Sunday, September 17, 2017

Rutgers, Crab Cakes and Sloppy Joe Poutine -- a Winning Trifecta

"This is probably the hottest 80 degrees I've ever felt" -- John Coulter, Sept. 16, 2017, at some point during Rutgers' first win of the 2017 season.

In a football game that was essentially academic from the get-go, with the Scarlet Knights pummeling FCS-level opponent Morgan State 65-0, the BREP Nation crew withstood unseasonably sweltering conditions and impacted several outcomes on the field.

It was clear that several of Pete's interjections distracted the Bears while on offense, giving the Rutgers defensive unit a clear 12th man from about 80-150 yards away in Section 121. It was a big help for a team that was without the services of nonsequitur kings BREP and Nick.

Meanwhile, BREP-for-the-day Shane and trusty servant BRES Evan executed a new gadget play well, changing their seat locations three times, including from two positions in the upper deck on the same side of the field as Morgan State. Had Evan been mentored to be an Eagles fan, surely he would have hurled some Duracell 9-volts down onto the sideline for added distraction. We're lucky that's not the case since we're a classy bunch and his Dad's more "Up With People" than battery tosser.

Seat-cushion heads, moving seat
locations...all part of getting in the
opposing team's head.
Phone off the
hook w/texts from
the ladies
The afternoon started strongly, with Bill and Chris only 8 minutes late, a marked improvement over their usual tardiness. Fortunately, John's water got shut off and he didn't want to subject the Nation to his profuse sweating after a morning run, so the Tinton Falls tandem weren't the last ones to show. It all worked out well.
Our own spin on the Scarlet Walk...
The BREP Nation Black Lot Walk

The parking lot was rather underutilized, with folks like BREP and the Scotts passing for family-focused reasons, including seeing daughter Alexa reportedly scoring a goal in a Drew women's soccer victory. And as it's not yet Movember 'stache season, we're pretty confident that the other Scott wasn't working on a new highly classy film. 

Trying to stay
entertained in
65-0 demolition
Erica and Andrea totally brought it with the top-secret Sloppy Joe recipe that proved to be a perfect topping for those going with the Baltimore poutine theme over the patented Skurat tots, while Pete came up aces with excellent crabcakes. John's salad and our visitors Terry and Anne's gourmet popcorn were perfect accompaniments. 

There was heavy traffic on the cornhole boards, where Pete and Bill won back-to-back games against the Thurkauf twins, sending them crying for their daddy somewhere else in the black lot. Then the former South Amboyans beat the substitute BREP-BRES team before the youngsters turned the tables and subsequently went on to win several matches, by all accounts.

After wrapping up and heading in with the sort-of-sparse crowd, we had pretty clear sailing into the stadium to watch the demolition and lament the visiting band's seat location way in the upper deck. They were more audible and in sync than the Rutgers band. A shame that a MEAC-school band didn't get the opportunity to perform at halftime on the field.

Tried getting a shot
of Basil before
Terry got in the way
Jenn's killer hat
makes an appearance

Ohio State Tailgate and Tickets


Saturday's a much-needed rest for BREP Nation.

Our first B1G game is on the road vs. Nebraska, coming off a home loss to Northern Illinois, prompting the athletic director to come out in support of the head coach. That's normally not a good sign, so Rutgers certainly can hope to get fortunate against a program that's seen better days. The game kicks off at 3:30 p.m. and can be seen on BTN.

As for our next home game vs. Ohio State, the kickoff's TBD, and we may not find out the game time until next Sunday.

That being said, we're going to flip-flop our tailgate with the one for Purdue.

For Ohio State, Festmeister Skurat requests that the honor of serving BREP Nation his excellent Oktoberfest menu -- brats, sauerbraten, potato pancakes, etc. That would be regardless of game time, since nothing says good morning like processed meats and beer.

That's because he's not going to be with us for the Purdue game on Oct. 21, and so we're thinking of doing the Thurmanator Hamburgers (an Ohio State cuisine) for that tailgate.

