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ARCHIVED NEWS Click on a date to read a news release. For weekly tailgate recaps, click here. 8/24/09: 2009 Schedule Announced Aug. 24, 2009: 2009 Schedule Announced Seven home gamedays in Lot 1d, three roAd trips to the state (wasteland) of North Carolina and an Ohio-Pennsylvania high school throwdown highlight the 2009 A-Game Tailgate schedule as Team A-Game begins its 14th season of Maryland Football tailgating. "We've challenged ourselves with 11 great gamedays, including several opportunities to avenge losses from 2008," said Head Chef Paul Krome. "We're looking forward to eating ourselves across Lot 1d and in three trips to North Carolina." Highlights of the home schedule include a visit from the State University of New Jersey, Team A-Game's annual Family Day game Oct. 17 vs. the Whine-and-Cheesers from Virginia, and a grudge match against ESPN's favorite sons, the Hokies of Virginia Polytechnic Institute. Team A-Game has plans to hit the road to the Tar Hole State for ACC games at Wake Forest (Oct. 10), Dook (Oct. 24) and N.C. State (Nov. 7). Click here for information on road games and tailgates for the Terrapin Nation. Click here for info on Family Day. Part of Team A-Game will be at Harding Stadium in Steubenville, Ohio, for a Friday night lights game against Fairview from Pittsburgh. The Steubenville Big Red are the third winningest team in the history of Ohio football, claiming recent state titles in 2005 and 2006 and often filling 10,000-seat Harding Stadium. That will be fun, but it will mark the end of a streak as PK misses his first home Maryland game since 2002 (debacle!). Absent from the schedule is the annual Regents Cup Game between Salisbury and Frostburg, which moves back to campus after a 10-year run in the Baltimore-D.C. area.E-mail Team A-Game with ticket requests for road games, Family Day or other single games. June 5, 2009: Early Signing Period Ends with Team A-Game at 14 Strong for 2009 Fourteen veterans of the A-Game Tailgate have signed Tailgating National Letters of Intent for 2009 Maryland Football in the early signing period, Team A-Game announced today. "Recruiting is cyclical," said head chef Paul Krome. "People had to make decisions. We focused our recruiting efforts on quality veterans. The cliche would say we'll be a leaner, more mobile Team A-Game in 2009, but knowing the way our signees eat and drink, that couldn't be further from the truth." Team A-Game will continue to recruit and possibly add some late signees as the season draws near. Reservations are now being accepted for roAd trips. There are three games in North Carolina. The A-Game Tailgate will likely attend at least two of those games. Discussion continues on when Family Day 2009 will take place. Oct. 4 against Clemson is a possibility. E-mail Team A-Game with ticket requests for road games or other single games. July 16, 2008: Team A-Game Announces 2008 Schedule Seven home gamedays in College Park, at least three road trips to ACC rivals (including two trips to the Idiot Commonwealth of Virginia), a potential doubleheader tailgate day and a probable bowl game highlight Team A-Game's 2008 schedule, released today. "This is a terrific schedule, one that will test our waist lines as we eat and drink our way up and down the East Coast in support of the Terrapins," said Chef Krome. "We've got two grudge matches against our neighbors to the south, who still can't grasp the fact that the Potomac River actually does belong to Maryland. And, we'll be returning to the scene of the 100th A-Game Tailgate with the weekend trip to Clemson in late September, and we all remember how special Clemson is." The A-Game Tailgate will be in session for 10 confirmed Maryland gamedays, and perhaps more. For home games, the Team will try something new with the possible addition of a second home site. For games that kickoff before 4 p.m., the A-Game Tailgate will be in its customary Lot 1d location. But if kickoff is under the lights, the tailgate will happen across Campus Drive at the Methodist Church. "We've about had it with the UM Parking Terrorists -- aka Enemies of Freedom -- that harass valid permit holders on gameday. For games that will involve an extended pregame tailgate, we'll gladly contribute to the Methodist Church in exchange for a headache-free day of food and football," said Chef Krome. The national media will criticize the Turtles for opening up with Delaware on Aug. 30, but the Blue Hen fans travel well and know how to party, so College Park should be buzzing on Opening Day. The highlight of the non-conference schedule comes two weeks later at Byrd Stadium, when the lefties from California travel cross-country for a spicy intersectional showdown. After what we are all praying will be Eastern Michigan's final trip to UM, Team A-Game will hit the road for back-to-back games against ACC foes. First up is a trip to Death Valley, which will always have a special place in the Team's hearts following the epic gameday there in 2006. After that, it's Rivalry Week and a revenge game against the Whine-and-Cheesers in Whoville, Va. Back-to-back home games, including Family Day against N.C. State, conclude October before the Team returns to the Old Dominion for a Thursday night throwdown at Virginia Tech on ESPN. The Terrapin Nation had a strong tailgate there in 2004 and will look to repeat that. For the second consecutive season, Team A-Game could have a doubleheader tailgate day as the Turtles host North Carolina in a revenge game and Salisbury tackles Frostburg in the annual Regents Cup Game on Nov. 15. The Division III showdown for Maryland state bragging rights kicks off at 7 p.m. at Navy-Marine Corps Memorial Stadium in Annapolis, Md. The Turtles put the wraps on their home slate by looking for their third straight home win over Florida $tate on Nov. 22. If reasonable airfare can be found, the Team will travel to Boston for the regular-season finale against BC. A bowl game is a strong possibility to close out the schedule. Team A-Game is now accepting ticket requests for away
games at Boston College, Clemson, Virginia and Virginia Tech.
