Morgantown, WV, is the home to West Virginia Mountaineers. On Saturdays in the fall this tiny mountain town’s population explodes as thousands of WVU fans from across the state and country make the trip to Milan Puskar Stadium. When the a stadium becomes the largest city in the state, there is no doubt that you will find a great tailgating scene! Here is what to expect when tailgating at West Virginia.
Tailgaters across the country all put their own unique spin on the dishes they serve. What I found in Morgantown was no different. I was at WVU for an 8pm kickoff against LSU. This brought with it plenty of menus having a cajun or LSU theme. Across the tailgating lots there was no shortage of gumbos, red beans and rice, and jambalaya.
This group of WVU fans fully embraced the “eating the competition” theme by offering up an assortment of Tiger themed dishes.
Tiger Nuts were bite sized chicken biscuits, Tiger Stew was a chili, and Tiger Pee was a large container full of Hurricanes! In addition to eating the competition, WVU fans had plenty of school spirit in their dishes.
Check out these blue and gold jello shots that were in the shape of the state.
Even these cookies were given a blue and gold touch with specially ordered M&Ms.
From the food to the beverage containers, WVU fans would show their blue and gold pride wherever they could!
On the grills you could find anything from these bacon wrapped jalapenos…
to chilli dogs…
to coconut lime shrimp with asparagus and mushrooms!
This group of tailgaters had an assortment of classy appetizers
including a shrimp cocktail, vegetable pizza and green onions wrapped in cured beef and cream cheese!
Of all the food that I saw while tailgating at WVU, the most popular was the pepperoni roll.
Amy, a tailgater who introduced me to the roll, sent me the history of the dish.
” The pepperoni roll is a snack popular in West Virginia. It is ubiquitous in W.V., particularly in grocery bakeries and convenience stores, and is arguably the food most closely associated with the state.
The pepperoni roll was invented in Fairmont, West Virginia, in 1927 The rolls originated as a lunch option for the coal miners of north-central West Virginia in the first half of the 20th century. These tasty treats were perfect for the miners since no refrigeration was needed and they could be packed for their lunches. This would keep the miners fed during their long days inside the deep mines so that they wouldn’t have to leave for food.
A pepperoni roll is a few thin slices of pepperoni baked in a soft, golden oval of slightly sweet dough. They aren’t ‘bready’ and they aren’t tough and hard like pizza crust. Pepperoni grease seeps out of the ends of the roll as it’s baked, leaving an orangish-red soft spot in the bread. They are great while warm & usually eaten by hand.”
I had never had a pepperoni roll before, but I must say that they are so simple and yet so delicious! They are a perfect tailgating food.
When visiting Morgantown for a gameday, you must bring your blue and gold. In Morgantown, you won’t find the sundresses and button down tailgating attire that you see in the south.
WVU fans opt for the t-shirt and jersey attire. Any T-shirt or jersey is fine, as long as it is gold, blue, or white!
These were the two most common shirts that I saw. There were a couple where the L in luck was replaced with a different letter. I will let you figure out what that letter was.
This was the funniest shirt that I saw.
This game was against LSU, so there were plenty of shirts that has a “disrespect” the tigers theme.
There were plenty of tailgaters who decided to wear a certain type of hat on their heads.
The coon skin cap!
This fan decided to dress from head to tow in blue and gold.
These fans decided that shirts weren’t enough to contain their school pride.
and went with the body paint route.
There are many places to tailgate across the WVU campus. The largest spot is the Blue lot. This is a pass lot where you have to have acquired a pass prior to gameday.
The lot is located between the stadium and the hospital. On weekdays, this lot is used by the hospital, but in Saturdays in the fall, it is transformed into a sea of blue and gold. Here is a little bit of an idea of what to expect to see in the Blue Lot on gameday.
With thousands dressed in blue and gold, The Blue Lot is definitely an impressive scene.
At most college football tailgates, there is a procession of the players as they arrive to the game. In 2011, WVU brought this tradition to their pregame festivities. They call their walk the Mountaineer Mantrip. The Mantrip runs on an asphalt road between the blue and light blue lots. About 2 hours before kickoff, the Mountaineers will make their way to the stadium. Thousands of fans line either side of the path and cheer the players as they come through the tailgating lots and walk up a hill into the stadium. I suggest you get there early. Around 3 hours prior to kickoff, fans will begin to line up and get their spot. Here is a glimpse of what this walk looks like.
At the top of the hill and right inside the stadium is a 350lb block of coal that the players rub as they walk in. This coal came from the Upper Big Branch mine. It is there in memory of the 29 miners lost their lives on April 5, 2010. In continuing with the mining theme, the walk is called the Mantrip. At a coal mine, the mantrip is a shuttle that takes miners in and out of the mine. This tradition is still very new to WVU fans, but after seeing it first hand, I believe it is one that will become a lasting tradition.
For more information on gameday in Morgantown check out the tailgating resources section. Thank you again to all the tailgaters I met in Morgantown for your hospitality and showing me a great time!
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