It was a Tailgate worth waiting for! The results show that whether the College’s annual Tailgate celebration occurs under the big-top tent on a balmy September Saturday or at the Entertainment and Sports Arena on a brisk November weekend, the meet-and-greet event is a perennial crowd-pleaser.

Re-scheduling by television forced a two-month postponement and location change for Tailgate 2001; then the afternoon-to-evening time shift of the N.C. State-Maryland game turned the Tailgate meal from a breakfast buffet back to the traditional barbecue feast. Nevertheless, tailgaters filled the ESA court, where they enjoyed entertainment by the N.C. State cloggers, and they took in the sights on the main concourse, which featured College and commodity exhibits, hands-on activities, ESA tours, class and club reunions, Memory Lane archival materials, an arcade of games and performances by the NCSU men’s a cappella vocal group, The Grains of Time.

On-stage at court level, the College recognized outstanding service and contributions by alumni and friends with the announcement of the 2001 College award winners. Named Outstanding Alumni were Donald Crossan, Louis Cullipher, Brig. Gen. Stancil L. (Larry) Dilda Jr. and Susan Rollins. The Outstanding Faculty/Staff member was JoAnna B. Tharrington, and the Partner’s Award winner was Southern States Cooperative Inc.

—Terri Leith