as score RU touchdown after touchdown on a deep bomb, a reverse flea flicker, and a punt return. By halftime, Rutgers surged ahead. Feeling a need to do whatever was needed salt away a victory, Shane led the charge as we consumed 6 boxes of popcorn, allowing the master fan to create his ultimate weapon - the Bababooey box rally cap, carrying RU to a victory. never doubt the power of the rally cap.

Get ready for week 3 in a row of noon time starts against Iowa-Get ready to get B1G!!