FSU to allow tailgating at home football games this season

There are two types of college football fans: People that love tailgating as much as the games, and people that don’t understand what truly makes college football great.

But in a post-Covid-19 world, is it a good idea to be outside with your friends chugging beers, grilling meats, and playing music that the parking space next to you may or may not enjoy? In 2020, the Florida State Seminoles won’t have any objections if you do.

The Noles released “Guidelines For Tailgating at Seminole Home Football Games” today, and they are... not very long.

All parking lots will open three hours before kickoff this season.

Patrons will be limited to individual tailgates at their own spaces.

All attendees are asked to maintain the six-foot social distancing standard between individuals outside of family/friends as well as between tailgate areas.

All patrons are encouraged to wear facemasks when traveling through parking lots as well as while socializing.

And... that’s the list. Seriously. All of it. And there are some season ticket holders that have concerns.

“It’s extremely unfortunate that in the midst of this national pandemic, FSU has decided to allow fans to participate in normal tailgate activities,” says Hoyt Prindle, a 2007 FSU grad that started going to games when his Dad had season tickets as a child. “This decision unnecessarily increases the risk that COVID-19 will spread at an FSU home football game, which endangers fans and potentially could endanger FSU’s players,” he said. His father opened their Seminole Boosters account in 1983, with Prindle renewing every year since his dad died in 2008. “I hope the university will reconsider this decision.”

“It’s been proven thus far that far too many cannot be trusted to follow social distancing and mask guidelines,” said Greg LaManna, Class of 2005 & 2008 who travels to Tallahassee for several games a season from his home in Ohio. “While tailgating is a fun tradition and piece of the game day experience, it’s not practical or prudent to allow especially as the season begins.”

They are just two of many, with several prominent ‘Noles fans publicly supportive. That includes the Secretary of Florida’s Department of Business and Professional Regulation.

But some medical professionals still don’t think that’s enough:

The Noles are planning on having 20-25% attendance capacity at Doak Campbell for games this season.

So what say you? Good idea or bad idea for a team that’s struggled with how to handle Covid-19 already to allow donors to tailgate on game day?