Ole Miss Engineering served record numbers of food during tailgating at
fall football games.
For years, the School of Engineering has served University of Mississippi alumni, faculty, staff, students and friends tailgating in the Grove with food and beverages during home football games. But the 2015 season saw patronage at the tent reach record numbers.
As engineers are numbers people, here are some statistics to illustrate the 2015 tailgating season:
Over the course of seven home games, some 620 hamburgers, 385 bratwurst, 180 pounds of pulled pork, 150 pounds of smoked chicken, 200 pounds of Magic wings, and – with the two morning games – 24 dozen breakfast burritos were served. The burritos required 24 dozen eggs, 20 pounds of bacon, 16 pounds of sausage and lots of shredded cheese.
These numbers are approximate and do not include any side dishes, the uncounted numbers of bags of chips, sodas, water, sweet tea and assorted food provided by student groups, guests and visitors.
“Our crew wishes to express thanks to Ryan Upshaw and all the student groups that helped out this year and to all who attended ‘Tailgating with the Dean’ and made it a fun experience,” said Greg Easson, director of the Mississippi Mineral Resources Institute and geology and geological engineering professor. “As you can see from these numbers, y’all can eat.”
Easson, who served as primary grill master/coordinator, was assisted by Jeremy Dew, Scotty Polston and Justin Coker.
“Without these three able-bodied and good-natured grill masters, helpers and hosts, tailgating would not be possible,” Easson said. “I would also like to thank and publicly acknowledge the constant help and support from my wife, Darlene. She made every hamburger by hand, prepared the bratwurst every week, baked a tray of brownies each week and made 24 dozen breakfast burritos.
“In addition, she put up with the messes made in our kitchen and the complete lack of refrigerator space on the days leading up to each game.”
Easson also acknowledged the office of Dean Alex Cheng, without whose support none of this would have been possible.
Upshaw, assistant dean for student service, said he was surprised by Easson’s figures and grateful for his volunteer services.
“That’s a lot of food,” he said. “I hope that we can keep Greg on retainer as long as possible. I’m already looking forward to 2016 tailgating!”
UM engineering organizations that sponsored a tent during the season included Tau Beta Pi honor society, National Society of Black Engineers, Society of Women Engineers, American Society for Civil Engineering, American Society for Mechanical Engineering, Engineers Without Borders, Institute for Electrical and Electronics Engineering and the Engineering Student Body Leadership Council. Guardian Manufacturing, owned by UM alumni and brothers Chuck and Steve Smith, also sponsored one game.