Washburn football fans gather for the tailgate kick-off

  • Kappa Sigma holds a tailgate on behalf of their Fraternity. Greek life had plenty of representation at the tailgate before the football game.

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  • The Washburn colorguard performs at the tailgate. They provided entertainment alongside the marching band cheer team and dance team.

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  • Washburn fans Ty odum and Jaxson McFarland play tag during the tailgate. Odum is the child of a Washburn Alumnus

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  • The Washburn Cheer team performs at the tailgate. They provided entertainment alongside the marching band color guard and dance team.

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  • The Washburn Cheer team performs at the tailgate. They provided entertainment alongside the marching band color guard and dance team.

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  • Washburn fans Dani Miller Lillian Kuefler and Farrah Kuefler cheer on the performers. Miller was there to support her brother LJ Butcher who was playing on the team that night.

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  • The Washburn dance team performs at the tailgate. They entertained the crowd with their school spirit.

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  • The Washburn marching band makes their appearance. They performed songs for the entertainment of the tailgate attendees.

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  • Ichabod shows off his strength. The Washburn mascot made an appearance to promote enthusiasm for that nights game.

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  • The Washburn Dance Team performs at the tailgate. They performed along side the marching band, colorguard, and cheer team.

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  • The Washburn marching band makes their appearance. They performed songs for the entertainment of the tailgate attendees.

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  • Washburn fans Kingston Logan and Banks Logan prepare for the game. They were excited to watch the first football game of the season later that night.

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  • Freshman Business Administration and Finance major Anthony Hamilton and Freshman Sport management major Carter Taplin represent their Fraternity, Phi Delta Theta. Greek life had plenty of representation at the tailgate before the football game.

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  • Maddie Simoneau, daughter of Washburn Football line coah Dane Simoneau, shows her team spirit. Her family attended the football tailgate in support of the team.

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  • Freshman Sport Managment major Jenna Daniel Junior Communications major Liz Duvall and Freshman Elementary Education majors Sheridan Jones and Lexi Fishe Show their Washburn team spirit. The friends attended the tailgate celebration together in preperation for the football game that followed later that night.

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  • Pacer, pet of a Washburn fan, attends the tailgate celebrations. Many fans brought their four legged pals to the festivites.

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  • Alumni congregate to enjoy the tailgate celebrations. Washburn University Alumni Association and Foundation held a tailgate event for all alumni members before Washburns first football game of the season.

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  • Senior Business and Marketing Management major Jaycee Fluderer Senior Psychology major Samantha Covello Sophomore Heathcare majjor Jenna Urban and Sophomore Psychology major Breea McManus have fun at their tailgate. The friends were there to celebrate the first game of Washburns football season.

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  • Washburn University Alumni Association and Foundation Administrative Specialist Jenny McCormick admits life time members Ted and Kathy Clark into the associations tailgate.

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  • Kelly Urban, Pat Bruner, and Eric Rokey grill up food for their tailgate attendees. Urban, Bruner and Rokey are the fathers of football players Landen Urban, Grant Bruner, and Cauy Rokey, respectively.

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Alumni, tailgating and college football: Washburn’s football season is officially underway and fans were eager to gather around Yager Stadium and cheer on the Ichabods. The 2022 football season began with the Washburn Ichabods taking on the Blue Tigers of Lincoln University.

The Washburn tailgating experience opened up the season by welcoming hundreds of football fans who were ready to cheer on their hometown team.

“It’s great reconnecting with our alumni and partners as we return to college athletics this fall,” said Matthew Hutchinson, associate athletic director and director of development of Washburn University. “We look forward to hosting fans, students and alumni throughout the season here at Yager Stadium.”

The Washburn Alumni tent was located on the Memorial Union Lawn. The Washburn Alumni tailgate experience includes food catered from Hy-Vee and refreshments provided by Strathman Sales Company. The tent is open to all Washburn Alumni Association members and $5 for others.

While the hype around a college football tailgate at a Division II school may not receive the same recognition as a Division I school, graduate student Ethan Hamilton believes the Washburn tailgating experience is just right for the school’s stature.

“A lot of people don’t know how big the tailgate is here,” said Hamilton. “It is a great place to come on a Thursday night or Saturday afternoon to experience the college football atmosphere.”

The next tailgating opportunity at Yager Stadium will be Saturday, Sept. 17 at 1 p.m. against the University of Nebraska at Kearney.

 

Edited by Justin Shepard and LeSha’ Davis