October 2, 2010 all will be right in the world of Bo Herrington.  Florida plays at Alabama, matching up two top 5 teams in what promises to be a slug fest of epic proportions.  Having grown up in Florida and gone to school in Alabama, this day features two of my favorite programs and perhaps my favorite tailgating location in the SEC.  The quad at Alabama is a smorgasbord of food, drinks, football fanatics, and yard games that are just as competitive as the game that will be played inside Bryant-Denney Stadium.  I have attended a hand full of games here over the past few years, and no experience can match up with a Dr Chad McElroy tailgate.  I have always considered myself a football crazed individual with the utmost respect for those with similar mindsets, but also a keen eye on ways to improve my gameday experience.  Enter Dr McElroy, his incredible tailgate setup and the Denny Chimes of Alabama.

The quad is a giant field with the greenest grass in the state of Alabama.  As far as the eye can see crimson and white tailgate tents are lined up, waving their Alabama flags.  To call this setup a tailgate is insulting to these fans, most third world countries would die to have homes this nice.  Pull up with a tent and a cooler here, and you will be laughed at and sent back to Auburn University to tailgate with the rest of the lower class population.  These tents each feature there own generator, satellite dish, big screen tv, electric fans, and food that resembles most Thanksgiving dinners.  This is more than a tailgate, this is southern elitism at its finest.  Beautiful women wearing sundresses, their finest pearls, and designer glasses are a dime a dozen.  The men are glued to the tv’s as they sip on their ice cold beers, pulled from their crimson coolers.  During commercials the men play beer pong, while the ladies cheer them on.  The tailgate is just as much of an event as the game itself.

Dr McElroy’s tailgate features catered bbq from Dreamland, I would challenge anyone to find better ribs in the entire country.  It is harder to get into this tailgate than a free Justin Beiber concert at a local middle school.  Invitations are reserved for family and friends, where I am fortunate enough to call myself a little bit of both.  Entrance for the women often requires their finest hor d’oeuvres, these are not purchased at the grocery store on the way to the game, but home made pieces of heaven.  The men bring the standard case of beer and tailgate chairs that recline.  The dessert is non other than red velvet cake, crimson red that is.  Everyone eats as they sit around the tv in anticipation of the Nick Saban interview.  As busy as this place is, it will go completely silent when the Saban interview comes on.  Fans hang on every word, paying closer attention to the words of Saban than those of their preachers on Sunday morning.

A Saturday at the University of Alabama, is like no Saturday you will ever experience.  LSU has night games, Ole Miss has The Grove, UT has Neyland, and Florida has the Swamp.  While each of those is special in its own right, none can hold a candle to The Quad at Alabama.  Rumor has it that Hank Williams, Jr was referring to the Quad when he said the following:

“If heaven ain’t a lot like Dixie, I don’t wanna go
If heaven ain’t a lot like Dixie, I’d just as soon stay home”