Chris will be the point person closer to our next home game, so for food and drink needs he's your man.
BREP Nation's Cornhole bitches

As for tickets and such, I'm figuring it'll be in high demand, so if there are extras let's try to keep them within the group if at all possible. 

In the meantime, enjoy the off-week from tailgating, and be ready to bring it on Sept. 30!

Wednesday, September 13, 2017

Tailgates Great, Rutgers Football...Not So Much




Our Scarlet Knights may be off to a 0-2 start to the 2017 season, but that hasn't deterred the revelry in BREP Nation and the Black Lot.

Last week's effort was outstanding, as the return of Maize and Blue sandwiches (shop just 7-8 miles from the E. Michigan campus) worked out well, especially with our Gilligan's Island-size nuclear sourdough bread. (We later learned that baked goods that sized are outlawed in 23 states, though people can now carry firearms at the University of Georgia, go figure).
Abnormal Sourdough
Sloppy Joe Poutine

In some tense matches of Cornhole and side-matches in Wash Shoes, the trust BREP Nation author succumbed to the Witkowski men, who saddled him with their friend Glenn, a champion supporter of the Nation but clearly a B-teamer in the Witkowski beanbag-tossing world. Pete saved the day again for Adam on several occasions, according to sources with ties to TMZ.com. 
Adam sucks at
cornhole...again
Otherwise, it was great as always seeing extended members of the Holobowski segment of the Nation, including the twins, their pops Frank, and their brother-in-law, the esteemed XXL Da Jerzy GiANT (and his son). We're hoping they join us again for another tailgate sometime soon.

Morgan State

"Eat whatever we cook at your
own risk." -- E. Burk, one time
This Saturday, Rutgers faces Baltimore-based Morgan State, the Bears...though bears aren't known to be prominent in Charm City as far as we can tell. 

In keeping with the food-of-the-opponent theme, Pete -- the best addition to our tailgate group since its formation, sorry Jennifer -- has offered to make crab-cake appetizers.

Shane is On the Air on WCTC!
The main course will be handled by Eric and Andrea, who are making their famous Sloppy Joe's. 
Biz, Picture Master
Shhh...B-REP's
listening

Interesting, too, in that it fits our food theme. 
In extensive, 15-second Google research we found a place in Baltimore called Fork & Wrench (F&W, also short for our message to Rutgers football... "F'n Win!"). This "boutique dive bar" is known to make (seasonally) Sloppy Joe Poutine -- a fancy way of calling them fries with gravy and meat.
Hipster kids even like RU football

Anyhow, F&W's version includes bacon as well, so to accompany the Burk's meat concoction, I'll pick up some mozzarella and bacon. If Chris graces us with his presence this week, perhaps we'll tab him for tots and we can go crazy w/a new variation of tots loaded with Sloppy Joe, etc. 

Sound good?

We hope to see you there on Saturday, and let's say noon instead of 11 this week. Deal?

Roll call, contribution list, etc. below in the comments field.

Regards,
NJ Horseplayer
Big Euro Red Elvis Servant - BUERES! 


Thursday, August 31, 2017

We're Back! (2017-2018 RU Season Kick-Off)

Greetings, once again, and welcome to the 2017-2018 season of Rutgers football! I'm excited and I hope you are too because it's a new season and a fresh start (and hopefully we won't get totally destroyed by Washington on Friday, fingers crossed).

Since it's a new year and the first game, we decided to go with something simple for the tailgate: subs. We will be getting the subs, a table, plates, utensils, and the homemade RU cornhole board, as usual. I am personally making fresh pico de gallo in preparation of the tailgate. Just bring your own drinks or snack and we should be fine.

We will be meeting at 5 o'clock at the WalMart. I'm hoping to see you there and here's to the new RU season!

-BRES

Wednesday, July 12, 2017

Fun in the Summertime

Courtesy of mine and Chris' friend, Coach Dan, the kids and I got to watch RU's Mike Williams' magic at the inaugural Tinton Falls Summer Hoops Camp.

