The insight bowl tailgate was the greatest ever

RU848789

Heisman
Jul 27, 2001
64,376
43,475
113
been to many tailgates at many away games, and many bowl games. But that one stands out. We finally arrived and celebrated like crazy. I still dream of Marley’s jugs.

Agreed. The positive energy around that bowl game was off the charts, mostly due to so many success-starved fans finally getting a small taste of what a successful football program might be like. Made for an amazing party at Jackson's and a helluva game, even though we lost.

I have a pic of Marley's huge "tracts of land" - cut/paste didn't work, though - think I have to host it somewhere and not very knowledgeable on how to do that. Zowie-Bowie is still going strong in Vegas, but he has new, younger singers with him now.

Always wondered if anyone had a pic of @LeapinLou and me (and others) singing the last half of Born to Run into the mic, after they handed it to us.
 

DirtyRU

All-American
Nov 16, 2002
6,506
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Agreed. The positive energy around that bowl game was off the charts, mostly due to so many success-starved fans finally getting a small taste of what a successful football program might be like. Made for an amazing party at Jackson's and a helluva game, even though we lost.

I have a pic of Marley's huge "tracts of land" - cut/paste didn't work, though - think I have to host it somewhere and not very knowledgeable on how to do that. Zowie-Bowie is still going strong in Vegas, but he has new, younger singers with him now.

Always wondered if anyone had a pic of @LeapinLou and me (and others) singing the last half of Born to Run into the mic, after they handed it to us.

Well figure it out A.S.A.P. @RU848789 you lazy son of a gun!!!!! :)
 
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superfan01

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May 29, 2003
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2006 Louisville wasn’t bad. The weather was unseasonably warm that day. Short sleeves. Saw some long haired slacker triple kissing two sorority girls at the same time on top of an RV in the blue lot Guy had to be like 30. What a player. Double kissing two undergrads like that. Unbelievable.
Anyone know the guy and if he posts here? Would love to buy that guy a beer.

@RU Cheese
 
May 1, 2016
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Insight was by far the best overall experience. All the fans partied for 3-5 days and as mentioned, Jackson's was the greatest.

The second best was the Texas Bowl. Plus we won the game.

The worst bowls were all of the games at Yankee Stadium. No bowl experience as they were just like any other away game. I would rather go to the Motor City Bowl, or whatever it is called today.
 

S.W.A.I.N

All-Conference
Nov 23, 2004
4,511
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Definitely the best Rutgers Football experience in my 37 years of fandom. The whole week leading up to it, the game itself was exciting as hell, weather was amazing...

Texas Bowl was fun, and I actually had a blast at the International Bowl, but it’s been downhill since Phoenix.
 

PiscatawayMike

Heisman
Jul 27, 2001
16,934
14,383
113
Here's a photo of Nuts with Marley. I'm at the top in the middle.

 

mikebal9

All-Conference
Oct 15, 2005
5,731
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Definitely the best Rutgers Football experience in my 37 years of fandom. The whole week leading up to it, the game itself was exciting as hell, weather was amazing...

Texas Bowl was fun, and I actually had a blast at the International Bowl, but it’s been downhill since Phoenix.
My second best. Can I safely assume you weren't at the Louisville game?
 

RU848789

Heisman
Jul 27, 2001
64,376
43,475
113
My second best. Can I safely assume you weren't at the Louisville game?
I think most people are talking about tailgating/bowl experiences. Can't imagine any RU fan having any football game experience ahead of Louisville, unless they were around in 1869, lol.
 
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Abro1975

Heisman
Nov 21, 2009
24,499
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The Celebration in the ground level bar at Giants Stadium after beating Colgate on Thanksgivng night in 1976 to go Undefeated was sheer Pandemonium as well. RU Prez Ed Bloustein got drunk with everyone else, and literally got down on all 4s and danced 'the Bulldog; Strangers kissing each other, just utter joy.
Unfortunately there were no cell phones to record it. l

 
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Sweet Pea's Corner

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Sep 10, 2001
17,059
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Agreed. The positive energy around that bowl game was off the charts, mostly due to so many success-starved fans finally getting a small taste of what a successful football program might be like. Made for an amazing party at Jackson's and a helluva game, even though we lost.

I have a pic of Marley's huge "tracts of land" - cut/paste didn't work, though - think I have to host it somewhere and not very knowledgeable on how to do that. Zowie-Bowie is still going strong in Vegas, but he has new, younger singers with him now.

Always wondered if anyone had a pic of @LeapinLou and me (and others) singing the last half of Born to Run into the mic, after they handed it to us.


