Texas Tech's Most Legendary Tailgate Group — How Matador Mafia Was Built | Chris Evans

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

Transcript

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Intro

Luke 0:00

All right, welcome back to the Tailgate Connect podcast. I'm your host, Luke Lorick with Tailgate and Challenge. I love all things tailgating. In today's episode, we speak with Chris Evans, the owner and operator of Matador Mafia at Texas Tech University. You're really gonna want to stick around to find out why he named it Matador Mafia, some of his tips and tricks for the best tailgating, and why Texas Tech Tailgating is epic. Got a story to tell. And with the Matador Mafia, is that right? That is it. That is all right, Chris. Like it's a big year. 2025, like Texas Tech, right now where we're recording this, like they're having an amazing year so far. So my first question right off the bat is going to be does uh your football team having a better season equate to better tailgating, or are they not correlated at all?

Better season = better tailgate — yes

Chris 1:32

No, it it's it's led to some better tailgates this year. It's uh most definitely. I mean, our group is pretty strong throughout the season, you know, throughout the years with the group, but um more more people showing up. And uh, and I think too, you know, with with Tailgate Connect, more people coming from visiting fans to want to be a part and to see what's going on and see, you know, last weekend was huge. Game day was here and things like that. So that brought in a ton of people. I told everybody Friday night when I was out setting up, I saw tailgate trailers pulling in that I have never seen show up. So that that excitement brings a whole different group group of people out, and that's great, you know, and it's tailgating is a community. So the more people out there, the better it is.

Where did the tailgating passion start?

Luke 2:18

No doubt, no doubt. Well, Chris, like let's rewind for a second. I always I I know you've been doing this tailgating thing for a minute, but I always like to know of like, where did the original like tailgating passion come

Played Texas Tech football 1985-89, moved back to Lubbock 2011

Luke 2:32

from?

Chris 2:32

Mine came from, so I moved back to Lubbock in 2011, and having I played football from tech from 85 to 89. So I did not get to tailgate as a college student. Okay. And I left right after college, went to work uh for a company, and that for a number of years. And then when I moved back, I was like, okay, I didn't get to experience this in college. I'm gonna do it now. And we started with a small group in 2012, and 13 years later, we're going strong and bigger and bigger never that we ever managed it when it started out. And that's where it came, that's where it came from. You know, it's just you know, wanting to have that experience.

13 years of Matador Mafia — how it started in 2012

Luke 3:18

No doubt. I'm I'm a big believer in the experience and the culture, and it varies um school to school, tailgate to tailgate for it. So you've been doing this like 13 years in the game with Matador Mafia. So let me ask you that, how did you come up

The name — Matadors + real Italian mafia heritage

Luke 3:31

with the name?

Chris 3:31

Like, where did that come from? So, okay, the original name of Texas Tech were the Matadors. So, in our our uh fight song and things like that, it mentions the Matadors. I grew up in a town in California that was a uh steel mill town with a lot of Italian influence. And we actually had some actual mafia members and things. So I just kind of put the two together to come up with the name and embracing the heritages of my college and of my hometown.

The actual mob member who visited

Luke 4:05

Okay. Well, I didn't anticipate we would actually talk about the real mafia today on our on our podcast, but yet here we are with it. So I has has anyone from the mafia ever come to your your tailgate before? Or is that just like top classified information we can't

Her dad was head of the steelworkers union

Luke 4:22

talk about?

Chris 4:22

No, I actually had a uh a girl, her dad was the head of the steelworkers union, and he was kind of the the mob leader. Um she's come to a game. We're very good friends. Her dad, we actually dated in high school when her dad was the head of the the union and stuff. So um her dad was a very good friend, and she came out at one point and visited. So yes. So we have had a mob member come to come to the tailgate.

Should I be concerned? No — longtime friends

Luke 4:49

Should I be concerned talking about this if he or his affiliates uh listened listened to this episode later?

Chris 4:57

No, it's all good. They're they're they're a good group of people and been longtime friends. So it's it's just kind of like I said, it was a way to put my my school and my hometown together when we put it together.

Southern California kid chose Texas Tech

Luke 5:09

No doubt. So is it is it fair like Chris, do you do you still live in the area? Like, has this been home for like your whole life?

Grew up in California, mom's family in Lubbock

Chris 5:16

No. I actually grew up in Southern California. Okay. And that and uh came to tech to play football. My mom's family is from this area. Um when I left the company that I had worked for, I went I went to work for them in 1989. When I graduated in 2010, I left them and decided I wanted to move back to Lubbock and then got back in to support tech. I mean, tech had always been my team, but living on the West Coast, you know, got to see them, you know, here or there in a bowl game, holiday bowl, or in Arizona, or things like that. But it was uh being here and being able to get back involved in it was was great.

Had offers from USC and Miami — fell in love with Tech

Luke 5:53

So how did how did a boy from Southern Cal be like, Texas Tech is my squad? It sounds like from an early age, like they were they were your team.

Visiting family, met the coach, felt at home

Chris 6:02

Um actually it's a funny story, is I um I had offers to go to school to go to USC, to Miami, uh, some big schools coming out of the coming out of high school. I came here uh to visit family one summer, my junior year, and met the coach, and I just kind of fell in love with it and felt like that. This was a school that I could come and play ball at and feel comfortable. And having my mom's family uh in the area, it was I got to go away to school, but had some family here, had that support structure. So it made it an easy transition for me to to cut decide to come to tech and and play. And you know, back then, Southwest Conference, I was a defensive back. I didn't play much because nobody threw the ball back then. It was it was all run the ball back in the 80s in the Southwest Conference.

