Get ready for the 2016 RU season!!! It's going to be B1G!!

Food Blog Sneak Peek

     Dearest viewers,

I, BRES, have decided to get everyone pumped up for the 2016-2017 Rutgers season (I really should have waited a bit longer though). I just want to put something out there. I have decided to create a food post section of BREP-Nation. This may OR may not happen, I'm just putting the idea out there.

So, RU fans, are you hungry? (I am).

                    -Shane (BRES)

Remember When: 2006 Texas Bowl

The RU crew pregame in a downtown Houston bar 

From time to time, the research team here at BREPNation.com will dig into the archives to find memorable trips and tailgates from Rutgers seasons past to look back on. As we are without a bowl game to attend this year, we look back to the end of the storied 2006 season when a 10-2 Rutgers team went to Houston to face Kansas State in the inaugural Texas Bowl.  Hard to believe it has been nine years since our tailgating crew went on their first bowl game in mass, planting the seeds that would grow into our current twenty plus group.

Welcome to the Nudie Dome!

At the time of this trip, there was no BREP concept, BRES was 3 years old,  and our group had 3 season tickets that year. The anticipation of possibly seeing Rutgers first bowl victory EVER in the football program's then 137 year history, as well as playing at the brand new Reliant Stadium, was too much to pass up. Basil was also flush with ideas on how to renovate the adjacent, recently vacated Astrodome (another story for another time). It was a cool experience to stay in the same hotel as the team with most of the rooms taken by RU fans, and we even got to share an elevator ride with Randall, the Rutgers alum who won The Apprentice that year.

Waiting for a ride 

Camped out in the Rutgers Alumni tent

After spending some time in  downtown Houston having a few cocktails, we took to the Houston rails to get over to the Rutgers Alumni tent to get fired up for the big game.

What is bowl game without Gun Ho? 

Group shot outside the stadium 

On our way into the stadium we ran into possibly the #1 Rutgers fans we know. It truly wouldn't have been a a big game if Dennis's parents weren't there, (obviously without Dennis). Bill also did  a great job of getting us club level access seating. 

The group settled into our box seats 

The RU team didn't disappoint, putting up a memorable performance in front of a sea of Scarlet clad fans who made the trip for a cap to a great football season.

RUTGERS FINISHES 2006 SEASON RANKED NO. 12!!!!

Rutgers- Maryland Tailgate - Part 2: The Season Ending Tailgate

The year ending group shot of the BREPNation.com crew at our final 2015 tailgate 

Getting it all set up in the Black lot 

 As the BREPNation.com tailgating crew took to the Black lot for our season ending tailgate for the Rutgers-Maryland match up, the morning started with very favorable weather for a breakfast buffet. It was the start of a day of highs and lows for the crew. Little did we know that after a great half of football by the Scarlet Knights, the Terrapins would come alive in the second half as an unstoppable offensive machine to get even with RU for the dramatic comeback win we had in College Park to end the 2014 campaign. It would also be the end of Kyle Flood's tenure as head coach, and culminating in the firing of both Flood AD Julie Hermann the next day.    

Tantooing Welcome to the B1G (2014)

BRES and the King - 2015!

For several years our group (and in particular BRES) has had a fascination with Rutgers Fan/Tantoo Artist (and apparently also damaged goods), the one and only King of Sandy Hook!

A somewhat apprehensive BRES with his gift!

 Not only were we treated by the presence of the King at our tailgate, we were transfixed on his every word as he told us of his Xanax fueled adventures, recent incarcerations, and the dangers of being a tantoo artist. After finishing the tales of his exploits and having a brew to go on his way, the king treated his biggest fan with a "Birthday" gift T Shirt. Yes, BRES, Believe!

 The spirited corn hole action was ongoing for the bulk of the tailgate, started by a heated battle between the Next Gen and the Old Guys, with the youngsters coming out on top. The fiery match ups continued right up to the end of the tailgate, with bags in the air right up to kickoff!
 

 Unfortunately, all good things must come to an end, and we must now look forward to next year with a new head coach and a new athletic director to hopefully lead us in a new winning direction. Thank you very much for the 2015 season BREPNation.com tailgaters! You have inspired us for the last magnificent 7 tailgates. You have excelled in your corn hole competitions. You have shared your emotions with us and the whole RU world. You have celebrated victory with dignity, and accepted defeat with dignity. I declare the 2015 Rutgers tailgating season closed. In accordance with tradition, I call upon the youth of the world (and BREPNation.com) to assemble 9 months from now in the parking lots of Piscataway to celebrate with us the 2016 Rutgers football season!

