West Virginia's not far from heaven

Wild and wonderful.

There isn't a state in the union that has more of an appropriate state motto as West Virginia or a town that encompasses said motto as well as Morgantown.

From the moment my friend and I arrived on campus, we knew we were in for a brand-new experience.

We parked at a church a little more than a mile from the stadium. Armed with nothing but a fifth of Seagrams 7 and a large Sierra Mist from a gas station, we soon began our trek to meet up with friends.

We reached their tailgate in the parking lot of an AT&T store with the campus perched atop a mountain on the horizon. The tailgating scene was pretty simplistic, mostly just beer and finger foods with some lawn chairs all held together by a truck bed or two.

Read More: http://www.lsureveille.com/sports/body-shots-west-virginia-s-not-far-from-heaven-1.2638879

College Football 2011: The 10 Best Tailgating Spots in the Country

When the Fall semester begins in August, the art of college football tailgating will once again take over the stadium parking lots and campus courtyards across the country when the 2011 season kicks off in September.

The pageantry of college football comes out well before the games start as it extends to the pregame where the campus' are littered with people grilling out on a warm Saturday morning to the ceremonial walks that certain programs conduct on the way across the campus to the stadiums.

No matter the stadium size or how good the school is during a given year, tailgating is an essential part in the world of college football across the country that differentiates the college from the pro game, and the teams are like extended families during the fall.  

With that, let's check out the places that know how to tailgate better than any other student body on a Saturday game day.

Clemson Tigers
Location: Clemson, SC

Student Body: 15,000-plus

Even though the Tigers haven't enjoyed a great deal of success in recent years on the football field, the Clemson fans have been solid year in, year out being recognized as some of the nicest in the country with the tailgating that goes on outside and nearby Death Valley.

LSU Tigers

Location: Baton Rouge, LA

Student Body: 25,000-plus

While the atmosphere isn't the best for a visiting team, the tailgating for those who are rooting for the Bayou Bengals is an amazing experience with the famous Louisiana cuisine made outside the RV's and other vehicles that make the pilgrimage to Tiger Stadium.

Ole Miss Rebels

Location: Oxford, MS

Student Body: 15,000-plus

There are not many places across the college football tailgating landscape that can compare to The Grove on Ole Miss' campus on a game day. People have been known to set up their stop at the beautiful location at five or six in the morning on a Saturday.

Florida Gators

Location: Gainesville, FL

Student Body: 50,000-plus

With the most picturesque scenery of this list, the Florida Gators'  tailgate festivities throughout the year are lead by the annual Gator Growl, one of the biggest student tailgates in college football, at the Swamp headlined by different celebrities and musical acts during homecoming week

Tennessee Volunteers

Location: Knoxville, TN

Student Body: 27,000-plus

With a fan base so strong that it has a navy that floats down the adjacent Tennessee River, the Volunteers have some of the best tailgates in the Eastern Tennessee city. The people are very hospitable, just like many other SEC and southern football programs in the country, in addition to some of the best food on a game day morning on a Saturday.

Texas A&M Aggies

Location: College Station, TX

Student Body: 46,000-plus

Deep in the heart of Texas, the folks that have the most unique pregame tradition are in College Station as they start at midnight before a game day with the "Midnight Yell," where students will pack Kyle Field and practice screaming for the big game on Saturday or the Grove for a road game during the season.

Oklahoma Sooners

Location: Norman, OK

Student Body: 29,000-plus

As the Crimson and Cream masses gather on a Saturday to root on the Sooners, Lindsey and Jenkins street in Norman will welcome tailgaters for the game-day experience before Oklahoma takes the field in front of the crowd at Memorial Stadium.

West Virginia Mountaineers
Location: Morgantown, WV

Student Body: 29,000-plus

For many years, WVU has been well known for its tailgating prowess across college football outside Mountaineer Field in the infamous Blue Lot as much as for the success that the Mountaineers' football program has enjoyed in the previous decade.

Georgia Bulldogs

Location: Athens, GA

Student Body: 34,000-plus

When the sea of red and black flows into Athens, Ga., fans will set up their tailgates,  in some cases nearly 10 hours before kickoff, most notably at Reed Alley to the north and Oconee Hill Cemetery to the east of Sanford Stadium.

Alabama Crimson Tide

Location: Tuscaloosa, AL

Student Body: 30,000-plus

For the Crimson Tide faithful on game days, the Quad and Dreamland Ribs are some of the most iconic tailgating venues in the college football. The Alabama fans will gather at those places before heading toward the massive Bryant-Denny Stadium that will house more than 100,00 fans on a Saturday afternoon.

http://bleacherreport.com/articles/648683-college-football-2011-the-10-best-tailgating-spots-in-the-country

Country Roads, Take Me Home: WVU Tailgate Van

John Stimer, who is one of our readers, and a giant West Virginia Football fan, sent us this 1988 Ford E150 Econoline Conversion Tailgate Van. Even though it is well over 20 years old, there are only 88,000 miles on the original engine, and it was actually bought for $1,800, which is a steal with that many miles.

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