by Jacob Bogage ‘12

First there was Watergate; in 2007 the New England Patriots unleashed “Spygate” on the NFL; in 2008 then Alaskan Governor Sarah Pallin was involved with “Troopergate”; now at Sherwood the latest scandal is “Tailgate.”

After a male senior was escorted from the September 16 football game against Gaithersburg for open drunkenness, Sherwood’s security staff has promised to step up enforcement on its no-tailgating policy before football games for the remainder of the season.

According to security team leader Patrick Rooney the no-tailgating policy has existed around the county for about five years. The ban began after tailgaters’ grills were cited as fire hazards and progressed to ban idling in parking lots before sporting events due to concerns about a lack of parking space and the distribution of illegal substances at tailgating parties.

“If we allow you to bring your pretzels and chips then someone else brings a sub then someone else brings a grill then someone else brings a beer,” Rooney said. “There’s always another level and people ask ‘why can’t we do this or that?’ We had to draw the line somewhere.”

The announcement was made over the PA system Friday September 30, the eve of the Warriors’ game at Damascus, just after 2pm as students began to trickle out of seventh period early. Damascus security requested the announcement because of fears of a lack of parking and potential conflicts between Sherwood and Damascus tailgaters.

“I think the tailgating policy is outrageous,” senior tailgating enthusiast Perry Stylos said. “My parents went to Sherwood and they tailgated before games. Nothing’s changed and the policy is ridiculous. Tailgating is a huge part of the game day experience and being a senior in high school, it means a lot.”

A group of 25 to 30 juniors and seniors regularly arrive an hour or two before games and grill food, paint their faces and generally prepare for a spirit battle in the parking lot of Caruso Memorial Stadium as the football team takes warm-ups.

This Thursday evening the Warriors will take on the rival Magruder Colonels. Stylos says the group will try to tailgate before that game since they have not been formally approached by security staff.

“They think we’re drinking in the parking lot, but that’s not the case,” Stylos countered. “Maybe they think we’re rowdy and that we’re scaring people away.”

“We haven’t had problems with tailgating in the past, but we’ll take a closer look at it for the Magruder game because it’s two local teams and there will be a lot of people out there,” Rooney said. “We’ll probably have someone checking on it and telling people to just bear with us.”

In past years tailgating has been restricted at various sporting events including football and lacrosse games for reasons ranging from sound violations to use of illegal substances. Though Stylos admits occasionally students do come to games intoxicated, the majority of those who do imbibe do not do so in the parking lot and seldom get out of control.

“Nine times out of ten,” said Rooney, “if you’re sitting there eating your cheeseburger, we’re not going to stop you.”