For football fans, the tailgate can be great

A diehard University of Illinois fan, Dan Eilts makes sure his chairs and tables used for tailgating are orange and blue to reflect the university’s colors.

Yet the grill he uses is a shade of red no doubt favored by Ohio State, Nebraska and Wisconsin fans. Has Eilts considered painting the device in Fighting Illini colors?

“People have talked about that,” he said.

A trio of northern La Salle County football fans tailgate at U of I and Chicago Bears games did some painting of a different sort — they recently bought a van and decorated it in orange and blue (the college and pro football team share the same colors).

“Tailgating is a social event. You visit and see some of the same people every game,” said rural Leland’s David Fruit, one of the three men who pooled their money in April to purchase the 2007 one-ton Chevrolet van from the Earlville unit school district.

Eilts, Fruit and his pals are two-decade veterans of football tailgating, and agree there’s more to football than what happens on the field inside the stadium.

“I think of the camaraderie of tailgating. … Sitting around, having a few beverages. I enjoy just being there,” said Eilts, whose two children of U of I graduates.

Tailgating is part of the scene before and after kickoff. The U of I opens its parking lots at 7 a.m. the day of each home game, while Bears parking begins four hours prior to game time.

David Fruit, his brother Gerald, of Earlville, and rural Harding resident Jim Farrell stay one or two hours after the conclusion of Illini and Bears games.

“It’s less stressful than leaving right away,” Farrell said.

Now that Farrell and the Fruit brothers have a van to show off, they’re glad to spend plenty of time tailgating.

“We’ve been looking for a bus the last four or five years. We had our eye on this truck. We figured if we cold find one for the right price, we’d invest,” Farrell said

Gerald Fruit describe the vehicle as “a work in progress.” The men hope to outfit it with better seats and a TV.

Before every football game, the Fruit brothers and Farrell load up the van with folding chairs, a tent, cornhole equipment and their food. The edibles usually include chips and salsa, nacho cheese sauce, chicken wings and finger foods.

The Eiltses don’t always go all out for each home game, but when they do they bring burgers, brats, Italian sausage, shrimp, snacks, chips, salsa and sweet treats in their sport utility vehicle.

“Sheila does a lot of stuff behind the scenes. She prepares everything ahead of time so I can pack up the van. We work together as a team,” Dan Eilts said.

Fans who visit the Eilts tailgate have known the family for many years, thanks to tailgating. Many are from Ottawa, while others others are Illini regulars from other communities.

The Eilts SUV always is parked in the same spot southwest of Memorial Stadium. It’s opposite the large U of I marquee sign at Kirby Avenue and First Street by the State Farm Center basketball arena.

“Go to the marquee and look to the southwest. You’ll find us,” Dan Eilts said.

The Fruit brothers and Farrell take family and friends to games, and sometimes meet them outside Soldier Field or Memorial Stadium. They even have been known to offer transportation to fans of opposing teams.

“Taking Packers fans to Bears games? It has happened before,” Gerald Fruit said.

Interacting with opposing fans is part of tailgating.

“You’re friendly with (opposing) fans — until the game starts,” Gerald Fruit noted.

Hanging with friends and fellow fans in a casual atmosphere is what makes tailgating popular, Eilts said.

“I just kind of tell people ‘hey, we’re having a tailgate,’ " he said.

Proper preparation

A successful tailgate includes a lot of elements. Find a checklist, recipes and ideas at tailgatemaster.com.