Played DB — what position?

Luke 6:52

Nice. Yeah, I was gonna ask you what what position you played. So it sounds like you were you were a D a DB or cornerback? Yep, I was. Excellent. All right. Um, so is there any of your uh your highlight tapes still floating around out there from the 80s that we we need to go watch?

Guarding Michael Irvin at Miami

Chris 7:08

There the probably the only one would be uh me guarding Michael Irvin when we played Miami.

Did he shut Irvin down? No — but Irvin called him the toughest

Luke 7:16

See, that's something. Now, the other, did you did you shut Michael Irvin down or how'd that game go?

Chris 7:21

No, no, I did not. Um he still got his catches and and that um he had about a six-inch high advantage on me, and that, but I could keep up with him. But the the fun part was was when we got done, uh, he came over to me and said that I was probably one of the toughest white kids that ever played against him.

The ultimate compliment

Luke 7:40

I mean, that's probably the ultimate compliment, right? Yeah, yeah.

Career highlight — playing against Irvin

Chris 7:43

So in that it was, but that was that was about, you know, that's probably the highlight of my my career, but I enjoyed it, you know. It paid for my education and made a lot of good friends and and had a lot of good times with it back then.

Does he still talk to Irvin? Told Emmett Smith to say hi

Luke 7:56

No doubt, no doubt. So do uh do you and uh Mr. Irvin still uh communicate? Has he come to work your tailgates before?

Chris 8:05

No, he has not. He has not. So and that I was at a function one time when Emmett Smith was here, and I told him to tell Michael who he ran into and see if he remembered, and which I highly doubt. You know, Michael Irvin's gone on to be one of the best in the business.

Irvin doing NFL commentary now

Luke 8:22

So he had a pretty pretty decent career and still doing some cool things just with the with the NFL now of announcing and everything, too. Excellent. All right, so Chris, so let's say somebody goes to tailgateconnect.com. They're like, oh my gosh, I want to go to a uh Texas Tech game. What can they expect like when they show up at your tailgate?

What guests can expect at Matador Mafia

Chris 8:43

They can expect to be treated like family. Biggest thing. You know, we're gonna they're gonna show up and not have to worry about anything. That we will have, you know, all kinds of different food and drink set up, and they will get to meet some some really good people that are diehard tech fans. Um, always the chance that they're gonna run into some former players from years or or parents of current players. I have a standing, I have a standing invitation to any parent for whose son plays for Texas Tech right now. If they want to come to a tailgate, they come to come to our tailgate and we take care of them. And that so they get to people that come to our tailgate get to have a really good time, get to be part of the family. Um, they get to to meet some really good people, and that they get to hear some really good stories, you know, especially if we got former players coming in or parents coming in. They get to hear some, you know, stuff you're probably never gonna know or never hear. Um, especially visiting fans, they get some history. You know, we can talk to them about the university and the history of this program and the history of other programs at the at the university and that. So that's kind of what they get. And it's just it's a very, very laid-back environment, you know. Of course, we got the TVs on, we got cornhole, we've got, you know, all that stuff going on. But it's more about sitting and, you know, just like you're sitting on the back porch or something with somebody and talking about the school and things like that. That's what it's about. And that, and just and building those relationships and those friendships. And, you know, we have uh the mafia has stickers. We have our logo on stickers, and all the visiting fans that get to come, they become official members of the mafia family. So they go home with a little sticker from from the tailgate with our logo on it and that to take back with them to wherever they, you know, where they come from and and have something to remember it by.

Souvenir aspect — tailgaters love keepsakes

Luke 10:33

Excellent. No, I I love the souvenir aspect because to me, like some of these tailgates are just so amazing. And it's not just the tailgate in itself, it's the people that are at the tailgates and like just having the conversations and like making a lot of times I make a lot of new friends, right? Whenever I go to these tailgates. I I go to a lot of tailgates too where it's like I don't have a rooting interest for either team that's going to it, but I'm I'm but I go to the part of like I've never lost a tailgate. I've never lost a tailgate. And like that, that's the fun part for it too. So you mentioned like there's a lot of uh either former, current players, their families that might stop by the tailgates. Um, you know, to me, and again, this is low-hanging fruit, but like probably the the most well-known Texas like tech alumni. He he might play the NFL right now. He might have a couple of Super Bowl rings on there. Yeah. Has Mr. Patrick Mahomes ever swung by a tailgate?

