The Tailgate Connect® Podcast — College Football, NFL & The Game Day Life

If you've ever wondered what it looks like when someone takes their love for a team to a completely different level — this is that episode. Kendrick, known as Official Ken, is the LSU superfan whose reaction videos have hit 1.2 million views in two days, earned shoutouts from Shaq, Ryan Clark, and Marcus Spear, and made Tiger Nation feel like the loudest community in college football.

Luke and Kendrick break down what it's like to tailgate at LSU's Death Valley night games, why the pregame atmosphere in Baton Rouge is unlike anywhere else in the SEC, the food that makes LSU game day legendary, and how Kendrick went from crying in his room after a loss to building one of the most genuine fan channels on social media.

What we cover: What makes Death Valley night games the wildest tailgate in CFB · The 1.2M view reaction video and how it happened in two days · Cajun food culture at LSU tailgates — jambalaya, gumbo, and more · How Kendrick built his social following through pure energy and authenticity · Shaq, Ryan Clark, Marcus Spear, and Benny Brazil showing love · Why LSU followed him on Instagram (manifestation incoming)

He started making cornhole boards in his garage at 16. Today his company runs more tailgate events than anyone else on Earth — 350 planned for the next year across 15+ NFL cities, 9 college markets, and every major soccer venue hosting World Cup matches in 2026.

John Mikulec, founder of Gameday Hospitality, is the rare operator who's scaled a passion into a genuine industry force without losing the core of what makes a tailgate great. He joins Luke for the longest episode in TGC podcast history to tell the full story — from the early days to the Super Bowl, from Buffalo to Ann Arbor, and everywhere in between.

What we cover: How Gameday Hospitality grew from cornhole boards to 350 events a year · 13 NFL cities, 9 colleges, and World Cup 2026 goal zones · What it takes to operate tailgates in multiple markets simultaneously · The business of premium hospitality vs traditional tailgating · Bills Mafia culture and what makes Buffalo different · Lessons from nearly a decade in the tailgate industry

She's the first female tailgating host to appear on the Tailgate Connect Podcast, and she's been running one of Louisville's most beloved tailgates for nearly 20 years. Rensha, co-host of Tailgaters U, joins Luke to talk about what it looks like when a tailgate becomes a full community — complete with bake-offs, dip-offs, bourbon tastings, Papa Murphy's pizza on-site, and a chant that makes the whole parking lot lose its mind.

Tailgaters U has been a staple of Louisville Cardinals football since 2006, and Rensha brings the same energy to every home game. This episode covers the origin of the "Tailgaters U" name (it's a quarterback university pun — and a promise), what newcomers can expect, how to pitch Lamar Jackson to come to your tailgate, and the bonfire failgating incident nobody will ever let go.

What we cover: Why female tailgating hosts are underrepresented and what Rensha is doing about it · The Tailgaters U origin story and the QB University connection · Bake-offs, dip-offs, bourbon tastings, and why Louisville does it different · The "You Don't Want These Cards" song and the chant everyone needs to know · Pitching Lamar Jackson in 15 seconds · The bonfire failgating moment that created new safety rules

He's been tailgating for over 45 years, drives three hours from St. Louis to every Kansas City Chiefs home game, and holds what he calls "the Rod Rate" at the same hotel for 15 years straight. Some people call him the grandpa of tailgating. Rod, known as Tailgating With Rod, calls it a state of life.

Rod joins Luke to talk 45 years of game day obsession — from his first Indy 500 in the 1970s to the KC Chiefs dynasty era, from the homemade porta potty to the legendary brat recipe and the stuffing burger bun that will change how you think about tailgate food forever. This episode is a masterclass in game day hospitality from someone who has been doing it longer than most people have been watching football.

What we cover: 45 years of tailgating — from the Indy 500 to Arrowhead · Driving 3 hours from St. Louis to every Chiefs home game · The Doubleheader — Missouri on Saturday, Chiefs on Sunday · The homemade porta potty (you need to hear this) · Rod's legendary brat recipe and drink concoctions · The stuffing burger bun — freeze it, grill it, use it as a bun · Crown shades giveaways and giving back to fans

He had Bullet bourbon in his cup before the recording started, and it only got better from there. Stephen Garcia, former South Carolina Gamecocks quarterback and one of the most memorable players in the Steve Spurrier era, joins Luke for an unfiltered look at tailgating through the eyes of a player who lived it from the inside.

Stephen talks about what game day felt like as a player vs as a fan, why tailgating equates to the locker room for him, the UCF game day scene that shocked him, his honest take on NIL and how it changes the college football culture he knew, and his own podcast Tailgate Talks with former teammate Pat DeMarco. Note: This episode contains explicit language.

