Week 2 tailgate: Alumni cater to wedding couple

Gail Franklin

Frank Zook moved lawn chairs around his tailgate area on Saturday to form an aisle and then spread early fall leaves down the center for the bride.

Pick the Penn State tailgate of the year, as featured in the CDT?

The Penn State alumnus has organized a three-meal tailgate under the same maple tree at University Drive and Curtin Road for the past 30 years. He's hosted well-known alumni, fans and former players, but Saturday's game against Notre Dame marked the first time a wedding was included.

"Have you ever seen a leaf strewn aisle before?" he said, jokingly with other football fans.

Newlyweds Andy Berdy and Suzy Kaler said they found out about Zook's tailgate through a mutual friend. They had never met any of the organizers until the day of their wedding, but on Saturday it seemed they'd always been friends.

"Penn State is a friendly tailgating place," said Jo Merrell, another tailgate coordinator. "We were so happy to have the wedding here."

Kaler said the experience felt surreal. Berdy, a former sports editor for the Lewistown Sentinel and now a copy editor at The (Harrisburg) Patriot-News, realized a half hour before the ceremony that he hardly knew anyone there.

"It fits our personality," he said. "We just wanted to have fun."

Hundreds of people, including family, tailgaters and many passersby, crowded around the tailgate as the wedding procession began. After the couple took their vows and kissed each other the crowd began to chant, "We are ... Penn State."

Berdy and Kaler stole the show, however, when they pulled out a banner that read, "We are ... just married."

Tailgate of the Game Coordinators: Frank Zook, of Reedsville; Jo Merrell, of Huntingdon; and Doug Collins, of State College.

Tailgate food: Homemade pierogies and sausages with peppers. Champagne and cake.

Favorite Game: Best home game was 1982 versus Nebraska, and best away game was 1981 versus Pittsburgh.

Why we are the best tailgate: "Look around you," Zook said. "We've got it all, a band, bar, food and all the best fans, from 1 year old to 80 years old."

Why we should win: After 30 years, they're still dancing in the grass and feeding the masses in the same spot.