Info
for the Terrapin Nation traveling to these games is already being
populated on each of the Road
Trip Info pages. Team A-Game is coming off a 5-5 season in 2007 and boasts an all-time record of 69-45 in 12 years of tailgating. Anyone interested in joining us for individual Maryland home games, including Family Day vs. N.C. State, and/or traveling to some away games, can e-mail Team A-Game. May 8, 2008: Team A-Game Signs 22 in Class of '08, Sets Family Day for Oct. 25 Team A-Game today announces the signing of 22 of the state's best eaters, drinkers and football fans to National Tailgating Letters of Intent (NLIs) for 2008 Maryland Football season tickets. All 22 signees are returning veterans of the A-Game Tailgate. "Last year was one of our best tailgating seasons, with the expanded start times, TV viewing options and buffet tables, so it made sense for us to target our veterans during the recruiting process and bring them back in," said Head Chef Paul Krome. "Tradition is very important, so we wanted to bring back the folks who cherish the tradition of eating and drinking their way through Lot 1, and up and down the East Coast, in support of the Terrapins." Recruiting was spread out since the Feb. 8 announcement of the 2008 UM football schedule. Several returnees made the plunge early, throughout February. A quiet March saw only Pat and Lisa re-up, but the TeAm finished very strong in April with 11 verbal commitments. In other news, one of the TeAm's best traditions, the annual Family Day at the A-Game Tailgate, has been set for the Oct. 25 homecoming game vs. N.C. State. Ticket requests are being accepted now. Tickets will costs $25 each provided we order between 15-25 game tickets (upper deck seating is likely). More info as we get closer to the fall. Team A-Game is now accepting ticket requests for away
games. Team A-Game is likely to attend the Turtles' away games
at Boston College, Clemson, Virginia and Virginia Tech. The
Middle
Tennessee game (stay in Nashville, about 30 miles away from the game
site) is a possibility. Info is already being populated on each of the Road Trip Info pages. Team A-Game is coming off a 5-5 season in 2007 and boasts an all-time record of 69-45 in 12 years of tailgating. Anyone interested in joining us for individual Maryland home games, and/or traveling to some away games, can e-mail Team A-Game.