What we cover: How tailgating feels like a locker room from a player's perspective · UCF vs SEC tailgate culture — and the differences are wild · The 2010 win over #1 Alabama — what it was actually like · Steve Spurrier stories and coaching insight · NIL thoughts from someone who played in the era before · Tailgate Talks podcast with Pat DeMarco

He played defensive back at Texas Tech in the 1980s — including a game against Michael Irvin's Miami, where Irvin told him he was one of the toughest white kids he'd ever played against. Now Chris Evans is back in Lubbock running the Matador Mafia, a 13-year tailgating institution that has become one of the best game day experiences in the Big 12.

Chris joins Luke to talk about why he turned down USC and Miami to play at Tech, how the Matador Mafia name came from a real Italian connection in his California hometown, the actual mafia member who visited his tailgate, and what makes Texas Tech's game day one of the most underrated experiences in college football.

What we cover: Playing for Texas Tech in the 1980s — and facing Michael Irvin · How Matador Mafia got its name (there was a real mafia connection) · 13 years building one of the best tailgates in the Big 12 · What Game Day's visit to Texas Tech said about the program · Why visiting fans love the Lubbock experience · Patrick Mahomes and Michael Crabtree — the dream tailgate guests

Lobster tacos. A DJ. 50/50 raffles. Multiple TVs. And more passion for game day food than most chefs put into a restaurant service. Rick with SoFire Tailgating is not a casual tailgater — he's the guy who shows up at SoFi Stadium and turns the parking lot into an experience that makes other tailgates feel like an afterthought.

Rick joins Luke to talk about how he fell in love with the LA Rams as a teenager, why SoFi Stadium's first fan season in 2021 sparked SoFire into existence, and what makes his game day setup one of the most talked-about in the NFL. The lobster taco conversation alone is worth the listen.

What we cover: How SoFire Tailgating started at SoFi Stadium's first fan season · Why lobster tacos belong at a tailgate (and how he makes them) · The full setup — DJ, TVs, 50/50 raffles, lounge area · Cooper Cup's mom showing up at the tailgate · Favorite drink: Uncle Nearest Tennessee whiskey on ice · Favorite beer: stout, always, even in 98-degree heat · Dream tailgate guest: Matt Stafford

He launched his tailgating company in January 2020, picked up his first trailer on March 15th, and COVID shut everything down two days later. Most people would have quit. Wayne Verschuere spent those months setting up his tailgate rig on beaches, in parks, and in his housing community — inviting anyone who'd come — until the world reopened and Tailgate Pro Entertainment exploded.

From 4 events in 2020 to 315 events in a single year. From parking lots in Tampa to Gasparilla Bowl alongside ESPN. Wayne, a Marine Corps veteran and self-described "life of the party," joins Luke to tell the full origin story — and explain why Mike Alstott has an open invitation to any Tailgate Pro event, forever.

What we cover: Launching a business in January 2020 — and what happened next · Using COVID to build the brand before anyone was watching · Growing from 4 events to 315 in a single year · Doing every Bucs home game, every Gator game, NFL and bowl events · The ESPN partnership and the Gasparilla Bowl · What it takes to run great tailgates across multiple markets · Mike Alstott's open invitation

There is literally a professor of tailgating. Dr. Andy Gillentine has spent 30 years at the University of South Carolina investigating the phenomenon of tailgating — what drives people to sit in a 105-degree parking lot in August, what the legal and economic implications are, and how universities can make game day safer and better. He turned all of it into the first honors class on tailgating ever offered at a major university.

Dr. Andy joins Luke to break down what the class actually covers, what the research has revealed about why we tailgate, which yard games his students designed as a business project, and who he'd most want to tailgate with from Gamecocks history (the answer involves Steve Spurrier and a lot of bourbon stories).

What we cover: 30 years studying tailgating at the University of South Carolina · The honors class curriculum — history, law, marketing, economics, food, and games · Why people sit in 105-degree heat before a football game (the sociology of tailgating) · Yard game innovation assignments and what students came up with · Local beer philosophy: always go for the lager · Favorite game: cornhole, but the Can Jam and ring-hook are underrated · Dream tailgate guests: Stephen Garcia and Coach Beamer

In this episode of the Tailgate Connect podcast, host Luke Lorick welcomes Baylor tailgating hosts Ryan and Matt to discuss their passion for tailgating, the evolution of their tailgating experience, and the community they have built around it. They share insights on creating a welcoming atmosphere for fans, the importance of good food and drinks, and their experiences with rival fans. The conversation also touches on family-friendly tailgating, memorable moments, and tips for staying cool during hot game days. Ryan and Matt invite listeners to join their tailgate, emphasizing the fun and camaraderie that tailgating brings to the college football experience.