Maryland's Road Tailgates Build Community and Create Lasting Memories

Tailgating is a staple of the gameday experience. Great food, great friends, and memories made before the game even kicks off. 

The Terrapin Club and the University of Maryland Alumni Association make sure those moments exist for road games as well. Away-game tailgates and trips offer fans the chance to spend time and build community with other Maryland fans before football games. 

This season was no exception. Tailgates at the UCLA and Rutgers games helped fans be a part of something bigger than football, connect with others, and grow the Maryland community. 

Eric Struntz attended both and loved the opportunities they provided him. He has two sons - One went to UCLA, while the other graduated from Maryland and currently resides in New York City.

“I’ve had the chance to go to two of them this year, and they’ve both been extra special,” Struntz said. “I went out to LA for the Maryland UCLA game. My wife and I planned for the road trip as soon as we saw we’d be playing out there this year.”

Even though his son was wearing his UCLA gear, the Struntz family was at the tailgate put on by the Terrapin Club and the Alumni Association. 

“Seeing Maryland play out there was awesome and the tailgate was awesome,” Struntz said. “Getting to spend that time with him was so special.”

A few weeks later, he was on the road again, headed up on the bus to Rutgers — another spot close to where one of his sons lives. 

“Two tailgates, two similar experiences,” Strutz said. “The Terrapin Club and Alumni Association created two different opportunities for me to hang out and watch football with my boys.”

The tailgates have been used to reconnect and grow the fanbase. Struntz said during his time at the UCLA tailgate, he was able to chat with other Terrapin alums who were also visiting family and friends on the West Coast. 

“The UCLA tailgate in particular was huge,” Struntz said. “There were a ton of people and we all got to spend a few hours before the game meeting folks and getting prepped for the game.”

Rosemary Blunck and her husband, Ron, have been Terrapin Club members for 50 years. They’ve been on most of the bus trips, including road games against former ACC foes UNC, NC State and Virginia. This year, they were on the trip up to Rutgers when the Terps took on the Scarlet Knights.

“You develop a kind of a community of people that you've known for years and years and years,” Blunck said. “We've grown to know a huge number of people who are really good friends, and we stayed really good friends with them for years.”

An invite on the annual away game bus trip is extended to those who are at the Terrapin Club’s Super Terp level, which is at least $2,500 cumulative annual giving to the Terrapin Club. It is one of many unique experiences and benefits that come with investing in Maryland Athletics through the Terrapin Club.

For Blunck, traveling is about the game as well and showing her Terrapin support and love to the athletes playing far from home. 

“I think the team members especially appreciate having fans at the games when there are away games,” Blunck said. “There's more of a sense of the players wanting to engage the fans that attend those games.”

She and her family have attended the last few bowl games as well and been able to celebrate with players and fans alike after Maryland victories. 

The tailgates feature food, fun, and a ton of Terrapin spirit. Maryland fans get to eat, play games, share stories, and celebrate all the best things about being a Terp.

Joe Forgette has attended tailgates before games in College Park for years. He’s been a friendly face for anyone walking by and is always excited to talk about his Terps.

“I’m a positive person,” Joe Forgette said. “I try to be at every game no matter what.”

He doesn’t travel to as many road games as he used to, but he couldn’t miss the opportunity to head up to New Jersey on the bus with the Terrapin Club for an elite tailgate.

“I really enjoyed the one that the Terrapin Club did this year when we went to Rutgers,” Forgette said. “It was a great tailgate. It was a great trip on the bus. It felt first-class. 10 out of 10.”

There’s already chatter from fans about potential trips next season, when the Terps take to the road for conference games against USC, Nebraska, Purdue and Ohio State.