Tusk to Tail: Prepping for the Flames and the rain

Wow, what a whirlwind of a month. The Hogs have played eight games over the last nine weeks and so far I’ve been fortunate enough to make each one, plus a little extra.

I’ve been in Fayetteville, Dallas, Nashville for work, Starkville, Salt Lake City, Little Rock for Chris Stapleton, Chicago for work, and finally Auburn. In the end, it was worth it. We had some great trips with our family of fans.

The team seems to have found its legs for this stretch run of home games and the final game in Columbia, Mo. The offense is moving the ball and the defense is playing well against the run, but still struggling against the pass. However, the teams we have left to play are not prolific passing teams. Let’s hope the Razorbacks can force them into passing situations and they can’t execute.

The kick-off for this week is 3 p.m. Early in the week, rain is still predicted but it looks to be more of a Friday night event, clearing out on Saturday. Let’s hope that holds true. You might consider a little straw placement at your tailgate this week to help with any mud or soft ground that will turn to mud after several hours of tailgating. Be prepared to add some walls or tarps to protect electronics as well. Lastly, keep in mind the traffic around the stadium will be shut down at 11 a.m. on Saturday.

We don’t have a chef this week so we will stick with what’s easy: pulled pork and chicken fingers. I’m not sure what would really pair well with Liberty’s Flame mascot anyway. In addition, it’s about this time that you need to begin trying to work through your stocks of supplies. See what can stretch out for these last three home games and what you will have to buy or live without. Keep in mind that we already know next week’s LSU game will be a breakfast game, so that’s a rather short tailgate.

Looking back at Auburn and our drive home we got to thinking about travel and next year’s schedule. The big road trip will be Florida. We’ve never tailgated there or seen a win there thanks to the SEC officiating crews. Perhaps 2023 will be the year.

That game is scheduled for Nov. 4. Most hotels will allow you to reserve rooms about a year out, so by Friday of this week you might consider booking rooms for that or any of the other great road trips. LSU is in September (hot & humid but a fun trip), with the trip to Arlington right behind it. Bama and Ole Miss are in October as well, on back to back weekends. Both are great trips and easy drives with great food options.

Go Hogs, Beat Flames!

Editor’s note: Now in its 11th year, Tusk to Tail is the sport of tailgating as organized, performed and perfected by a group of Hog fans who have been tailgating together sober and otherwise for more than a decade. The primary focus of Tusk to Tail will be to follow the Hogs through the fans’ perspective with their insightful, irreverent, smart-alecky and sometimes practical style. The diehards may also be followed on their Facebook page. Or follow the crew on Twitter and Instagram, all @TuskToTail.