The benefits of showing up at a high school BOE meeting to encourage the district to allow the program to go forward as planned.

Really nice kid and showed off some NBA 3-point range in a fun contest vs. one of the local coaches -- mentioned Dadika when I said I was RU Class of '91. I hope this encounter breaks the NCAA Tournament hex since I was the last student broadcaster to do an RU men's NCAA game.

We hope everyone's summer is going well and we'll see you on September 1!

Tuesday, November 22, 2016

Rutgers-Penn State tailgate wrapup

The final Brepnation group shot of the 2106 tailgating season

Chris is really enjoying the Thanksgiving tailgate !
As we convened for the final time in the overflow black lot, BRES planned a Thanksgiving tailgate spread that was enjoyed by all. The turkey and stuffing filled potato skins was a great idea, Shane, but for the love of God, you've got to wear pants when it's supposed to get cold outside!  Although the season was a tough one to endure, thanks to all of the BREPNation.com for making the 2106 tailgate season a blast.


Look at those cupcakes! 

Kathy showing that a proper
corn hole toss is all in the knees !

A new low -trying to hot wire the Knightengale cart!! 

The few brave souls who stuck it out until the fourth quarter!!!

A final toast to the 2016 season!

SEE YOU ALL AGAIN IN 2017!!!!!!
Andrea can sense the cold coming!

Thursday, November 17, 2016

State Penn Tailgate Horseplay, Oh...Turkey Buffet

It's been a crazy week for me so apologies for the late idea notice, but Pete came up with a good tailgate theme, and Shane is planning to take it up another notch as, mercifully, we close out the home season vs. State Penn.

As for the meet-up time, let's say 4 p.m. at the usual spot.

Kick-off is 8 p.m., and our team sucks but we appear to have great weather for this time of year.

Ticket-wise, Kathy and Evan have claimed Pete's 2 extras, so if others in the group have unused tickets please speak up.

Since we're trying to avoid all things bland or chain-like from central Pennsyltucky, we're going to put together a Thanksgiving-themed menu, with hot-sliced turkey (warmed on the grill) and all of the sides, either stuffed on a Nino's sub roll or Shane's idea...

The "Spudwich," using two fried potato skins as the bread that you stuff w/your turkey and other stuff.

The genesis of this idea came from Monmouth Park's food truck festival, where Shane savaged a turkey, stuffing, cranberry sauce and gravy spudwich. I tried it and can vouch for its tastiness.

We'll pick up the turkey (Costco has a good pre-cooked breast that just needs warming), do the skins and sub rolls and, with all of the byproducts of gutting a few dozen spuds, mashed potatoes.

If anyone has good Thanksgiving dishes, feel free to contribute. We could use stuffing (veggie or sausage) and gravy, in particular.  Desserts and drinks, of course, are welcome.  Bourbon might be involved.

Anyway, keep the chatter going in the comment field below, and please note what you can contribute to the Thanksgiving-themed spread.



Thursday, November 10, 2016

RU-Indiana recap in pictures

BREP in the classic red body suit directing the convoy into the black lot - Sadly, an IPhone was hurt in the filming  
Raising the BREPNation tailgate flag  - reminiscent of the Iwo Jima photo  
TCB - Chris and Scott cooking up the omelettes while Basil ponders his cheese of choice 
The traditional throwing away of money on the 50/50 to the Dance team - Will one of us ever win?
The return of "Wash U"s after a long absence  - Can we finally get Eric a Rutgers jacket? It's been ten years!!
The group shot of our tailgate missing the one person who took the photo......
'Po Boy Adam, exhausted from his photographer duties 
Welcome Morgan to the BrepNation RU tailgate experience 
A dismayed Eric pondering where it all went wrong for Rutgers - We should have won!!! 
The possible end of an era  - Could the quads have attended their last Rutgers game together?