News

November 27, 2008

Penn State tailgating, with bit of dramatic flair

Alumni association recognized restaurant owners’ efforts with “best spirit” award.

By Mary Therese Biebel mbiebel@timesleader.com
Features Writer
Mary Therese Biebel on Facebook   |   @TLTLMaryTBiebel on Twitter

When Ken Bond and Scott Snider mention their papier-m�ch� volcano that pumped blue liquid, the bales of hay that created a country scene, and the leprechaun they persuaded to perch on a dunk tank, you might think they make sets for Broadway plays.

But for these ardent football fans from the Back Mountain, all those trappings are part of the fun of tailgating during Penn State home games in University Park.

At this season’s homecoming celebration, the Penn State Alumni Association honored Bond and Snider’s tailgate party for showing the “best spirit.” It was the third time the pair had been so honored.

“We’ve been going down there forever to support the team,” said Bond, who owns the Pierce Street Deli in Kingston. “We can’t hunt. We’re not fishermen. This is what we do.”

“People stop by and take pictures all day long,” said Snider, who owns Hops & Barleys in Luzerne. “We must be in a zillion photo albums.”

“We’ve done our own version of ‘American Idol.’ We called it ‘Nittany Idol,’ ” Bond said. “People we didn’t know would stop by and sing a song, and we had cardboard cutouts of the judges wearing Penn State clothes.”

That theme helped Snider and Bond win this year.

Three years ago, they won with a luau that included 1,000 pounds of sand, the Nittany Lion, Hawaiian music and a volcano.

Another winning entry had a “redneck” theme. “We brought in hay and (fake) hens and made a barnyard and we all wore flannel,” Snider said.

When the Lions played the Fighting Irish of Notre Dame last year, Bond and Snider brought along a tank and posted a friend dressed as a leprechaun there to mock Penn State fans and get a dunking.

Bond and Snider have learned they are among five finalists in a national contest sponsored by Tostitos chips. It offers a trip for eight to the Fiesta Bowl. Fans can vote online at www.beatmytailgate.com until Sunday.

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