Jan. 2, 2008: Some Noteworthy Items It's a done deal: Maryland and Navy have agreed to another football game at M&T Bank Stadium in Baltimore. The teams will meet Sept. 4, 2010, to kick off that season. They last met in 2005 in Baltimore, a classic, 23-20 win for the Turtles. No surprise to Team A-Game, but Baltimore was named America's Best Football Tailgating City by the Internet publication High-Tech Tailgating. The Web site used a number of factors in an index to determine the top tailgating towns, and Baltimore football fans ate and drank their way to the top. July 20, 2007: Team A-Game Announces 2007 Schedule Six home tailgates in Lot 1d, at least one road trip (to new media-darling Rutgers, but likely to the Carolina games as well), a potential doubleheader day and a Ravens' cold-weather hatefest against the defending Super Bowl champions highlight the 2007 A-Game Tailgate schedule, released today. “We've once again challenged ourselves with a great schedule, which includes at least one trip to enemy territory,” said Chef Krome. “It seems all anyone wants to talk about these days is Rutgers, and that's fine. But the hole that is Piscataway or New Brunswick, N.J., whichever town it acutally is, will be getting some of the A-Game's finest eaters and drinkers on Sept. 29. We're looking forward to the challenge.” Team A-Game will convene for eight confirmed, glorious autumn gamedays, but likely more. After Opening Day against Villanova, the early-season slate is highlighted by the Thursday-night return visit from the West Virginia Mountaineers for an ESPN showdown on Sept. 13. With the UM Fun Police likely to prohibit football fans from entering campus until late afternoon, Team A-Game is working to secure a UM student parking permit in order to begin festivities early. Details will be announced when confirmed. The only set road trip of the season comes Sept. 29, when a potentially small but vocal Terrapin Nation heads north on I-95 to New Jersey (somehow, it remains part of the Union) for a regional rivalry game against everyone's new favorite team, Rutgers. Reports conflict, but apparently SUNJ (the State University of New Jersey) provided UM with only 2,500 or so tickets for the game. Team A-Game predicts Turtles will show up in force, however, given UM's considerable alumni base in the New York/New Jersey area. After that, it's back to the friendly confines of Lot 1d and Irwin Fletcher (aka Chevy Chase Bank) Field at Byrd Stadium for a series of huge ACC matchups in October, including archrival Virginia on Oct. 20. The potential for a doubleheader tailgate exists Nov. 10 when Maryland hosts Boston College (hopefully under the lights) and Salisbury battles Frostburg for the Regents Cup in nearby Annapolis, Md., at 2 p.m. The last doubleheader tailgate was Nov. 10, 2001, when the Team tailgated in the morning at RFK Stadium prior to the Regents Cup Game and then headed over to College Park for the Terps' primetime matchup with Clemson. In keeping with tradition, the Team will put a wrap on regular-season tailgating with a December Ravens game. This time, it's a biggie, as the Super Bowl champion Indianapolis Irsays come to town for what is currently scheduled as an 8:15 kickoff on Dec. 9. (Somewhere, formerly-beloved Baltimore sportscaster Chris Thomas continues to turn over in his grave in angst that the Irsays actually pulled that one off last season, at the partial expense of the Ravens in the divisional playoffs.) A day-long tailgate will take place at the Medfield Avenue headquarters of Team A-Game. While only one road trip is confirmed at this point, it is likely Team A-Game will travel to some or all of Wake Forest (Sept. 22), North Carolina (Nov. 3) and N.C. State (Nov. 24). Details will be released when confirmed, which also applies to whichever bowl game the Terrapins qualify for in late December or early January. Once again this season, agametailgate.com will feature the Road Trip Info section, with a page of travel and tailgating details on each of the Turtles' six away games. Maryland fans are encouraged to visit the Road Trip section, contribute information on tailgating plans and travel to support the Terps. The game for Family Day will be determined at a later date. Team A-Game had a 10-4 record in 2006, and its all-time record through 11 seasons stands at an impressive 65-40. June 18, 2007: Class of 2007 Signed at 24 Strong A near-record 24 of the state’s best eaters, drinkers and football fans have signed National Tailgating Letters of Intent for 2007 Maryland Football season tickets with the A-Game Tailgate, as announced today. Team A-Game boosted its roster by eight and just missed its all-time record of 27, set in 2004. “I couldn’t be prouder of our recruiting efforts,” said Head Chef Paul Krome. “I was most impressed with how some of our returning letterwinners got into the act and recruited some very talented newcomers.” The increase in season tickets reverses a two-year decline. After four veterans pledged with verbal commitments early, March 19-22 saw a flurry of activity with nine verbals in four days. The group of Tracey, Mike, Jodi, Carl, Scott and Susan, which had previously split four tickets among the six of them, stepped up big-time by upgrading to a full six packages. Becca, former chair of the Carolina Terrapin Contingent and an excellent recruiter for Family Day, then announced her intent to purchase season tickets for the first time, and promptly convinced Brian Minkove, a 2005 letterwinner absent from last year’s roster, to rejoin the TeAm. Kristine made her pledge official on March 22 to close the frenzy. Credit new signees DeLynda to veterans Dave and Walt, Josh to Brian Robinson, and Lisa and Pat to Yancy. All came highly regArded. “It really was a team effort, and it has resulted in a terrific recruiting class. We’ve definitely expanded our wastelines and liver capacity with this group. It should be a fun, filling fall in Lot 1d,” said Krome. A late addition to the class of 2007 will be the DirecTV Sports Pack, which replaces ESPN Gameplan as the source of A-Game Theater. “We went with the Sports Pack to get more relevant games to watch. We couldn’t take any more scintillating Troy State/Alabama-Birmingham games from Gameplan,” said Chef Krome. Among other channels, the Sports Pack offers ESPNU, a regular carrier of ACC games, and CSTV, which carries most of Navy’s games. Opening Day is Saturday, Sept. 1 vs. Villanova at Byrd Stadium. Raising of the Flags is at 8 a.m. Go Terps!
