Tailgate/Game Notes

The final home game tailgate of the year was a tremendous success especially with the 1st annual UteTailgaters.com Chili Cook Off!  This is a tradition that we would like to continue for the final home game tailgate each season.  We had 7 entries total ranging from a vegetarian to an absolutely fire-hot tomato-less chili to a tequila elk chili.  Fellow tailgaters voted on each chili which were numbered to protect the cook's identity.  The Grand Champion this year is Landon Clark.  Landon won with a turkey chili with medium to medium-hot spice-ness and plenty of tomato chunks.  Randy & Andrea submitted an elk meat chili "kicked up" with tequila just before serving which garnered mixed comments.  Marc & Amy came through a very tangy chili which was due to a special secret ingredient - ranch dressing.  Rob submitted easily the hottest chili which so happened to be tomato-less since Rob abhors tomatoes.  Becky's chili was quite possibly the most flavorful with a mild to medium heat and came away with 2nd runner-up honors.  Chris & Tera offered up the vegetarian chili which had tremendous flavor from numerous vegetables.  Tip, after trying Rob's chili, felt it necessary to kick up his entry's hotness with chili pepper flakes and hot sauce to bring out the flavors of pork sausage, ground beef, and bacon in his entry which won runner-up.  Overall, the chili cook off was a great success and look forward to future cook offs with many more entries involved.  Thanks to all those who participated.

"Senior Day" started off quickly with a 26 yard touchdown pass from QB-Brian Johnson to WR-Derrek Richards.  Only to have the Lobos tie up the game moments later.  The Utes did take a 14-7 lead after the 1st quarter.  WR-Travis LaTendresse returned to the lineup and racked up 192 yards receiving on 9 receptions for the game.  QB-Johnson did manage to get the Utes a 27-19 lead at halftime over the Lobos despite a couple of early turnovers.  The second half was a complete reversal and honestly, a disaster.  New Mexico made adjustments and began blitzing QB-Johnson which forced turnovers and lead to the Lobos taking the lead by the middle of the 4th quarter.  The Utes had a chance to win and had time left on the clock, however, Ute QB-Brian Johnson , while running to gain a 1st down was tackled out of bounds and suffered a season-ending knee injury (ACL tear).  This brought Ute backup Brett Ratliff to engineer the game winning drive only to have it ended by an errant throw for an interception.  The loss of QB-Johnson wasn't the only injury to hurt the Ute's chances, WR-John Madsen was also lost late in the 1st quarter to a broken leg.  The Utes just could not overcome the number of turnovers (5) and pour offensive execution to come out on the winning side.

We would like to thank anyone & everyone who came out to the tailgates this season (even if it was just one) and provided food, ice, drinks etc...We would also like to remind everyone that arriving early is certainly worth it.  The badminton & croquet games are very popular and in order to get involved with them you need to arrive early.  Continue to check back to this site for updates and news about the 2006 season.  Thanks again and GO UTES!

Entry #1

Entry #2

Entry #3

Entry #4

Entry #5

Entry #6

Entry #7

Madison's got the right idea!

Annie's chili face.

Entry #7 Grand Champion Landon Clark

Entry #4 Marc & Amy

"The Ranch Chili"

Entry #5 Rob

"6-C & Tomato Free"

Entry #6 Becky

"Festival of Flavor Chili"

Entry #1 Chris, Tera, and Madison

"Veggie chili"

Entry #2 Randy & Andrea

"Tequila Elk Chili"

Entry #3 Tip

"Big Cajones Chili"

Randy smiles for the camera while Andrea gets caught staring at the players butts!