I believe I have a video tape of it somewhere.
 

wheezer

Heisman
Jun 3, 2001
169,063
24,679
113
I was, thread was about tailgating experience.
---
yes..... there is no comparison between the tailgate at the Insight vs the Ville game.....

what happened at the Insight tailgate may never happen again....there was such an enthusiasm and party atmosphere..... I am so glad to have made that trip and to witness and be part of it.

the Ville game had a good home game
tailgate, but it was not the enclosed, intense
partying affair that the Insight was
 

RUwoz

All-Conference
Jul 20, 2014
3,266
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---
yes..... there is no comparison between the tailgate at the Insight vs the Ville game.....

what happened at the Insight tailgate may never happen again....there was such an enthusiasm and party atmosphere..... I am so glad to have made that trip and to witness and be part of it.

the Ville game had a good home game
tailgate, but it was not the enclosed, intense
partying affair that the Insight was
Same with PSU 2014, great atmosphere but nervous energy
 
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FELONIOUSMONK

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Apr 1, 2012
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Met what have become some damned good friends in Arizona. The Greasy Tony event was a classic. I can still taste the Garbage Can sub I attempted to consume. . And the Ohio State players standing outside the bar we were in looking big Aryan and very threatening.
 

srru86

All-Conference
Jul 25, 2001
17,877
4,199
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been to many tailgates at many away games, and many bowl games. But that one stands out. We finally arrived and celebrated like crazy. I still dream of Marley’s jugs.
Yes, it was the best tailgate.
 

wheezer

Heisman
Jun 3, 2001
169,063
24,679
113
Was there....unbelievable experience. Could not believe how many RU fans were there.....a sea of scarlet.



I am in the first video at the 3:02 mark, to the
right of the short women with short black hair...

we got to the tailgate way early in order to get a good spot to view, with seats, if/when necessary....

the lead singer of the group was an Arizona state grad,but he said that we were SO cranked up, he would actually hope that we would win...could have been BS'ing, but he said it more than once.
 

DJ Spanky

Heisman
Jul 25, 2001
46,323
56,205
113
what happened at the Insight tailgate may never happen again....there was such an enthusiasm and party atmosphere.....
I don't know..............if we get the Titanic turned around, avoid that damned iceberg, and get going in the right direction where we surprise some teams in the Big 10 East and make a bowl, I think the fanbase is primed for another explosion akin to what we experienced during 2006.
 
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e5fdny

Heisman
Nov 11, 2002
113,694
52,346
102
I don't know..............if we get the Titanic turned around, avoid that damned iceberg, and get going in the right direction where we surprise some teams in the Big 10 East and make a bowl, I think the fanbase is primed for another explosion akin to what we experienced during 2006.
Only for a NYD game.
 
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RU848789

Heisman
Jul 27, 2001
64,376
43,475
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Met what have become some damned good friends in Arizona. The Greasy Tony event was a classic. I can still taste the Garbage Can sub I attempted to consume. . And the Ohio State players standing outside the bar we were in looking big Aryan and very threatening.

Greasy Tony's was an unexpectedly awesome side-trip, getting to meet some great fellow RU fans, like yourself, Santa Fe, RC78Fan (RIP), Earthood, and more, while there. My buddy and I got to Greasy Tony's around 11:15 am, as we went straight from the airport to there, as I seriously wanted a Large Trashcan.

Turns out we got there a few minutes before the Ledger crew arrived and they filmed the two of us and then the whole crew, later and the Ledger also had a pretty cool story on the pilgrimmage many of us made to Greasy Tony's as part of the larger first-bowl-game-in-forever pilgrimmage. Unfortunately, the links to both the video and the story are broken - would love to find them again.

If anyone is interested in those stories and a ton more, including the inside scoop on @AreYouNUTS's planning for the first RU bowl party (the one the night before), take a spin through the linked thread from 4 years ago...

https://rutgers.forums.rivals.com/threads/it-was-10-years-ago-today.62864/
 

e5fdny

Heisman
Nov 11, 2002
113,694
52,346
102
I was at the Insight Bowl and the tailgate and Jackson party can never be duplicated. RU people everywhere
That’s the way I feel too.

It was great, partially because it was the first...and as I said above, you always remember your first.
 
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RU9205

Freshman
Jan 28, 2007
103
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Hey RUAZ,

That’s my buddy there in your photo.

I have a few others, but have no idea how to post a picture.
 

Scarlet Jerry

All-Conference
Jul 30, 2001
4,208
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I have lots of video from the pep rally and the tailgate. I’m planning to post it this season as a retrospective for the 150th anniversary of college football. Stay tuned...

Scarlet Jerry
 

mikebal9

All-Conference
Oct 15, 2005
5,731
4,961
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Flew i to Vegas and played poker through the night. My friends got a room and I told them not to factor me in because I'd be up all night at the tables. Drove to AZ and played golf at the ASU course. Sweated our asses off in late December. Had an amazing time pregame and during the game of course. Went back to Vegas and ran into some players at the MGM sportsbook. Obviously the stories go deeper and get more entertaining, but it was an amazing trip.
 
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R1766U_rivals

All-Conference
Jan 17, 2014
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Sucks that both Acme Bar and Jacksons are now gone. Man, what an experience. If we ever make it to a big name bowl, it will be the same atmosphere. People came out of the woodwork to make the trip to Arizona. It was a great bowl destination and RU fans had been waiting for decades. Words can’t describe how much fun and how electric it was. The videos don’t even do it justice, definitely one of those “you had to be there” type moments.
 

Mikemarc

Heisman
Nov 28, 2005
69,059
17,692
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My own personal story and how I helped influence the bowl experience...

Was a senior at the time at RU, and a few weeks before the trip my buddy and I thought it would be wise to help fund our trip by panhandling outside the rac before a hoops game asking for donations to help our expenses.

Some fans entering the rac thought we were terrible, others thought it was great and donated..some very generously.

Anyway somehow either our photo or our story was written about in the Ledger along with the game story that night.

A few days later Richard Codey, acting Gov at the time, authorized Trenton funds to help RU students get to game.

Thanks to two nitwits who panhandled in front of the rac.