Jan. 22, 2007: A Look Back at the 2006 Season “By the Numbers” 1 — Terrapin Jack-O-Lanterns brought to a tailgate, by Brian, Oct. 28 for F$U. 1 — Deep-fried turkey, brought by Doug and family, demolished by hungry tailgaters, Nov. 11 vs. Miami, a possible Dish of the Year. 1 — Near-brawls at Bobby Dodd Stadium in Atlanta Oct. 7, caused by the attempted but unsuccessful robbery of PK’s ESPN-famed turtle hat, by an allegedly brilliant but not-so-fast Georgia Tech student. 1 — Complete stranger and Saturday morning UM campus jogger who stopped by the A-Game, had a beer, came back later in the day to tailgate, and ultimately bought four tickets to another game later in the season because she had so much fun at her first tailgate. 2 — TD bombs caught by Maryland-born Darrius Heyward-Bey, sprinting past a purportedly fast Hurricane secondary on both occasions, keying the 14-13 win. 2 — Coolers owned by Mike Norris and Yancy, mutilated in some way and retired during or immediately after the season. 3 — Sets of malformed teeth brought to a tailgate, by Doug, Sept. 14 to honor our host Mountaineer fans. 5 — Out of 7 home games, the number of times Dave Brown correctly nailed the aiming of the satellite dish on first attempt. 5:40 a.m. — Earliest arrival in Lot 1, for Homecoming vs. N.C. State, Oct. 21. 12 — Pounds PK gained from Aug. 31 to Dec. 30. 13 — Maryland football games attended by Richard and Deb, and PK, totally blowing anything that resembled a budget for yours truly out of the water by midseason. Well worth it, however. 20 — Halftime deficit overcome by the Turtles in a season-changing 28-26 win over hated Virginia in Whoville, Oct. 14. 40 — Cumulative pounds of ice wrestled down and pinned by Mike Norris throughout the season. 65-40 — Team A-Game’s W-L record (61.9 percent) through 11 seasons and 105 gamedays. 90 — Weight, in pounds, of the pig cooked in a caja china by Noli and the Legions, Sept. 23 vs. FIU. 100 — Shots of beer downed in celebration of the 100th tailgate, at Clemson Nov. 4. 1985 — Last year in which a team beat F$U and Miami in the same season, which the Turtles did this year. 3,000 — Estimated number of red shirts that made the trip to Boston for the BC game. Loss aside, a great weekend and a must-trip every two years. 10,000 — Estimated attendance by the Terrapin Nation for the Turtles’ ultra-satisfying 24-7 beatdown of Purdue in the Champs Sports Bowl. (unknown) — Shots of GM or SoCo/Lime downed in conjunction with a rendition of the Maryland Victory Song! June 28, 2006: Team A-Game Announces 2006 Schedule A record-tying seven home tailgates in Lot 1d, five away games (including, sadly, the last trip to Morgantown until 2010), a potential doubleheader day and the traditional cold-weather Ravens game highlight the 2006 A-Game Tailgate schedule, released today. “It's a great schedule,” said Chef Krome. “We've made a commitment to attending all 12 Maryland regular-season games. We feel the schedule gives us good balance of home and away games, and of enemy territories we've visited before and ones that will be new to us. We're looking forward to eating our way up and down the East Coast in support of the Terrapins.” One year after having just five home games (including four that kicked off at noon), Team A-Game will enjoy seven gamedays on the Maryland campus. The first three games will kick off at 6 p.m. and allow for maximum tailgating and viewing other games on the DirecTV satellite in Lot 1d. What promises to be a special overnight trip to Morgantown, W.Va., for the Maryland-West Virginia game takes place Thursday night, Sept. 14, on ESPN. With Cal replacing the Eers on the schedule in 2008-09, this year marks Team A-Game's last visit to one of its favorite road destinations for a while. In addition to visiting old rivals Virginia and Clemson, the Team will make its inaugural trips to Boston College and Georgia Tech in Atlanta. The potential for a doubleheader tailgate exists Nov. 11 when Maryland hosts Miami (hopefully under the lights) and Salisbury battles Frostburg for the Regents Cup in Towson, Md., at 2 p.m. The last doublheader tailgate was Nov. 10, 2001, when the Team tailgated in the morning at RFK Stadium prior to the Regents Cup Game and then headed over to College Park for the Terps' primetime matchup with Clemson. As per tradition, the Team is tentatively scheduled to conclude regular-season tailgating with a December Ravens game against the Cleveland Browns, although Ravens' scheduling is flexible pending the availability of tickets. Ravens tailgates will take place at the Medfield Avenue headquarters of Team A-Game. The Road Trip Info page contains all the info on away games and potential Terrapin bowl games. Team A-Game had a 4-5 record in 2005, and its all-time record through 10 seasons is an impressive 55-36. May 23, 2006: