backYARD at Waller Creek is a favorite place to tailgate with Austin locals (Credit: Monika Pawlak)

In Texas, football is a way of life. If you aren’t from here or just arrived, I’m sure it’s been a culture shock. But for native Texans, the obsession typically begins before middle school and swells until it’s all-consuming in high school. Depictions on screen, like “Friday Night Lights” and “Varsity Blues,” have even been created to capture the obsessive cultural phenomenon which gave birth to game day battle cries like “Texas Forever” and “Clear Eyes. Full Hearts. Can’t Lose.”

On any given fall Saturday in Austin, you can witness the phenomenon first-hand. Observing it is how you know fall has officially arrived because, let’s face it, it’s still 90 degrees in September around here. Take note when the cooling waters of Barton Springs become less crowded, and South Congress and Lady Bird Lake become so much like a ghost town that you have to stop and ask yourself, “Where is everybody?” The answer is: watching college football. In fact, local restaurants, bars, and The University of Texas football stadium pack to capacity every Saturday to cheer on the beloved Longhorns.

So, if you are new to Texas football culture or want insider tips on how to tailgate like a local in Austin, then here’s an expert guide. [Read more…]