When Pat Mahomes comes to town — limited route

Chris 11:25

No, no, no, no. And that so um when Pat comes to town, it's uh he he has a limited route where he goes just because of who he is. It's uh it's kind of crazy when he comes to town and that. So he um he doesn't venture out as much as he uh he normally would, you know, in that. Um he's a great he's a great he's a great guy. I've met him on several occasions. Um having my ties to the program, um, I get to go watch practices every now and then and at different events and stuff. And and he is just a down-to-earth guy. He is he has done so much for our university outside of just um his prestige of being you know one of the best in the NFL. Um he gives back to this university more than people know in that in buying tickets for kids and things like that. And so when he comes, it he keeps pretty pretty low profile. But you know, you never, you know, it's great to see the guys come back when they're in town. They have a place to come. Um I will tell people now they just have to be a little concerned, uh don't be concerned when uh we had a uh lineman that played for us up until last year, Tony Bradford. And Tony's a tremendous, tremendous player and that. But his goal when he got out of college is he wanted to go into law law enforcement. He is now a state trooper, but he works the games. He does traffic control at the games, so he'll pop by in his uniform and that at the tailgate. Yeah, everybody goes, what the heck? But he knows he comes by and he can he'll grab a little something, you know. They don't get much of a break when they're out there working, so he'll come by and grab a little something to eat and that and say hi and take pictures with people and that in his in his trooper uniform and that. But it's he just knows there's a place where he can come and get a little break in that. So that's kind of what happens in that. And it's I'll tell you the the parents that come of players are probably some of the biggest joy out of it. And to sit and hear the stories of these guys coming up and and why they chose Texas Tech and why they fell in love with it and that. So there's one family right now, um, the Millers, John Carlos Miller is a tight end for us. His parents live in North Carolina, they have been to every game, every week, on the road, and that's when they come in, you know, it's fun and that they they pop into the tailgate. They may not be able to stay very long, depending on what's going on, but they pop in and they've they've kind of become family. I actually just got a a text from his mom about a half hour ago. Hey, what time are we starting on Saturday? Because it's senior day and we got to do this and that. And so I told her, and that, because she wants to come by just for for a few minutes and that. So and that. So that's that's what makes it fun. And that's what people can expect when they come to our tailgate. It's just uh to sit and hang out and and hear those stories and kind of get to know some of the current players better and some of the former players.

Former players add to the tailgate experience

Luke 14:24

I know I I think that's an added element to your tailgate. Because not all tailgates are going to have the connections with the current and former players or families coming by because they have intimate knowledge, right, of of the program. And for a lot of us, like, you know, rabid fans, like we would love to hear more kind of behind the scenes or get to know some of that better. So that's just another added element to your tailgate that I'm picking up

Not just football — baseball and basketball players too

Luke 14:45

right now.

Chris 14:45

Yeah, and it's and it's funny because it's not only football. We'll get guys that play baseball or play basketball and that, where I know people, um, guys off and that, you know, in non-tailgating season, I'm an avid golfer and that. So I get players from the golf team that come by and that, you know, they'll want to place, you know, to come hang out for for a game or something, and and that. So we get all kinds of different players coming in, you know, athlet student athletes and former student athletes coming in, not just football players and that. So people you get to you get to see, you know, a kind of whole picture of the university and the athletic program here.

Does Matador Mafia operate every home game?

Luke 15:22

I know that's pretty pretty awesome. And and Chris, I thought I got to ask this question too. So obviously, it's out every home game, that is it fair, like every home game you're out there doing doing your tailgate thing.

Do they tailgate other Texas Tech sports?

Chris 15:32

Yep.

Luke 15:32

Every home game. And uh so outside of football season, have you ever dabbled in, say, Texas Tech basketball or baseball? I got there and done some tailgating for that

Ladies soccer tailgate!

Luke 15:43

too.

Chris 15:43

Um, we we've done some tailgates for some basketball games. Um when we have uh it's hard with basketball because everything's at night and there's not very many weekend games. You know, it's you know, that's that that TV driven model for basketball. Um, but a couple years ago, Kentucky came in. And so and it ended up being a Saturday like five o'clock game. So we had a tailgate for the basketball game with Kentucky coming in. And that um we've done some stuff with baseball um when they've gotten into like the regionals and that or super regionals. Um because my tailgate spot is right across from the baseball stadium.

Baseball tailgate too

Luke 16:23

Okay.

Chris 16:23

So we were right there and had had you know stuff for the baseball and that. So we've done some other sports and that we've done for the ladies' soccer team. Um they have some Sunday games sometimes, and if it's a big matchup with a rival or something, if it's you know, if it's permittable, we'll go we'll go throw up the the tailgate for for soccer and that and things like that. So it's uh we we try to get them, you know, football's the the driver and that and it's the easiest to to plan for and that, but the rest of the time, yeah, we do we have them for we'll have them for some other other events and that as they as the schedule allows.

Didn't think they'd tailgate ladies soccer — proved wrong

Luke 17:03

Nice. Yeah, I mean, I'll be honest crazy. I I didn't think you were gonna tell me you tailgated for ladies' soccer before. So kudos to you, Sarah. Like you're my kind of people for sure. Now, speaking of like tailgating, let's let's talk about food. To me, like food is a big part of the tailgate. Like, I've seen some of your pictures, like it sounds like like smoking and in Texas. Like, tell me a little bit more about what people can expect, like food-wise, when it comes to your tailgate.

Food varies by game — brisket, baked beans, mac & cheese

Chris 17:30

It can vary. So, you know, it one game may be, you know, it's full brisket and barbecue, you know, brisket, baked beans, smoked mac and cheese, uh, jalapeno poppers. Um, then we may have a uh, you know, a game with all we'll do ribs and things like that. We I try to vary it up in that and and mix and match, you know. I think uh, and it depends on, you know, game time. 11 a.m. game, it's you know, it's a little hard to do brisket and everything, and everybody's not wanting that. So we'll do, I've got a big flat top cooker. So like this last game was, you know, the BYU game was 11 o'clock. We did breakfast, Bloody Mary, mimosa bar, breakfast burritos, breakfast casseroles, all that stuff out there and that for everybody. So, you know, and and then some of the other people that helped me with the tailgate brought in, you know, some donuts and some cinnamon rolls and stuff like that. So we had a full, you know, you're not gonna go away hungry. Let's put it.

