Duke Student Government announced Thursday that it will postpone the newest version of Tailgate until the Sept. 15 home football game against North Carolina Central University. Students have expressed mixed reactions over the re-cancellation of the controversial pre-game celebration, wondering whether the absence of the event this weekend might affect attendance at the Blue Devils’ opener against Florida International.
“I think in terms of the student body, it’s kind of disappointing, moving on from post-Tailgate. Administration and DSG haven’t really come up with a permanent solution for what to do on game day. In terms of student body and excitement relative to the season opener, I guess I really don’t think it’s going to do much in terms of football. People aren’t very interested in Duke football.”
-Jeff Wang, Trinity ’14
“I heard it was just a mess anyways, so I’m not that bothered that it’s gone.” -Jared Schwartz, Trinity ’16
“I think most people don’t realize the first game is going to be this Saturday because there’s no tailgate or activities. I thought it was going to be when it was the first Tailgate, it was their first game. There’s probably going to be less of a turn out and people are not going to be as excited.”
-Taliya Golzar, Trinity ’15
“Duke probably wants to wait until everyone is settled into classes so they can avoid any problems.”
-Gabriella Ocampo, Trinity ’16
“Since it’s the first game of the season, I think they should have kept Tailgate because I know that football isn’t a really big sport here so a lot of people don’t come out to the games. Tailgate is what gets a lot of people out there. I personally am going, but I think that the attendance is going to be drastically lowered.”
-Andrew Jacobs, Trinity ’16
“Even with Tailgate a couple years ago, people would just get drunk and they wouldn’t go to the games. Or they’d go and they’d be really drunk, so it’s not like they have that much of an experience. They need to find a substitute. I guess they’re trying to change it now. [Underclassmen] didn’t get to experience Tailgate, so [they] don’t really now what to make of it. It wasn’t really a tailgate, it was very much unregulated.”
-Suvam Neupane, Trinity ’13
“I think it will definitely result in a decrease of fans coming out to the game, because people enjoy going out and socializing with one another before the games.”
-Krishan Shivaraj, Trinity ’15
“Honestly, I’m pretty disappointed. I’m really into football, so I thought that it would enhance the whole experience because everyone could get pumped together, but now that it’s been moved it kind of sucks. I feel like now it will really just be a couple of freshmen that attend.”
-Jennifer Sekar, Pratt ’16
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