So your favorite college football team is playing, but you can’t be there in person. Thankfully the miracle of television still means you’ll be able to cheer them on. Invite round some friends, put it up on a big screen, lay out some snacks, and enjoy an afternoon of top quality sport, all from the comfort of your own home. The only question you need to be concerned with is how to make your day the best it can be. Luckily for you, we’ve got the answers for throwing the Best Game Day Party.
Screening
The main thing to worry about is being able to watch the game. Everything else pales in comparison when it comes to this aspect of the day. If you’re blessed with a big television screen, then make sure the channel is set up and you’re good to go. However, some of us don’t have a giant flat screen to show it on, but that doesn’t mean you can’t get the big-screen experience! You simply need to get your hands on some space and a projector.
If you happen to have a plain white wall, then you’re one step ahead of the game. If you don’t, then a ream of paper or a big white bed sheet will do the job just fine. For evening games you can hang the sheet from the washing line, for daytime games, you will be relegated to the indoors. Find the largest wall in your house and pin up your paper or sheet, then find a suitable spot for your projector and make sure it’s hooked up to a computer so that you can stream the game. Projectors can be bought quite cheaply nowadays and some libraries and tech stores will even rent them out. There’s a real feeling of an occasion when the projector gets rolled out and your guests are bound to be impressed!
Catering
When it comes to catering, we could all learn a lesson from a great football play, of all things! In a 1973 game, between the Miami Dolphins and the Washington Redskins, coach Don Shula sent kicker Garo Yepremian out to try a 42-yard field goal. The team was already in front, so this play was kind of unnecessary. Anyway, this attempt fell flat on its face and the Dolphins managed to steal the ball and score a touchdown, closing the gap between the two teams. The moral of the story here is, if you’re doing well, don’t over complicate things! When it comes to game day food, keep it simple.
In good weather a barbecue goes down a storm. Marinate your meat the day before so that the flavors have plenty of time to soak in and you have plenty of time to prepare the house before your guests arrive. Fresh salads are best prepared on the day, but pasta and potato salads will be just fine for a couple of days in the fridge, so it’s a good idea to get that out of the way ahead of time too. If the dreaded happens and bad weather sets in, then it’s not the end of the world. Barbecue food cooks perfectly nicely in the oven, but also a few sandwiches and snacks will be just as appreciated. As long as there’s plenty of cold beer and soda, you can be sure that your guests will be happy!
Entertainment
Generally speaking, good conversation, a bit of food and some drinks will be more than enough to keep everyone entertained. However, if you anticipate a post-food lull at some point, then it’s never a bad idea to be over-prepared. Before the game starts, maybe you could suggest a competition, where people each guess the number of touchdowns they think will be scored or the number of field goals. Whoever wins could get tickets for the next game, or perhaps the loser could host the next game day get together. Whatever you decide your rules are, it’s a good ice breaker if friends don’t know each other and if you’re a tight-knit bunch, then there’s nothing more fun than a bit of healthy competition!
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