University has its own butcher shop — fresh cuts

Luke 18:27

I would hope that based on what I've seen with your tailgate before.

Chris 18:29

Yeah, and we've got, and it's nice because uh the university has a uh has their own uh butcher shop as part of their ag program. And I have uh I have a uh basically a sponsorship agreement with them. So I get all my meats and stuff from from them at a discount. So I call them up and say, hey, I'm doing brisket this week, and on I'll call them on Monday or Tuesday, tell them what I need, and on Friday, I'll go buy them. It's fresh cut brisket that they've got for me. And that, and so, or ribs or pork butter or whatever you want to do, you know. And sometimes everybody's like, eh, you know, we've had a lot of heavy stuff, so let's just do, you know, hot dogs and hamburgers or whatever. That's fine. You know, it's just we just kind of vary it up, you know. So I think this week uh uh with the UCF game, I think we're gonna we'll probably roll out the flat top and and have a full big uh fajita bar and that for the game and stuff. So we'll have like three different types of fajitas going and and that for everybody to to partake in this week. So it'll be it'll be a good it it's all food's always important, you know. It's but you know, it's Texas, and so most of it's all barbecue.

Cold weather = chili mac

Luke 19:40

Sure. I mean, I'm not mad at it either. I mean you said brisket, I'm over here like, man, that sounds delicious because I know the amount of work that goes into making a good brisket.

Chris 19:48

Yeah, and we'll do, you know, if it's if we know it's gonna be a later game, it's the weather's gonna be cold in that. There'd be a big, you know, maybe a big pot of brisket chili or something like that for for it, you know, and you know, just different, just vary it up and that. I love to cook and then I've got a full outdoor kitchen at the house and that, so I'm always kind of experimenting doing things and like, oh, this will work good. You know, but you gotta make it where it's easy to eat, you know. You're not doing steak out there and having to have everybody sit there and cut steak and things like that. So you gotta have you gotta have stuff that's simple to eat and that to make it enjoyable.

What's in the cup at the tailgate?

Luke 20:25

So it's always fun. Speaking of enjoyable, Chris, like I enjoy a nice beverage at the uh at the tailgate. What does that look like? Uh I heard um not not was it mimosa's or bloody Mary's? We had both. We had both. What does that normally look like for these games?

Morning game: mimosa and bloody Mary bar

Chris 20:45

So, so yeah, so morning game, yeah. There's we always have a mimosa and a bloody Mary bar with you make it how you want it. We've got all kinds of things for that. Um our our tailgate rig has a margarita machine in it, so that's usually going. There's a full complement of you know different beers and that. Uh I've got a local brewery here that makes some really good craft beers. They make actually make a hard lemonade that everybody loves. It's called Unemployed Astronaut, and they package it for me in um one-gallon plastic growlers with a tap on it so it's easy to serve for everybody. And that. And then we we'll have we have a full bar and that at the tailgate. So we'll have, you know, vodka and whiskey and you know, whatever people kind of want, you know, and that. And like I said, different beers and things. And then, you know, if you're not, if you're not drinking, there's always tons of water and soda and and things like that. So there's yeah, it's all set up. We have a whole bar table set up every game for everybody, and you kind of help yourself and whatever you feel like going, there's it's there.

Has he been to other Big 12 tailgates?

Luke 21:49

Excellent. Excellent. All right. So, Chris, I it sounds like you were hitting like Texas Tech hard with the tailgates. Do you ever get to travel either to go watch Texas Tech on the road or do tailgates? Gatey like outside of the Texas Tech University area?

Hornball Tailgaters at Texas — one of his favorites

Chris 22:04

Yeah, I do. I've been down to Waco and that um for some for when Tech's been there. I got to enjoy and you know the guys at the horn ball tailgators down at UT when we were playing UT and that, and that's always a fun. It kind of varies, you know, of where I get to. I was hoping this year to get to Utah to go see the guys in the pig bus. But that that did not happen. Had some things come up, so I wasn't able to get up there and that. Um, but that's still one of the ones I'd like to go and and and visit those guys and see how they do it. So yeah, I I do try to get to as many as I can in that um just uh schedule-wise, is what make you know, trying to get out to some of these games sometimes.

LSU night game — bucket list

Luke 22:54

Fully understand the struggles of that sometimes. Now, Chris, what is out of out of all the ones you've been to so far? I know you haven't been to every tailgating venue out there, but like what's your favorite one outside of Texas Tech

Bucket list: The Grove at Ole Miss

Luke 23:05

you've been to?

Chris 23:05

Probably the two that are probably the my my favorite that I've been to is the hornball. And the hornball takers that you'd see were really good. And uh I got to experiencing uh tailgating at LSU for a night game. And and just and just and I and it wasn't one specific, it was just kind of wander through and and visited a bunch of different ones, and that's a whole different experience. So those two are probably two of the best experiences I've had outside of tech with it.

