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WELCOME TO...
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The Packalope! By Mark Dau The Tailgater Publisher |
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costume for every home Packer game. It all began when he mounted a six-point deer rack to a vintage 1960s Packer helmet. “I started wearing it to my tailgate parties, where it was an immediate hit,” says Larry. “Everyone seemed to love the Packalope!”
What’s in a Name
The Packalope name is based on an amateur filmmaker's version of the Jackalope, a mythical creature in the vein of Bigfoot that's half jackrabbit and half antelope that appeared in an episode of America's Funniest Home Videos.
As the Packers headed to their Super Bowl XXXI victory in 1997, Larry attached to the old helmet a 10-point deer rack. “A championship team needs a championship rack,” says Larry. New Orleans-style Mardi Gras beads and a mini cheese wedge completed the ensemble. This original six-point helmet is now on display in the Pro Football Hall of Fame, in Canton, Ohio.
In January of 1999, Larry was one of 31 NFL fans to be enshrined in the Pro Football Hall of Fame. The Packalope has been seen in TV commercials, Athlon's Sports Magazine, The Wall Street Journal, Sporting News, and newspapers all over the country. Most impressive is that the Packalope has raised thousands of dollars for charities such as the Special Olympics, St. Jude's Children's Research Hospital and Cerebral Palsy.
The Packer Van
The level the Packalope Crew tailgates at is what makes their tailgate special. It all starts with the green and gold Packer van decorated with Packer paraphernalia, inside and out. “We try to create an atmosphere that separates us from other tailgate parties,” says Larry. “Our tables are loaded with green and gold beads for the kids as well as Packalope trading cards.”
Larry’s Packer Van is actually a 1980 Ford Econoline Van painted green and gold inside and out. “We have two 15-foot poles with six Packer flags flying and top those with U.S. flags, to show support for our military and that we believe in the USA,” says Larry. “The base color of the van is green, gold, and white and is topped off with a huge four by four foot piece of fiberglass cheddar cheese. The exterior has numerous vinyl graphics including a tribute to Brett Favre, the Packer game schedule, championship years, and on the hood is a huge Packer helmet.”
The van interior has a mural of Lambeau Field painted on one wall and photos of Larry with many Packer stars, present and past. The van also has tailgate tunes playing on a large mounted stereo with a five-disc CD player powered by a 1,000-watt generator. “We set up a Packer canopy next to the van and place our food tables under the canopy,” says Larry. “It's got tons of great Packers decorations and it's topped off with the largest hunk of cheese this side of the moon!”
Packer Tailgating Spirit
The Packalope Cheese Army leaves four and a half hours before the game time, allowing time to get in line at the stadium as the parking lot opens four hours before kick-off. “As one of the first 60,000 fans, we park right near the entrance and can set-up in our spot in less than an hour,” says Larry. “We tailgate four hours before and usually stay after to celebrate. It never pays to rush out of the parking lot as you just sit in traffic.”
Longtime friends are the regulars as well as friends that stop by periodically when they get lucky and get tickets. “We also encourage family and friends to bring others by to join us for the Packer spirit,” says Larry. “People from all over the world stop by our tailgate. We have a regular, from Okinawa, Japan, who makes a game every couple years. Former Packer players such as Ken Ruettgers, Willie Wood, and John Michels stop by to say ‘hi.’”
Good Eats
up Wisconsin homemade brats in green & gold brat buns, shrimp and steak kabobs, and Wisconsin cheese and crackers. Another feature of our tailgate is our desserts, which are placed on our electric three-tier rotating and is dessert tray filled with goodies such as caramel brownies, chocolate dipped strawberries, and green and gold M & M’s.”
The Frozen Tapioca Tundra
At last year’s NFC Championship game it was 15 below zero and every single thing they had froze. “We thought we were prepared to deal with the cold but we put stuff in the cooler to keep warm,” recalls Larry. “Food froze right on the plates and we put items in the cooler to prevent freezing. We didn’t eat or drink much as soda and beer looked like it was topped with foam, but the liquid froze instantly when opened. We warmed up in the bathrooms by overhead heaters.”
“It’s an open-air stadium, so weather conditions mean nothing. You just have to dress for it.”
One Happy Family
Larry says if you've never been to Lambeau Field, get there if only for the tailgate parties. “I park in the same spot every home game,” he says. “Many people just come to attend our party as Packer tickets are very hard to get. Some come just to attend the tailgate as sometimes the tailgate is more fun than the game.”
“The stadium atmosphere is like one happy family. It promotes life-long friendships. What I love most, is meeting all the fans that stop by our tailgate, especially all of the kids! I usually give them a Packalope football card, green and gold beads and take a photo with them.”
An all-around good guy, that Packalope!
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"When tailgating, we're all on the same team!" Tailgate Media, LLC, 252
Orchard Street, Westfield, NJ 07090 |
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