A-Game Class of 2006 Officially Settles at 16 and Spring Game Pictures The last of the National Tailgating Letters of Intent have been signed, and the season-ticket re-order form has been sent to UM. With that, Team A-Game announces its ticket class of 2006 will be 16 members strong. It marks the fourth consecutive season that the Team has exceeded double digits in season tickets purchased. “We're very happy with our recruiting class. All 16 Team members are known commodities that excelled last year in the parking lot and in Section 7, and it's important that we maintained that continuity of achievement,” said Chef Krome. The team did lose some veterans and had some rare, late de-commits, but the strong presence of returning veterans and the addition of four-star recruit OrlAndo means quAlity trumps quantity for this year's edition of Team A-Game. Individual plAyer profiles will be posted later. The roster appears below. The smaller, lighter class of 2006 dovetails nicely with the Team's commitment to mobility, in the form of traveling to each of the Terps' five regular-season AwAy gAmes, where some of the greAtest memories are made. The next offseason task will be continued recruitment of A-Gamers interested in hitting the road. The Friedgen's Legions are coordinating a group ticket purchase to each road game, and the Team will be a part of that. All Terp fans are encouraged to visit the Road Trip Info page often and join us in supporting the Terps on the road in 2006. Email Team A-Game if you're interested in getting in on the group ticket purchases. Click here for pictures of the
tailgate at the 2006 Spring Game.
March 28, 2006: Good News/Bad News for Team A-Game It's been an up-and-down week for the A-Game Tailgate. First, the bad news: Lot Camden is no more. A move that first concerned Team members a few years ago became reality this week with the confirmation that Baltimore City has begun construction on a convention center hotel right on Lot Camden. City officials began discussing the need for a hotel at that area several years ago, and the City Council approved funding for it last year, signaling the inevitable demise of Team A-Game's long-utilized home for Ravens tailgates at 333 W. Camden Street. “It's sad,” said Chef Krome. “We knew this day was coming eventually, but to actually see Lot Camden pulverized really is a dagger. So many memories were made there.” The Team has announced tentative plans to hold all future Ravens tailgates at Lot Medfield, aka Chef Krome's covered backyard patio at the A-Game headquarters. Benefits include free parking, a mammoth grill, minimal setup and cleanup effort required, non-stop TV access, clean bathrooms and a quick walk to the Light Rail stop. In retrospective of Lot Camden, the Team has compiled its Top 5 most memorable Lot Camden tailgates: 5) Sept. 3, 2005: A Terp tailgate for the first Maryland-Navy game in 40 years, the Team celebrated its debut of ESPN's College Game Plan on DirecTV while witnessing the near electrocution of the Friedgen's Legions. We didn't know it at the time, but it would be our last Lot Camden tailgate. The Terps won a classic. 4) Dec. 31, 2000: A rowdy party on a sunny, cold day to celebrate Baltimore's first home playoff game since 1977. The Ravens go on to stomp Denver, 21-3, on their way to winning Super Bowl XXXV. 3) Oct. 21, 1999: Foreseeing a humiliating blowout loss to the Chiefs in a Thursday night ESPN game (which was sandwiched between Saturday Maryland home games), PK and Neil meet after work and hit the beverages hard, even refueling at a nearby liquor store. The beverages did not stop flowing even in the game. It led to the peanut-throwing incident with Chiefs fans seated behind us. 2) Dec. 22, 2002: The Executive Committee arrived before 9 a.m. for a 4:15 kickoff against the Browns. Several of Baltimore's finest stopped by to try to catch a beer or two. Enough said. Cleveland rallied late for a 14-13 win. 1) Dec. 7, 2003: Easily the Team's best showing in Lot Camden, when the passing of Kristine's Rum bottle led to C-Hall pummeling the table and Mike Norris finishing it off with a Superfly Snuka leap off the top rope, sending the Doritos flying. PK delivered the 3-count and Norris earned his first pin ever over a table. The Ravens routed the Bengals for first place in the AFC North. Rest in peace, Lot Camden. Thanks for the fuzzy memories. Onto the good news, Team A-Game scored big on the recruiting front during the last week. The Team picked up a verbal commitment for 2006 from Orlando, the Team's Rookie/MVP of the Year as a spot starter in 2005. Although Team officials are prevented from commenting on recruits until Signing Day on April 29, it's confirmed that Orlando was a prized, 4-star recruit that also had received offers from Friedgen's Legions. His verbal boosts the