It's Almost Here!!

So. This week was - finally - time to start talking tailgate again!! This little Hokie fan could not be happier! We are just over 2 weeks away from the glory that is Hokie football (& tailgate!!) season. I believe we've squared away our awesome tailgate spot again. Now comes the good stuff - planning the 'gate! I'll be back when we've got some more deets...but until then, Kiddies, just rest assured in the fact that we do not open against a high profile team on the road. No! It's 'no place like home' time for us this season!! I, for one, couldn't be happier! The sooner I get my arse to Blacksburg, the happier I will be. So. With that, I will sign off for now. Be back in a few days with a more detailed off season wrap-up & preview of the upcoming Good Times! Go Hokies!!

--FP

Next Season

And, in the least surprising news ever category, VT announces that it will kickoff the season at 12:30, September 3rd against Appalachian State. I am shocked, SHOCKED, I tell you!

This is me trying really hard to find the upside, any upside, to this scenario.

...

...

...

More post-game tailgate time???

Ooooohkay. (quit twisting my arm!) 12:30 will be alright then. ;-)

Go Hokies!


--FP

Treats!

Spring Game was absolutely fan-freaking-tastic. Major shout-outs to all the regular tailgate folks who made it for the "event." (Rachael, myself, and April, of course; but also Wendy, Alex, Amanda, Dwayne, Ashley - minus her gambling fiancee', and the Roberts clan - Trey, Tommy, and Peggy!) It was beautiful weather and I know I can speak for y'all here - it was definitely a Good Time!

Just wanted to share a couple of tidbits for the upcoming season, to get the blood pumping and excitement brewing!! Check this out!!

The new audio for the tailgate. Mr. FunPusher really came through for my birthday! A portable PA system, with built-in Ipod dock, complete with a microphone. OH YEAH!!! Can this be more perfect for me???

And! For those post-game dance parties! A Disco Ball! We are all set now, ladies and gents!

Let's go, Hokies!!

--FP

I Need a Tailgate...STAT!

Well…hello there Hokie fans and fellow tailgaters! Long time, no see! It’s been another long offseason (and it ain’t over yet, bleh), punctuated by yet another snub from the NCAA basketball tournament (always a bridesmaid, never the bride…sniffle). [Sidebar: I would not put it past Greenberg to sue the NCAA next season. Or launch some kind of crackpot conspiracy investigation. Come on, Greenie...I love you, but we all know why we didn't get in...you can't beat #1 and then mail in your last two games like we did! #JustWin]

But, you can take a step toward erasing that dreadful "here we go again" feeling that came from the crushing Orange Bowl loss to Stanford. (Can we please ban the orange helmets??) All it takes to set things back on the right track is a little (er, or a lot of) tailgating in Blacksburg this weekend! (Can I get an amen!!) VT is concluding its spring football practice with the annual Maroon and White game, at 2pm on Saturday. And you know the Gurus will be there, in full effect...Holla!

We've said good-bye to a lot of great Hokie players – Tyrod Taylor, Darren Evans, Ryan Williams, John Graves and others – but that just means we’ve got room for the new guys we’ll come to love watching in the Maroon and Orange.

Not to mention all of the coaching changes that took place this offseason. The Beam’s been busy!! But, I like it. It's a new chapter in VT football. New Coaches; new QB; new energy and new blood. Same Goal. Championships. Period.

SO. If you REALLY need an excuse to come hang out with friends and tailgate in Blacksburg (who ARE you people??), say you need to come check out the newbies and the old favorites. If that doesn’t get you, how’s about Good Times with good friends, food, and tunes?

Not to mention, is it completely inappropriate that I cannot wait to be where it is socially acceptable to drink beer at 9am??? I LOVE TAILGATES!

We’ll be there and you KNOW you want to join! You don’t want to be that person everyone talks about because they didn’t show up. (Because we totally do that shizz.) Peer pressure. Ain't it the greatest??

The Plan has been put into motion. Gonna get there early so we can tailgate in the Big Boy (read: Mondo Contributor) lot and be close to the awesome bathrooms. Come on by and join the party!

Go Hokies!! Thanks for giving us a reason to tailgate!! (And, something to tide me over until September!)

-FP

Pause, and Reflect

This.

Dear Santa...

Please bring the Hokies an Orange Bowl victory! I know we're wearing orange helmets (and this, admittedly, makes me nervous...our other attempts at wild uniform combinations haven't exactly fared well), but we've gotta send Tyrod and the other 15 seniors out with a win...

SO. Santa. You've gotta get those little elves fired up, get 'em working their magic (heck, get Rudolph involved if you have to) and let the good guys win against the Cardinal.

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year from the Gurus! May all your holiday wishes come true! (including that Hokie win!)

Go HOKIES!!

-FP

Mike London = the new Al Groh

Man, it always feels good to spank UVA. Although, it sure would feel better if we were actually beating a college football team. I think they’re actually dressing up a bunch of pee-wee kids; this makes for a rather lopsided “rivalry.” I mean, jeez, the last few years we’ve been reduced to inventing rivalries with UNC or Georgia Tech because those are more competitive games. Come on, UVA…make this game something, other than another reason to snooze after Thanksgiving turkey.

And, on that note, another (tailgating) season has come to a close. Now it’s on to the ACC Championship Game and, hopefully, the Orange Bowl. Sadly, I will not be attending either event. (I sense your shock…) Instead, I will be living room tailgating which, although it sounds like a completely laid-back way to watch a game, always stresses me out. For some completely nutty reason, I have it in my head that I can “help” the team if I’m in the stands. (Don’t ask.) Anyway, it was a crazy season and we had a lot of fun, no doubt. I’m extremely proud of this year’s squad for rebounding after such a crummy start. Tyrod Taylor is definitely one of my all-time favorite VT players for the way he has handled himself on and off the field; truly representing what Virginia Tech is all about. We will miss you, TT!

Let me tell you though, not only am I proud of the team, I’m proud of us tailgaters. We weathered those losses right there with the team, but man, did we look cute doing it!

Rachael and I tailgating before the Boise State game at FedEx Field to kick off the season.

The Gurus trying to make the most of a miserably wet day.

That day just got worse when we lost to JM-freaking-U.

And then WE rebounded and rocked the tailgate – new tunes, new gear (who doesn’t love the pop-up VT trash can??), and lots of new Good Times.

The Ladies of the Tailgate, doing one of MANY pictures.

MWAH

Madonna and Hermoine for Halloween and the Duke game (we tailgate everywhere).

Gurus and brother before the Georgia Tech game.

We never did get that RV setup together for the tailgate…although I think we have a plan of attack for next season; I’m already percolating on how to make next season’s experience even better. (I think it involves…amplification…)

We take on FSU this weekend; a team that’s been a bit of a monkey on our backs over the last decade or so. I am certainly no Xs and Os person, so if you want that sort of thing, try here. What I will say is that I am impressed with the character of this VT team. When things aren’t going their way in a game, they don’t give up…they continue to fight and often fight harder. This would be a big game to win. It puts us in the BCS Orange Bowl; it gives us the ACC Championship – and completes a perfect season in ACC play; but most importantly, it’s a step toward winning the “big” games. This team has shown me they’re plenty full of the heart to do it.

Let’s GO!!