Labor Day Weekend in Dallas felt as if I stepped back in time to my senior year of college.
Wisconsin Badgers, my alma mater, faced off against the Crimson Tide for the first football game of the season on Saturday, reuniting many members of our rec ultimate frisbee team and several "Badger Short Bus Brigade" members (more on that later).
I'd never been to Dallas before, but to be honest, I still feel as if I haven't been to Dallas. On Friday, each of us steadily arrived and enjoyed time we'll spent in the pool. Flabangos and flip cup are a natural occurrence for this bunch, so of course the games began with no time to waste.
Flabango: plastic, pink lawn flamingo turned upside down into a beer bong. Pour into the stomach and drink through the beak. UNO, DOS, TRES, FLABANGO!
Flip Cup: I hope I don't have to explain this one... In short: solo cup, drink, flip, beat the other team.
After dinner at a casual Mexican place in Uptown that could amazingly, immediately seat a party of 16 people, we hit a couple bars to get us ready for game day. DJs didn't miss a beat and snagged the opportunity to play opposing team songs. Jump Around for us and Sweet Home Alabama for them. First we went to Kung Fu - which apparently hosts karaoke during slower nights. Free ski ball and cup holders in the bathroom stalls is what I took away from that stop. Across the street is "6th Street Bar." I liked the vibes here better, although the DJ could have been better. Sweaty and ready to get cowboy boots off of my broken foot, some of us headed out to get our party sleep for tailgating.
Saturday morning, bright eyed and ready to take on the day, my friend Christine made an amazing breakfast before we hit the pool. Gradually, everyone joined us and flabango and games pursued. Our group of 20 got ready in our red & white striped bibs and temporary tattoos before boarding our party bus to Arlington and the awaiting football game. Here is where I should pause to explain about the "Badger Short Bus Brigade." Several of our friends in college were part owners or frequent attenders. They organized tailgates and away game arrangements. I bring this up because some traditions from the short bus carried over into our rental party bus. Everyone received a challenge to tackle during the tailgate or game. Flabangos continued (notice a trend yet?), ice breakers completed, and general roudiness filled the air.
We deboarded the bus at AT&T Stadium and immediately ran into another group of 20 or so Badger fans sporting red, zip up jumpsuits. Naturally, we joined forces briefly to start off tailgating right. More flabangos. More flip cup. Push up competitions. Shenanigans.
My parents also attended the game and had set up a true, Wisconsinite tailgate. You've never been tailgating unless you've experienced it properly prepared by a Wisconsin fan (Badgers, Packers, or Brewers). Tents, grills, brats, pasta salad, flip cup, drinks of all colors, and of course cheese. Oh yes, and flabongos. We even got some Alabama fans in on the fun.
Of course, the game was about to begin, so we went inside. AT&T is a great stadium. Huge. Clean. Badgers lost. Sad.
Party bus back to Dallas was a little quieter than the ride there.
Not to worry - flabangos and flip cup resumed poolside the following day.
No comments:
Post a Comment
Please share your thoughts!