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Rodger and Megan Iverson with daughters Melody
and Cadence arrive early to start setting up for the Thanksgiving tailgating feast. (Photos by Linda Weiford, WSU News) |
PULLMAN, Wash. – What’s better than preparing a massive Thanksgiving turkey under a cool sky in a raucous parking lot?
Nothing, if you’re a Coug alumni and it’s 24 hours before Apple Cup kickoff.
Six families gathered at Washington State University for a holiday-themed supersized tailgate party across the street from the Beasley Performing Arts Coliseum.
Six families gathered at Washington State University for a holiday-themed supersized tailgate party across the street from the Beasley Performing Arts Coliseum.
Rodger and Megan Iverson, who drove their RV from the Tri-Cities with daughters Cadence, 5, and Melody, 3, were first to arrive with a thawing 23-pound turkey in tow.
“Spending Thanksgiving in an RV in a parking lot that’s definitely a first for me,” said Megan as her husband unloaded coolers and a portable food smoker onto the concrete lot. The two met while students at WSU, she said. Loyal Coug football fans, they decided to celebrate the holiday on campus with fellow fans the day before the game.
Which meant that Rodger had to get up at 3 a.m., put on his jacket and step outside the RV to get the turkey started on the smoker.
“No, I’ve never smoked a turkey before. I’ve done whole chickens but they were quite a bit smaller,” he said as his daughters scampered about the parking lot – soon to be the epicenter of the pregame feast.
Billy Dufner, also of the Tri-Cities, hauled a 19-pound turkey, along with three six-foot tables, a tent and a dozen rented chairs. He met the Iversons a year ago at a Cougar tailgate party, he said.
“It’s been a great way to make friends,” said Dufner. “We all went to WSU. We all love football. And as we’re about to find out, we all love good food.”