Southeastern Game Day Gumbo Cook-Off set for Saturday, Oct. 29
Thursday, October 20, 2016
by: Tonya Lowentritt
HAMMOND – Southeastern Louisiana University’s 10th annual Game Day Gumbo Cook-Off
will be held in Friendship Circle during tailgating activities on Saturday, Oct. 29.
The event raises funds in support of student-athletes’ programs.
As part of this Southeastern tradition, tailgaters will have the chance to show
off their gumbo cooking skills prior to the Lions football game versus Central Arkansas
scheduled at 2:30 p.m.
“This is a fun way to encourage tailgating in support of the Lions, while mixing
and mingling in Friendship Circle,” said Sherry Kennemer, assistant athletic director
for Academic Services and senior woman administrator and advisor of the Southeastern
Student-Athlete Advisory Committee (SAAC). “We’re proud to present this annual event
and truly appreciate the financial support it provides for SAAC’s community engagement
and service projects.”
There is no cost to participate as a tailgater gumbo chef. The registration form
will be available for download from the SAAC page on the Lions Athletics website at
www.lionsports.net. Serving cups will be provided to each tailgating group. Participants are asked to
bring spoons and however much gumbo they are willing to share with their fellow tailgaters.
The public is invited to taste the gumbo at the various “Gumbo Tailgating Tasting
Stations” around Friendship Circle and “vote” for their favorites by stuffing coins
and bills in designated “voting jars” at each site. “Voting” will be open from 9 a.m.
to 1 p.m.
The voting jar with the most money will win the 2016 Fans’ Choice Award. Additionally,
the Judges’ Choice Award will be presented based on a blind taste test of samples
at each of the participating tailgate sites.
Both winners will be announced at half time of the football game and will receive
Game Day Gumbo Cook-Off Champ gumbo paddles.
Tailgaters have until Oct. 28 to register. Completed registration forms can be
faxed to 985-549-3495 or scanned and emailed to Kennemer at sherry.kennemer@southeastern.edu. The contest is open to any group, whether or not they have a regular tailgating
location for Southeastern home games.
For more information about the Game Day Gumbo Cook-Off, call 985-549-2256.
All funds raised benefit SAAC, which has adopted the cook-off as its annual signature
fund-raising event.