Luke 23:37

So yeah, no, an LSU night game, that if you're if you love PO gating, that's gotta be a bucket list item for pretty much everybody out there to go experience at least one time out there. So yeah, speaking of bucket list, Chris, like what's one venue? I know you mentioned Utah, but is there a venue that's like I have to get to this venue and check it out?

You never know with Ole Miss

Chris 23:59

I want to go to the Grove. Grove, okay. I want to go down the grove and check it and just to see that and stuff. So um, and I want to go back and I we didn't tailgate when we were there, um, but I'd like to go back to the Army Navy game and then take it in as a tailgate. We when we went to the Army Navy game in 2014, uh, it was to go see the game and go in, be in the stadium and take, you know, take in all of that is the Army Navy game. But I'd like to go back for for the game and now having seen everything that goes on inside, go outside and see what the tailgating's like at that game because it looked like it was you know pretty intense and that and a good time. So I'd like to go back and so the Grove and the Army Navy game are probably the two that I'd and that so on the college side, on the pro side, and that I gotta go, I want to go and tailgate it with my Steelers. So Okay. So it sounds like you're a Steelers fan then. I am a big Steelers fan. Growing up in a Steel town, I was a Steel, I've been a Steelers fan from a long for a long time. I mean, they have a they have a decent team

You never know — they might do something

Chris 25:09

this year.

Luke 25:09

They they might do something. You don't you don't know.

Chris 25:11

I don't know.

Luke 25:12

You never know.

Chris 25:15

You never know with them.

13 years of experience — best tip

Luke 25:17

No doubt. All right, Chris. So uh 13 years of tailgating experience, you know, one of the things I like to do is pick like people's brains with that. Like if you if you rewound time and saw a 13-year younger you, what tips would you give them on like, hey, here's how you tailgate better? What would be some of those tips you gave your younger self when you first started like tailgating and making this like a bigger deal?

Always think bigger than your expected group size

Chris 25:44

Um I think is you can never think of your size. Always think bigger because you're gonna, it's gonna be when we first started. I mean, it was one 10 by 10 canopy and you know, maybe one table interiors, and then you're like, oh, we're running out of space. So what do we do? So if if you're if you're gonna get into it and you're gonna do it, kind of plan a little bit bigger. And that, you know, yeah, it's it's more setup and takedown and hauling stuff around, but uh it's worth it in the long run. Because, you know, if you get a hot day and you, you know, when we some of the games in September when we first started with one 10 by 10 canopy and you've got 20 people trying to squeeze under it to get some shade and stuff like that. So that, you know, looking back on it, that would be my thing. I've been like, okay, we need to have, you know, a couple canopies and maybe a couple more tables to put stuff and and things like that and and and go from there. So it's uh that's my biggest thing is to say, is just to take uh, you know, to plan a little bit bigger than what you think is going to be there. Because you're you, you know, you're gonna have you're gonna need the space.

Over-prepare on food and drink

Luke 26:56

I think that that's a pro tip on a few levels, because in my opinion, too, do the same thing with food and drinks because inevitably you more people will come by or say hello. And instead of running out of stuff, you have extra things to give. So extra space, extra gear, extra food, extra drinks, like all of that seems like it makes for a better tailgating experience for us.

Group size advice for university tailgates

Chris 27:17

It does. And usually if you're doing it, if you're you know, your university that's there in your hometown, and it's your friends and that, they've got kids that may be in school there or or close to being in school there. You never have leftovers. If you've got college kids around, you never have leftovers. And that you don't ever have to take food home.

Cell coverage tip — don't rely on stadium WiFi

Luke 27:39

I haven't been to a tailgating scene that before. I saw somebody giving a tailgating tip today on Instagram, and it's like, and here's the stuff to take food home from a tailgate. I was like, what like what tailgates are we going to when there's all this leftover food that people are taking home? I haven't seen those personally.

Enough college kids now to help manage cell coverage

Chris 27:54

Yeah, yeah. I've you know, we got uh, you know, we got enough college kids now in the group that it's like, you know, here and uh they know they'll come by, they'll be like, what's left? And that we'll just start handing them stuff. So yeah, I don't ever hardly take any food home. And uh now you take you know, you take beverages home and that, but that's easy to to deal with. But but food, no, we don't ever have any any left around. It'll it goes to the kids and and that, so when they get done. But that's uh yeah, that's how you do it. You know, yeah, plan plan a little bit bigger for you know, food. I always I always cook for at least ten to twenty more, depending on what I'm cooking. Yeah, like I said, if there's a little bit left over, the kids the college kids will take it. For sure. And then it beats top ramen in the dorm.

Average turnout — 40-50 on a normal Saturday

Luke 28:44

A hundred percent on that. Chris, how many people on average are coming to your tailgate out of curiosity?

Chris 28:53

Probably forty to fifty and that on a on an average Saturday and that. So um some you know, depending on the game, it's bigger than that. Um in that. I I actually thought last week's game with BYU would be a bigger turnout. And it I think there was so much going on uh that they uh that people just kind of popped in and out. Nobody was there for a long time. You know, everybody wanted to go see game day, everybody wanted to go be part of this and part of that. So and that so it it kind of took you know took away from the normal group, but that's it's a you know, how often does game day come? We're not an SEC school, they don't come that often. It has been 17 years since the last time they were here.