The end of the season marked by our leader ceremonially putting away the official tailgate flags

Rutgers- Maryland Tailgate - Part 1: The Presentation

September 2014: The christening of BRES

For the first game of the 2014 Rutgers season, a presentation was made to Shane that was the embryo that eventually led to the creation of this website. This presentation, capture in the photo to the left taken by Chris, was a framed proclamation with the following words:

Shane:

You have been promoted. As can be seen below, from your early years, you have shown great promise in your endeavors as a Scarlet Knights football fan. There can be no doubt that your blood runs Rutgers Red (as genetically given to you by your alumni father). You have also been recognized for your amazing touch football diagrams, play calling, and unquestioned Corn hole bean bag ability. You continue to impress the youth of Scarlet Nation on an ongoing basis by your commitment to pre-game tailgating excellence. Enclosed are the tools you will need for your new position. By the powers vested in me by Rutgers, THE State University of New Jersey, The B1G Ten Conference, D.G Yuengling & Sons, Inc. & Elvis Presley Enterprises, you are now formally known as: 

B1G Red Elvis Servant

November 2015: The moment captured in bobble heads!

Little did I know that over a year later this presentation would later be captured in a detailed bobbling plastic figurine given to me as a gift to commemorate this moment.  I cannot express enough to the Holobowski family how much this kind gesture means to me. This wonderful personal gift is one that I will always treasure.     

Thanks again,

BREP  

The bobble head presentation

The Finale: Maryland vs. Rutgers @ Noon on Saturday

First, everyone have a Happy Thanksgiving, and if you've got nowhere to go you're always welcome to roll by our house in Tinton Falls; just RSVP and be here by 3 p.m.

Otherwise, what better way to wrap up the season and send Kyle Federico (similar to several of his FG tries and kickoffs) exit stage left along with his fellow seniors...and probably Coach Flood...than with a tailgate for the finale this Saturday at noon vs. winless (in the B1G) Maryland!

If lobster can go with eggs...
so can Maryland crab!

The forecast is for a slight chance of occasional showers, but for all intents and purposes it's going to be relatively mild and conducive to a final gathering for our wonderful group.  

Really, there's nothing more to be thankful for this season than your great company, as evidenced by the successful rollout of our blog and the fun-filled photos and dialogue on this otherwise drab football season.

As traffic should be light getting into what I'm expecting will be a half-empty stadium, I'll propose meeting at 9 a.m. at our usual spot.

I'm also going to propose a breakfast tailgate and will offer to make 2 "Jersey Shore Tomato" casseroles (one with crab instead of Taylor Ham to comply with our Maryland food theme and the other with veggies).  If people aren't up for that, please offer suggestions for what to eat.

If we do the breakfast theme, we could use home fries, bagels, etc., so mention what you'll bring and how many people you're bringing.  

If anyone's bailing, please speak up, but figure at least Kaitlyn, Shane and I being there Saturday morning to cheer on the Scarlet Knights!

Tailgate Recap: Rutgers-Nebraska

The group gets together for a picture towards the end of the tailgate 

Although down our leader, and missing the emotional lifeblood and concierge

Tom, Andy, Nebraska Sue and her husband

of our tailgate (BRES) as well as a few other key members (JC, Donna, Chris, etc.), BREP Nation once again took to the Black lot to put together a solid (if abbreviated) tailgate experience. Joining us in the lot was Andy, an RU alum and former WRSU Knightline co host with Tom & Bill. Andy also brought along Nebraska Sue and her husband, who while rooting for the wrong red clad team, contributed some excellent wings and awesome red velvet gourmet cupcakes.

Good Guys vs. Bad Girls 

The corn hole matches were spirited and very competitive, with the Good Guys and the Bad Girls squaring off in a tough grudge match, the Good Guys narrowly escaping with a slim margin of victory (Clearly someone had been practicing!). The walk into the stadium also featured several armored military vehicles on display in honor of our veterans, with the scalpers out in full force with NO ticket takers to be found. Unfortunately, Rutgers fell behind early, and despite a nice rally early in the third quarter, were no match for the Cornhuskers on this day.

BREP Nation poses with an armored vehicle in front of the stadium 

A scalper trying to unload all his tickets - GOOD LUCK!!! 

The group in our seats looking directly into the sun for the first quarter. Wasn't much that was good to see for RU anyway!