Get Off Your Tail     There's something about an exciting college football on a beautiful fall North Dakota afternoon that makes you want to...party. Don't sit inside and drink yourself into a stupor — get outside, enjoy the weather, and throw a tailgate party in the Fargodome parking lot. Sure you might miss your favorite major college team on the tube, but that doesn't mean you won't enjoy a relaxing afternoon with your buddies consuming everything in sight. Let's make a choice: drink, food and friends or screaming kids, nagging spouse, and the in-laws. Hmmm...... This shouldn't be a hard decision. And heck, you might even bring them along because that parking lot will still be pretty big even if they do place a fence around the tailgating area. Maybe you can even recommend to your spouse and kids that they should stay outside the fence due to the male hormone imbalance inside.     Organizing a tailgate isn't quite as simple as sitting in the stands and watching the game, but it doesn't take much to pull off a great one. There's no need to go Martha Stewart crazy and make all kinds of fancy-schmancy treats and mixed drinks. At a tailgate, the simple stuff tastes better anyway.     Here are the basic things you need to remember to make sure your tailgate is festive, fun, and easy. Get a group of people together and make everyone responsible for one or two items. That way you don't have to blow a lot of cash, you'll have everything you need, and everyone can spread the word to their friends. 1. A Tailgate. It's hard to throw a tailgate if you don't have a vehicle with a tailgate. An SUV or truck is the best option (easy access and plenty of storage) but a car with a big trunk and a pile of lawn chairs will do in a pinch. 2. Beverages. No need to get fancy, just make sure you have enough. If you're expecting a crowd, a nice cold keg is great, but NDSU and the City of Fargo does not allow kegs in the Fargodome parking lot. So buy six-packs or cases and keep them cold in a big cooler. Have some alternative beverages (soda, juice, water) available and cold. If it's a chilly afternoon, bring thermoses of hot cocoa. And don't forget plastic cups; due to tailgating regulations no aluminum cans or glass bottles are allowed for tailgating. 3. Food. Folks get pretty psyched when there's plenty of food around. Hot dogs and hamburgers fired up on a portable grill are great. Don't forget buns and condiments. If you don't have a grill, try a selection of cold cuts and sandwich bread or get one of those six-foot subs and let everyone cut off a section. Bring along bags of chips and pretzels, tortilla chips and salsa, and — if you're feeling health-conscious and inspired— cut up some veggies (carrots, peppers, broccoli, etc.) and bring some dip (you really don't need to taste the veggies for them to be healthy). And finally, bring something to satisfy your sweet tooth. Brownies and cookies are great no-mess options. Transport all perishable food in a cooler. 4. Disposable everything. Bring a few trash bags and throw everything away: Paper or plastic plates, cups, utensils, and napkins. (Get the recycled kind — it's better for the environment.) You don't want to deal with a big clean-up and miss kickoff, so just get rid of it. Did I mention trash bags? I'll mention them again. Bring trash bags. 5. Table. Setting up a folding table gives you more surface area for food and drinks, so throw one in the back of the truck or car. To make clean-up easy, cover it with a disposable tablecloth and toss it when the party's over. 6. Tent. In case of rain, it's a good idea to have some kind of tent or tarp (plus supports, stakes, and rope to set it up) to keep you dry. But just remember that a tent or tarp will never keep you fully dry and while a wet tailgate can be fun with the right attitude, if you don't want to deal with the hassle, wait for a sunny day. 7. School spirit. There's a reason you're having a tailgate, so show your support for your team. Get a school banner or pennant (or several) and display proudly. You don't necessarily need a Bison Battlewagon. A '78 Pinto with a NDSU flag welded to the rear fender will serve you proud. 8. Drink and act responsible. Not even the "King of Slobs" (myself), likes to have one of my fellow tailgaters throw empties all over the parking lot and most importantly; provide embarrassment to me and my family. Save your over-exhuberance for the game.... Tailgating reminders: - Tailgating with alcohol will be confined to a fenced-in area of the dome's west parking lot. - The area also will have a strong security presence and identification checks to prevent underage drinking. - Kegs and party balls won't be allowed in the area, and beverages must be in plastic cups. - Act responsibly; after all the Bison are the whole reason for tailgating in the first place.