Team's class to 7. Also good news, the Team received its first two Letters of Intent as Kenna and Yancy have signed on the dotted line, officially re-joining the A-Game Tailgate for 2006. Aug. 18, 2004: Family Day a SelloutThe third annual Family Day at the A-Game Tailgate is a complete sellout, Team A-Game officials announced today. All 27 regular season tickets and all 20 tickets in the Family/Friends block for the Sept. 11 game vs. Temple have been claimed. It is the earliest sellout in the three-year history of the Family Day event. “To reach a sellout at this early a date is just A-Game,” said Paul Krome, head chef of Team A-Game. “We have enough big stomachs and livers with the regular team, but now to add a full 20 more, many of whom have extensive eating and drinking experience over their many years of life — the campus may tilt towards the ground with the all wide bodies gorging at the A-Game Tailgate.” Team officials also announced Family Day has its own Web page. Click here. April 14, 2004: Class Boosts A-Game to 27 Season-Ticket HoldersNational Tailgating Letter of Intent (LOI) Signing Day saw the execs at leading Internet firms like Yahoo and Hotmail in a panic. Why? Because so many Letters of Intent were crossing the wires from signees to Team A-Game that servers were about to crash left and right. From Baltimore to Randallstown to Bethesda, the letters came, with recuits pledging in the form of “Count me in,” “After 4 years of part-time bench duty I intend to join A-Game on a full-time starter basis,” and “After that highly inspirational email, I'm throwing my name onto the list.” In its biggest and best recruiting effort in the five-plus years as season-ticket holders, Team A-Game (Est. 1996, “We bring our A-Game to every tailgate.”) hauled in a class that bolsters the number of season tickets to 27, obliterating the team's previous high of 13, set for the 2003 season. The class was a consensus Top 10 by the major scouting services, adding girth, eating ability, liver capacity and the all-important A-Game element. “It was truly a TeAm effort in securing all these greAt recruits,” said Head Chef Paul Krome. “There are no words to describe how fired up we are to begin the 2004 tailgating season knowing that we are bigger, fatter and louder; and in the case of our female teAmmAtes, A-Gamier.” Team A-Game got its long awaited Standing Section with the recruit class. The team will occupy four consecutive rows of the same seven seats (one six) at the front of Section 7, in excellent heckling distance of the enemy and in a great location to Move the Chains, scope out the dance team and sing with the band. Below are profiles of Team A-Game's 2004 recruit signees: The first to verbal was one Tracy Newman of Baltimore, a UMCP alumna. The A-Game overlooked the fact that she is a native New Yorker and unabashed Yankee Apologist because she increases the A-Game factor of the A-Game.What really impressed Team A-Game was her leading her Flip Cup team to the Baltimore City Championship. While on a scouting visit, the Team also noticed Newman's Flip Cup teammate, Amy. The Team was so impressed with Amy's technique and liver capacity that it also offered Amy a tailgating scholarship and she verballed not long after Newman. Team A-Game then went out and found some linemen, as if it needed any more. Included was Mike Norris (6'7" 250 lbs.), known for crushing the table with a Jimmy Snuka-like splash off the top rope and for doubling as new Loyola basketball coach Jimmy Patsos. The additions Team A-Game's ranks of actual UMCP alumni, an area where the Team did not have much depth over the years. Two more prizes came in the form of another Hereford connection in Ralph Lusby and Mike Warner. Lusby was a spot-starter for Team A-Game over the last three years but stepped up with a verbal for full-time duty. At 6-foot-2, 176 lbs., Lusby uses his slender frame to escape defenses by hiding behind a blade of grass. He used such tactics to great exploits in high school, catching one pass in one JV season at Hereford. Lusby has been highly-sought and played the recruiting game to a T, according to Lee Corso of ESPN. Warner's another Bull who's had classic moments with the A-Game, including a fall and disappearance during the national anthem at the 2002 Md./Notre Dame Kickoff Classic at Giants Stadium. Lusby, standing next to Warner at the time, did not notice the disappearance until halftime. Sam Atkinson, who earned co-rookie of the year honors as spot starter in 2002, signed up GF Emily to join the team. Emily attended as many games (1) last year as Sam did, and Sam had season tickets but had a horrible sophomore jinx. Craig Hall, chief of security, then went back into the hood to secure the signature of Paul Beccio, another in a long line of Queen Anne Village products and backyard