Fighting Saints fans make last tailgate count

The Carroll College fighting saints have once again made it to the NAIA championship. They’ve made it this far with hard work, dedication, and of course the support of their fans. I went to the last tailgate of the season at Nelson Stadium Saturday and found out just how deep saints fans dedication runs.

Even as the temperature was dropping, tailgating was in full swing and fighting saints fans were enjoying the last couple hours until kickoff.

"We've been coming here for 10 years and doing it every game and loving it," says Tailgater, Jerry Bradley.

"And each year we try to step it up a  little by adding indoor heaters, outdoor fireplaces, music, free food," says Tailgater, Curtis Weiler.

"We've kind of figured out that successful tailgates, you've always gotta have heat in the winter, you always have to have fire and you have to have a really big barbeque," says Tailgater, Parker Heller.

Many tailgaters agree that standing out in the cold weather is a small price to pay to show Carroll their dedication.

"The players know who's here, they walk right through the crowd to get into the stadium and I believe it pumps them up a lot," says Parker Heller.

"They get to walk through that crowd of people, Saints fans cheering them on to go on for their initial practice to come back through and then come game time to be able to step out and see a field of purple supporting them," says Curtis Weiler.

And some say winter weather is actually an advantage.

"It's a lot more fun cause then you get to throw snowballs at everybody while you're waiting for the game," says Tailgater, Brayden Heller.

"For some of us it's just the more extreme the better.  Particularly for an opposing team that may be coming from a southern climate  if we can have that advantage of cold weather and they see us standing here all bundled up but still with big smiles on our face it's a good day," says Curtis Weiler.

Even through Saturday marked the last tailgate of Carroll’s season, true fans are already looking forward to, and maybe even preparing for next year.

Saints fans are also a responsible group many arrange designated drivers for a ride home after the game. And even though tailgating is over, many fans are excited to support Carroll for their championship bid in Rome, Georgia on December 17th.

Story by Kaelyn Kelly, Beartooth NBC.
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