Tailgating returns to Texas State after a year away.

Game vs. Baylor draws crowds amid virus worries

Break out the drink koozies and the pompoms: Tailgating has returned to Texas State University.

The pandemic forced the school to nix the pregame parties in 2020, but the university announced it will “open Bobcat Stadium at 100 percent capacity for the 2021 football season.” A news release also touted the return of “all tailgating options.”

In 2020, Texas State limited stadium seating to 25 percent capacity and banned organized tailgating to help reduce the transmission of the coronavirus.

For students like sophomore Jay Garcia, this season is the first time they can experience tailgating: from cornhole to barbecuing out of a truck bed to blasting music in the parking lot.

“As a freshman, there wasn’t really much to the football games, so it’s really exciting,” Garcia said.

Mike Duran, a senior at Texas State, said part of the excitement for Saturday’s tailgate was the opponent: Baylor. He said he was pumped to face the Big 12 team.

“We just get together and it builds the brotherhood,” Duran said earlier in the week.

“We play games and invite other people into our tent,” he said. His fraternity planned to check the temperatures of all who enter.

But some students, like senior Marcella Brown, won’t take chances. As the third wave of the pandemic rages in San Marcos and beyond,

the city’s only hospital is overcapacity.

Marcella said she won’t attend the pregame parties or the games.

“I interact with my family a lot, and both of my parents are immunocompromised,” she said. “I’ve been avoiding crowds in general.”

The NCAA released COVID-19 guidelines at the beginning of August. Both it and Texas State encourage but don’t require students, coaches and employees to get vaccinated.

Additionally, the NCAA encourages unvaccinated athletes and coaches to do COVID-19 tests three times per week, while those who are fully vaccinated should be tested only if they show symptoms.

For nonathletic activities, like tailgating, the NCAA encourages people not to gather in large crowds — but to wear masks if they do.

Photos by Ronald Cortes / Contributor Football fans celebrate ahead of Saturday’s matchup against Baylor. Tailgating was banned last year due to COVID, but Saturday’s game kicked off its return to Texas State.

Students disembark a pickup to join the parties. The university approved “all tailgating options” this season.

Ronald Cortes / Contributor Baylor fans enjoy themselves in the tailgating area at Texas State. Tailgating was banned last year due to COVID-19, but Saturday’s game marked its return to San Marcos.