football legends. Beccio, who has the best first name ever, adds speed to the receiving corps and is another powerful Grand Marnier fan. The Baltimore County contingent continued to grow when Randallstown product Brian Mincove joined the team, thanks to excellent recruiting by PK and Craig Lestner. Mincove, at 6-foot, 180, is a versatile tight-end/'H'-back combo and yet another Owings Mills alum. The final recruit came in the form of Liz 'Lizard' Piper, a spot sub for A-Game over the years who turned in a terrific performance at the 2004 Gator Bowl. Piper gives the team Carroll County representation and a Steve Suter connection. Below is a look at the A-Game Tailgate 'By the Numbers' following the addition of the 2004 signees: 3 • Football nuts that work
at a lacrosse organization. Feb. 23, 2004: Recruiting Update With still some time left before Tailgating National Letter of Intent (LOI) Signing Day, Team A-Game (Est. 1996, “We bring our A-Game to every tailgate.”) is shattering its all-time attendance record with the addition of several national-caliber tailgating recruits in the form of verbal commitments. It is a consensus Top 10 recruiting class that has bolstered the ranks of Team A-Game to 21, up from the previous high of 13 season tickets in 2003. The class is not complete, and there is room for more recruits to be added, but even at this stage of recruiting season, the Rivals.com, Insiders.com and ESPN.com tailgating recruiting services all had Team A-Game's class of 2004 in its Top 10 nationally, with several four-star commits. When pressed for comment, Paul Krome, head chef, marketing director and recruiting coordinator for the A-Game Tailgate, had this to say: “As you know, with Signing Day not quite upon us yet, I'm not allowed to officially comment on our recruits. I can tell you that recruiting is going exceptionally well and we're beefing up and addressing our needs.” In a related story, stock prices of Rolaids, Tums and Zantac surged this morning when sources leaked the news of Team A-Game's early verbal commitments and their eating abilities. Reportedly, Team A-Game is in negotiations with those companies to secure one official “indegestion/heartburn antacid.” Sources have learned that the first to verbal was one Tracy Newman of Baltimore, a UMCP alumna. The A-Game overlooked the fact that she is a native New Yorker and unabashed Yankee Apologist because she increases the A-Game factor of the A-Game. She has links to Krome in that she was his former editor in Ocean City, but sources say what really impressed Team A-Game was her leading her Flip Cup team to the Baltimore City Championship. While on a scouting visit, the Team also noticed Newman's Flip Cup teammate, Amy. The Team was so impressed with Amy's technique and liver capacity that it also offered Amy a tailgating scholarship and she verballed not long after Newman. Team A-Game then went out and found some linemen, as if it needed any more. Next to commit, say sources close to the situation, were Mike Norris (6'7" 250 lbs.), who when he's not splashing tailgating tables from the top rope doubles as Terrapin men's basketball assistant coach Jimmy Patsos, and Darren Cohen (6'2" 275), who successfully ran Howard Dean's campaign into the ground. The two beef up, in more ways than one, Team A-Game's ranks of actual UMCP alumni, an area where the Team did not have much depth over the years. Two more prizes then came in the form of another Hereford connection in Ralph Lusby and Mike Warner. Lusby was a spot-starter for Team A-Game over the last three years but stepped up with a verbal for full-time duty. At 6-foot-2, 176 lbs., Lusby uses his slender frame to escape defenses by hiding behind a blade of grass. He used such tactics to great exploits in high school, catching one pass in one JV season at Hereford. Lusby has been highly-sought and played the recruiting game to a T, according to Lee Corso of ESPN. Warner's another Bull who's had classic moments with the A-Game, including a fall and disappearance during the national anthem at the 2002 Md./Notre Dame Kickoff Classic at Giants Stadium. Lusby, standing next to Warner at the time, did not notice the disappearance until halftime. Aug. 28, 2003: Gameday is Here and New Home for Tailgate OWINGS MILLS, Md. (AP) — After months of depression and listlessness, Team A-Game will gather tonight for an A-Game Indoor Tailgate to celebrate the return of Maryland Football for the 2003 season with the opening game against Northern Illinois! Team A-Game continues to give out a b-game award to Northern Illinois for wanting a Thursday night game; as had it been a normal Saturday game, Team A-Game would have made the trip. Nonetheless, the Team is fired up about the season and ready for another great tailgating year. First Brat tonight at approximately 6 p.m. In