Game Day came to Lubbock — huge for the program

Luke 29:38

So I mean if y'all keep winning the way you're doing, like you might have big noon and all all the people coming out there to see more of your

Kirk Herbstreit and Pat McAfee endorsed Lubbock

Luke 29:45

games.

Chris 29:45

Yeah, and that's uh we that I would love for that. I mean, that's just great for the university. And that and the university's done a lot of things too now that I think make it for a better experience for the fan. Uh it may, yes, it takes away from our tailgate a little bit, but it's a better experience for the fan. They have they take in a part of the campus in what they call Raider Alley now, and there's some tailgating in there, uh, more corporate tailgating and stuff, but they always have um some musician playing. So they have a live band that plays a concert in there at you know a couple hours before game time. So depending on who's playing there, some people, you know, they want to go see that artist and that. So they're over there and that. So the it's a it makes for a better fan experience at the game, but it does take away from you know what we do as as tailgators and that because it is a little bit of a way from away from where we're at.

Opposing fans always welcome

Luke 30:41

And that that's fair, but at the end of the day, it's like whoever shows up, they're gonna have a great time at the tailgate, right? If everybody's having a good time, that's all that matters at the end of

Making friends is the point

Luke 30:49

the day.

Chris 30:49

That's it. That's it. And that it's always it's always a good time in that. So and it's a and it, like I said, it's it's a very relaxed. There's not a whole lot, everybody's just real chill. It doesn't matter a visiting fan or whatever, everybody's treated the same and and with respect and that. So it's just real, it's just real laid back out there.

Opposing fans stay civil — they know they're outnumbered

Luke 31:07

And that's usually, and you've said that twice now. I usually ask that question too, just like, well, if you're an opposing fan, do you get put over into the corner and you get like a little cup of water and you have a good day? Um, I know that's not normally how tailgates are, but I always like to call it out because I I know like there's a few fans out there with each school probably that have kind of given it a bad name for it. But I I love the fact that with most tailgates, sounds like yours included. It's like it's a very inclusive opportunity for people to come together and hang out and and see like what it's all about at that particular university.

We're there to support our team and have fun

Chris 31:40

Yeah, that's it. That's it. You know, it's it's making friends and that, you know, it's yeah, we're there to support our team and that, but there's there's no need to be rude to other people. They're just they're normal people like us and they're they're supporting their team and that. So, and as long as you know the the visiting fans that come in are you know are gracious, then we are as well, you know, and stuff. And you know, and it and I've told I've told visiting fans uh well last year when Colorado was here, we had a a good chunk of Colorado fans in. And I said, hey, if you guys are out walking and you don't feel comfortable anywhere, come back here. You know, if if there's some fans out there getting a little obnoxious or whatever, and you've not sure where to go, come back here. And that, and you know, we we can deal with it and that. So um and that. So they kind of give them a safe space, you know. They know they're gonna get treated right and they're not gonna have to hear it. And there's probably food and drink, too. So it's like, who wouldn't want to do that? Yeah, there's food and drink and that, yeah, there's food and drink and that. There's usually always somebody. Um I'm I go in for every game, but we always have people that are out at the trailer and that, so uh and out there with everything. So I've got a good group of friends that they don't they don't like the big crowds, they love coming to the tailgate, but they don't want to be sitting in that stadium, so they hang out at the trailer and it's like, okay, perfect. You know, I got I got security out there, and I don't have to worry about it. And then so yeah, people have a sp, you know, if they if they bought a ticket through Tailgate Connect and they got inside and you know it's a blowout or they don't, you know, they've got obnoxious fans around them or whatever, they can come back out there and hang out, watch the game on the TV and and you know, enjoy themselves. And the beer's a lot cheaper.

Sometimes I've stayed at a tailgate and skipped the game

Luke 33:28

No doubt, no doubt. I'll be I'll be honest. I'm the guy that has uh stayed at many a tailgate because the tailgating was so good, it's like, why go into the game when I can watch the game and hang out with these great people and have everything at my fingertips there? So I've been that guy quite a few times in my life, honestly. Yeah. Chris, tell me, like, with all the with all the tailgating you've done, like, is there a favorite? Because I'm a big I love tailgating gear and tailgating gadgets. Like, do you have one where it's just like, man, this is my go-to. I love it, I need it. Like at every tailgate. Is there something that jumps out?

Also: Starlink satellite

Chris 34:02

I got I've got lots. It to me, it's uh a couple things. Uh one, it's my portable smoker. And that, so I've got um, I've got two of the uh portable Traeger smokers that are loaded in the trailer at all times, and that. And then now the uh the collapsible tubs and the insulated hotbox from from them is great. And that I love that it makes it so easy to to store and and keep those things around. Those those have become kind of the go-to. And that I used to have the old heavy-duty hotbox to keep stuff warm and and that, and that thing was weighed a ton to move around and that and the new the new styrofoam one um um from Drippies is just just phenomenal and that and it's just easy to move and and it holds a ton and that. And so I always yeah, it's funny, we've been we've been in our spot now uh for 10 years, the same tailgate spot. And the line down that parking lot of tailgators has has been the same the entire 10 years, same, same different groups of people in their group, and uh, and it's always it when the season starts, everybody's like, okay, what do you got new? What what did you add? What did you do? You know, so everybody's checking to see, and that, and so, and that, and so mine this year I upgraded um and moved off of uh Dish TV and went to Starlink.

