October 7, 2009 – Athletics

Tailgating to build OWU spirit before the football game on September 19.

Photo by Sara Tincher

Crisp Air, the Smell of Hot Dogs, and Bishops Football
Tailgating at Selby Field attracts Ohio Wesleyan community and division

With the football season comes the tradition of tailgating in the parking lots near Selby Field at Ohio Wesleyan University.  The camaraderie and overall atmosphere creates that Bishop spirit.

OWU Director of Athletics Roger Ingles has enjoyed observing the tailgaters when he occasionally can leave his work inside the stadium to stop and greet these groups. “Some of the parents of players tailgate at all home games and develop strong, often lifetime, friendships,” he says. “Many players return as tailgating alums.”

Mark Cooper, marketing and communication director, and Bill Preble, vice president for university enrollment and strategic communication, greet alumnus Jack Winters ‘61 at the football tailgating event.

Photo by Sara Tincher

The most unusual tailgating group he has met were some Ohio State University fans who asked if they could come and tailgate at an OWU game several years ago. OSU had a “bye” that weekend. The group set up near Selby and rooted for Ohio Wesleyan football. They told Ingles they were thrilled to be so close to the stadium. They even got the opportunity to walk on the (then new) artificial turf.

Recently, one Ohio Wesleyan departmental division decided to hold a tailgating event before a football game.

Lee Harrell, assistant vice president for admission and financial aid, OWU President Rock Jones, and Mark Cooper, director of marketing and communication, relax at the event.

Photo by Sara Tincher

“Our division believes in working hard together, but also celebrating our work together,” says Bill Preble, Vice President for University Enrollment and Strategic Communication. To demonstrate support and spirit for OWU athletics and to build relationships within the division, OWU’s Admission, Financial Aid, and Marketing and Communication groups gathered for a division-sponsored tailgate event before the football game against The College of Wooster on September 19.

“I believe it is important for us to show our school pride to our own students, as well as to prospective students,” Preble says. “We had great fun together, and it allowed our division to strengthen old relationships and build new ones. We certainly hope to do this again.”

– Christina Fesz ’12 and Linda O’Horo