 
McAlister’s Deli Tailgate Style:
Tail-gating in Tennessee is kind of a big deal. Whether you are pre-gaming from your backyard, inviting friends over to watch the game, or spending your Saturday at your reserved spot on campus; prep and planning is a must. That’s where McAlister’s Deli comes in. I have really never been more impressed than I was when picking up my order for last weekend’s tailgate. Upon arrival, my order was ready 5 minutes early, placed in a designated pickup area, and the trays were even shrink wrapped together to ensure that no issues occurred during transport.
I was also incredibly impressed with the assortment. From the sandwich tray, to the amazing salad, and even the deserts everything was truly delicious. Our family seriously enjoyed every single thing and it made over-coming the terrible Florida loss a little more bearable. (We may have drowned their sorrows in brownies afterward; just saying!)
I’ve always been more of a tail-gate girl that a football game girl. I think it all happened when I was visiting colleges. For as long as I could remember, I had decided I hated Tennessee. A big factor in that was the fact that I hated high school and wanted to get as far away from home as possible after college. We didn’t really have family that went to UT. Most of my family is from up north and let’s be honest; football isn’t a thing there. NFL, yes. College football? That’s a hard no.
Visiting Georgia my senior year made me fall in love with tail-gates. This was during the era of David Pollack and coach Richt in all his glory in Sanford Stadium. It was heaven. Knoxville is a much larger city than Athens, so the true tiny college town feel was so new to me. I fell in love. Things have surely changed since.
Knoxville is now one of my favorite places, I love the comradery surrounding Tennessee Athletics, and I love a good tailgate in G10. I’m not quite what you would call a typical VFL (vol for life), but I sure can yell GBO with the best of them!
Tailgate Tips:
-Plan Ahead: The schedule for the season comes out mid-summer. Start planning which games
you want to watch at home and which you will attend. This will also inform you of home and
away games plus your bi-weeks. We usually attend 2-3 games per season (sometimes I go with
Luke and sometimes he goes with a friend). For the other games, hosting at home and inviting
friends over really is so much fun. Those November games get chilly and hosting at home could
be a much better alternative.
-Cater: Options like this amazing tailgate package from McAlister’s Deli will save you so
much time and allow you to really enjoy the day. With options like fresh salads, sandwiches,
deserts, and beverages you are covered from start to finish. McAlister’s sweet tea is truly the
best I’ve ever had without question.
-Decorate: Keep a stock of decorations pulled together to pull out for your get-togethers. Pompoms,
signage, banners, and more will help set the mood and make your get together so much
more festive. Having it all together makes everything seamless as well. You can just pull out the
tote each time you head out to your campus lot space or just your living room. It will all be in
one place right where you left it.
-Have fun: Okay, I get it. You should know to have fun. The truth is though, that most hosts
spend the entirety of their events stressed and running around like crazy. Follow these tips,
enjoy your friends, and pray for a win. That’s all you should have to do during game-time!
I hope you enjoyed this post and will put these tips and tricks to use with your next tailgate!
Make sure to check out McAlister’s Deli for catering for your next event. You won’t regret it!
You can check out McAlister’s here for more information and contact your nearby location for
more details and pricing.
What I’m Wearing:
Tee: My Kind of Lovely c/o
Hat: My Kind of Lovely c/o
Jeans: Necessary Clothing
Booties: Vince Camuto
Earrings: My Kind of Lovely
For some of my old tailgate looks: you can go here and here!
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