Starlink review — love it

Luke 35:36

Okay, and now give me your uh feedback on that just out of curiosity.

Chris 35:41

I love it. The Starlink is so much easier to use than the Dish and that and that, you know, and most people now you pay for streaming services at

Pay the Dish bill and get more from Starlink

Chris 35:50

home.

Luke 35:50

So Yeah, or quite a few of them.

Chris 35:53

Yes, yeah, yeah. And uh, I look at the bill and go, okay, well, uh, and that so you you're getting one more use out of it. You're already paying for it for your home. Why not use it when you go to your tailgate? And the Starlink uh is um their mobile program. It's it's kind of set up like dish with their tailgator packages that you only need it to turn it on them the time you need it, and the rest of the time it's there. But the connectivity is so much better. And the thing we found that's nice too is now we have Wi-Fi at the tailgate. And you're not fighting with, you know, 60,000 people to all get on networks, and you're trying to, you're, you know, I'm trying to post my pictures, you know, at the start of the tailgate and what's going on, you know, to social media and stuff. And I'm on my Wi-Fi now and it's instantaneous, and I don't have to worry about waiting for a picture to upload and things like that. So so I think a few more of the guys along the line I think are gonna switch over to the the Starlink and and add that. And it's also nice too, if you want to put up multiple TVs and that you're just logging into each TV logging into the Starlink. And that's it.

Starlink confirmed by multiple guests

Luke 37:03

I've heard that from a few people recently about Starlink. So it's it it's interesting you bring that up. And I feel like I might need to put that to my own tailgaming challenge, so to speak, and give it a little uh testing.

Tested Starlink at the spot before buying

Chris 37:15

Yeah, I I went before I bought it, I went out to our spot. And so when I had Dish, there were three satellites. If you use the the app that Dish has where you can find the satellites, there was three satellites. When I went out there and I put the app on the phone to look for the Starlink satellites, there was like 30 satellites I could hit. So that's the the time it takes for me to take the the Starlink out and put it on the trailer, and that I'm up and connected within probably three minutes. And that so it it's so much quicker, so much easier. And that it's been a it's been a great addition to have.

Favorite food — brisket with shotgun shells

Luke 37:54

Awesome, yeah. Well, I appreciate that pro tip right there, Chris. Now, let me ask you, I I'll I'll we're going to uh take a trip to uh fairy tale land for a minute where you don't have to work your tailgate, you get to totally relax. What is going to be on your tailgating food plate? You're not making it, you're not worried about cost. What is your favorite tailgating food?

Shotgun shells — stuffed manicotti in bacon

Chris 38:18

Mine's brisket. Brisket. I I'm I'm going brisket 100%. A little brisket, uh, maybe some shotgun shells, uh, some jalapeno poppers.

How to make shotgun shells

Luke 38:29

Remind people outside of Texas what is a shotgun show? Because it's not actually a shotgun show for those that are wondering why you're you know what I'm talking about.

Chris 38:35

No, it's a uh it's uh it's a stuffed manicotti noodle uh wrapped in bacon and cooked. And you don't cook the noodles before the bacon grease cooks the noodles for you while you cook them. And that so you can stuff them with whatever you want. And that mine typically gets stuffed with boudin. And uh so I've got a I've got a good friend that lives in East Texas, it's not far to Louisiana, so I'll make a run over there a couple times a year and pick up boudin to bring it back and and do shotgun shells with with boudin. And then, but you can stuff them with whatever you want, guys stuff them with briskets, guys stuff them with, you know, pork or whatever, and uh, you can do whatever. And it's a it's a it's a great deal in that. But that would be if I'm not having to do anything, and if you can ask my friends and you can ask anybody that comes to tailgate, there's not a moment that I'm not doing something. So if you could get me to sit down for a minute as a tailgate, you're you're doing uh a good job there.

Drink of choice — Crown and Dr. Pepper

Luke 39:35

All right, Chris. Well, while you're sitting down, you got your shotgun shoves, you got your brisket. What's in your cup?

Chris 39:42

Um if I got my choice, it's uh I'm I'm going I'm going a little crown, a little crown and Dr. Pepper in the cup, and that. So if I'm not having to worry about it too much, you know. If like I said, if I'm working my tailgate, it's uh it's beer and that. So I've I've got the double stack koozie that fits two beers in it, so I don't have to keep running back to the cooler and that. Absolutely. Uh yeah, it's the best thing now. It's just great, you know. So that uh but yeah, it's uh yeah, if I if I'm not having to worry about it and I can take time to mix a drink and that, then that's what I'm going with.

Beer of choice — varies, Shiner to Coors Light to local 9%

Luke 40:21

What is your what is your beer of choice?

Chris 40:24

Man, it varies, it just depends on the day. How about your style of beer? Does that does that narrow down? No, I don't have style. I mean, I will go for I'll go from Shiner to Coors Light to, you know, when the Bushlight apple comes out, there's a lot of that that comes around the the tailgate, you know. Um the brewery here in town that I I do a lot of stuff with, you know, their unemployed astronaut, that hard that hard lemonade, it's made it's really funny because they make it with tang and it's it's kind of like drinking orange juice, but it's 9% alcohol, so you got to be careful. It'll it'll come up and get you in a hurry. But they make a they make another uh another lager that's called 1806 that's really good. Um so it just kind of varies, you know. It's just not overly picky on it. And uh it's just kind of what's just cold. Well it as long as it's cold, you know, it just kind of depends on the day. And that so okay.