other news, the Team A-Game Executive Committee approved the new home for the A-Game Tailgate in 2003. It is not very far from our old home. We remain in Lot 1d, but move just across the aisle of the lane connecting 1d to 1b. Click here for a campus map that shows our new home and where guests and recruits of the A-Game Tailgate should park. Team A-Game holds its first official tailgate at the Maryland-Florida $tate game, Sept. 6 in Tallahassee, Fla. July 24, 2003: Fourth Tier for Flag Pole OWINGS MILLS, Md. (AP) — Everyone will know where the A-Game Tailgate is this season, as a fourth tier has been added to the traditional flagpole, meaning the Maryland and A-Game flags will be flying more than 20 feet above the best tailgate party in the state, as announced today by Team A-Game (Est. 1996, “We bring our A-Game to every tailgate.”). The purchase of the five-foot tier marks the second extension of the flagpole in as many years. The flagpole, which serves as a landmark for the Maryland section of the parking lot at away games and the center of tailgating for home games, operated at 15 feet last year after debuting at 10 feet in 2000. The setup of the flagpole and rising of the Maryland state and A-Game flags is traditionally the first task completed upon arrival to the lot, signaling the official beginning of another A-Game Saturday and welcoming fellow Terp fans to celebrate Maryland Football. “There is nothing better than establishing the Maryland section of the lot by raising the Maryland and A-Game flags, and with the flagpole now at 20 feet, everyone will truly know where the Maryland fans are,” said Craig 'A-Game' Hall. He noted that usually only the hungover student parking attendants witness the raising of the flags in Lot 1d because no one else is in the lot when Team A-Game arrives at 5:20 a.m. The 20-foot flagpole will make its debut Sept. 6 in Tallahassee, Fla., as the A-Game Tailgate kicks off its eighth season with the Maryland-Florida $tate game. The first home tailgate is Sept. 13 vs. The Citadel in Lot 1d. May 16, 2003: Record 13 Season-Ticket Holders for 2003 COLLEGE PARK, Md. (AP) -- Team A-Game (Est. 1996, We bring our A-GAME to every tailgate.) has set a new team record with the purchase of 13 season tickets to Maryland Football, as announced today. To accommodate the crowd, temporary bleachers will be installed at the A-Game Tailgate for the 2003 season. "This is a landmark day," said Paul. "To go from two guys and a Dodge Colt tailgating in an empty Lot 4 in the '90s to where we are today, needing temporary bleachers at our home in Lot 1, words cannot describe how the Team has stepped up." "Our cornerbacks need to move up and pressure the wideouts," added Neil. Team A-Game signed seven highly-recruited tailgating prospects to season-ticket Letters of Intent (LOI). Each prospect was ranked at or near the top of their positions according to the Rivals.com recruiting service and Tom Lemming's Mid-Atlantic Tailgating Recruit Guide. The A-Game Class of 2003 includes 2 Queen Anne Village products, 3 more Salisbury alumni, 3 lovely ladies, and a significant addition of girth and liver capacity up front. The A-Game Tailgate Class of 2003: Vince: Queen Anne Village alum was very impressive as part-timer in '02; 4-star recruit according to some experts Mike K.: brings it all to the table: girth, liver capacity and vocalness; will compete for time on Offensive Line Yancy: another big addition up front; honed drinking skills as a TKE at Salisbury; Team A-Game beat out NASCAR for his services Kenna: another Salisbury product that will compete for time as Public Relations Director; chose A-Game over Spending Time Planning Her and Yancy's Wedding Kristine: Former full-time A-Gamer looking to regain 2001 status as best female fan Walt: another dependable, experienced 'gater from the Hood (QAV) What The Experts Are Saying about the Class of '03: "The A-Game Tailgate really brought in a well-balanced recruiting class," said ESPN's Mel Kiper, Jr. "They addressed all their needs. They picked up some much-needed attractiveness. They also went out and signed some beef in Mike, Yancy and Vince. I grade their recruit class an A." "The addition of the big heavies makes the A-Game Tailgate a can't miss, literally. We'll have to take a trip to College Park this fall," said Lee Corso of ESPN College GameDay. Some of the recruits showed off their stuff April 26 at the annual A-Game Tailgate Mini-Camp (Maryland Red-White Spring Game). The recruits will join veterans Craig Hall, Neil Hall, Craig Lestner, Paul, and super sophomores Chad and Sam. Team A-Game's season starts for real Sept. 6, on the road for the Maryland-Florida $tate game in Tallahassee, Fla. The first home tailgate is Sept. 13 vs. The Citadel in Lot 1d.
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