Favorite tailgate game — cornhole, all day

Luke 41:21

Um, all right. So last one about the tailgate for you. What is your favorite tailgating game?

Chris 41:26

Tailgate. Oh, cornhole. Cornhole. I'm going corn. We're going corn. All day.

Luke 41:30

Okay. It's a classic, right? It's a classic. Uh

Cornhole — everyone can get into it

Luke 41:35

it is.

Chris 41:35

And it's, you know, the thing with with with cornhole is it's like everybody can get into it. You know, everybody can get into it. It's easy, it's easy to set up. It's uh it it everybody can get into it, everybody has fun with it, you know, and and have a good time with it and stuff. So um we've got we've got that, we've got uh ladder ball, we've got, you know, a few others, but it seems like the corn home boards are what everybody kind of goes to, you know. Because they don't have to play for a whole time. They can go out there, throw, you know, bags three or four times and be like, uh, you know, oh, we're visiting in that, so yeah.

Dream tailgate guest — Patrick Mahomes or Michael Crabtree

Luke 42:13

Okay. All right, Chris. So who I I know you've had some current former players come by. Who is that one player that you would love to come by your tailgate? Shout him out right now, see if we can make it happen.

Pat would roll in with Coors Light

Chris 42:27

Oh, if if Pat could come by, I'd love to have Pat come by.

Luke 42:30

And that would be I'm gonna call him after the show.

Michael Crabtree — really down to earth

Chris 42:34

Call him up, you know, you know, because you know, Pat's gonna roll in with the Coors Light and be ready to go. So, and you know, and hang out and that. So, no, I you know Pat would be Pat would be phenomenal just because of the person who he is. And if I had to go another one, uh is Michael Crabtree.

Luke 42:55

Okay. Michael's what Michael's just saying.

Chris 42:58

Okay, yeah. Yep. Michael is a is a tremendous, a tremendous guy. Um having had opportunities to meet him and talk to him and stuff, and that he's you know, he's got those NFL stories, you know. He can come sit and talk and you know, and and just hang out. He's just he's a very down-to-earth guy at that. So, you know, there's there's haven't been, you know, there's been a handful of guys in the NFL, you know, position player guys. You know, Patrick and and and Michael and West Welker and and Zach Thomas and that, you know, for a long time our claim to fame for guys in the NFL were uh we're all linemen.

Linemen used to be Tech's NFL claim to fame

Luke 43:35

Right.

Chris 43:35

You know, we had a ton of linemen go through and that and we've had some pretty decent quarterbacks, but you know, uh not didn't have the NFL success that Patrick's had. You know, they've had successes.

Luke 43:48

With how well he's done.

Fun to see players come back

Chris 43:49

Yeah, you do, you know. But you know, it's uh it's it it's good to have them come back. And that it's fun to see them when they come back. And uh I enjoy it in that. So and that, you know, I was telling, hey, it's open, you know, you guys want to come. I know it's tough. You know, especially if they're well known in that it it's hard for them to get away from the stadium and get down to the tailgate and stuff like that. So and that and I totally understand that. You know, it's uh it can be a bit of a a headache.

Tag Patrick or Michael — let's make it happen

Luke 44:19

And uh it gets stopped 900 times. I can I can only imagine um for that. But again, if anybody that knows Patrick or Michael Crabtree out there listening to this right now, let's get them over to the Matador Mafias for your future tailgate and make it happen. It'd be awesome. Yeah, it'd be great. All right, Chris, um, as we wind the show down here, I want you to take the mic right now and tell people who are like, man, like I really want, I think I want to come out to a Texas tech game. Maybe they're on the fence. Sell them on Cummy to hang out with you and the Matador Mafias right now.

Final pitch — Texas Tech is an experience like any other

Chris 44:55

Oh, it's it's it's an experience like any other. And that a tech game is for college football. Um, you know, Lubbock's got no professional sport teams. So everything revolves around the university. So if you want a full college football experience and a tailgate, come see us. And that and I would tell anybody if you're if you're on the fence, go listen to the things that uh Kirk Herbstreet and Pat McAfee and all them just had to say after being here for the last week for the game, and how well and what this town's about and the excitement that goes into not only with them being here for game day last week, but for every game and that. So, you know, tech has one of the best entrances and start of a game with the mask rider leading the team out onto the field of any college sports, you know, franchise and that, and just the excitement and the fans and that. Yes, it is, we are out here in the middle of nowhere. But is it a town of 300,000 people that will treat you like family and you'll have a you'll have a great time, you'll have a great experience. There's so much to experience at the university and at the with the tailgate and the whole athletic program and that. So that's what I would tell people. Just come and and try it, and you'll be sold in that, and you'll have a good time.

Outro

Luke 46:16

Excellent. All right. Well, Chris, I've had a great time hanging out with you and getting to know you a little bit better this evening. Um, for everybody that's out there that wants to go hang out with Chris, hit up tailgateconnect.com, get those tailgating tickets. We appreciate Chris for being here. We appreciate everybody that listened until the end of the show as well. And of course, we hope to see everyone at a tailgate soon. Have a good one. Tailgate Connect, it's all here for you. Food drinking friends under sky so blue.