by Moses Leos III 

Like many other Football Bowl Subdivision schools, Texas State University is no stranger when it comes to tailgating. 

A glimpse at the corner of Aquarena Springs and Charles Austin Drive on a Saturday in the fall shows you why. 

But venture to the east side of Bobcat Stadium, and one will find a tailgate group that’s eschewed modern tailgating rituals. 

They are the Blind Salamanders, and they’ve been in the tailgating business for nearly a decade. 

“We are a real diverse group. It’s a lot of fun,” Dennis Hartsley, co-founder of the Blind Salamanders said. “People come from all over. They come from Houston, Dallas, San Antonio, Austin and Buda and San Marcos.” 

The Blind Salamanders’ origins go back to the 2005 Texas State football season, arguably one of the most successful in Bobcat football history. 

That year, quarterback Barrick Nealy led the Bobcats to its first ever NCAA Division I-AA (now known as the Football Championship Subdivison) playoff berth. Texas State reached the national semifinal, where they fell to Northern Iowa. 

It was during that playoff run that Hartsley’s son, Blaire, and his two roommates, Trey and Chris Jurica came up with the idea of starting a tailgating group. 

However, the first tailgate was nothing similar to what it was like today. 

“It was very informal,” Dennis said. “Everyone brought chips, dip and sandwiches.” 

The dynamic changed the following season. Once the Hartsley’s purchased season tickets, they soon began to formulate a traditional tailgate.

It was during such time their namesake was born; a brainchild of Chris Jurica. 

“Once we became formal, someone wanted a name. Over the course of a week or two, we had people submit names,” Dennis said. “Chris [Jurica] came up with the (Salamanders). Once that was [nominated], it won by a unanimous decision. It caught everyone’s fancy.” 

However, even with the addition of tents, tables, chairs and a mascot, Dennis and his group still kept things as informal as possible. 

It’s why the group allows anyone who comes up to join in the festivities. Oftentimes, its fans from the opposing team, who enter through the east side portals.

While the informal atmosphere remains, the fares of sandwiches and chips have gone by the wayside. 

Today, fajitas, brisket and ribs dominate the landscape. 

But who bears the cost of such pricey cuts of meat? For the Salamanders, it’s furnished by die-hard tailgaters themselves. 

They get help from Jason Burnett and a group of San Marcos residents, with local ties to help front the costs. 

“We have handed the heavy BBQ load over to Emilio Rodriguez, the Manager of the New Braunfels Smoke House, and LT. Eric Batch with his award winning ribs,” Burnett said in an emailed response. 

Additionally, the Salamanders’ have been the beneficiaries of catching the eye of the Texas State tailgating scene. Within the last two years, the Salamanders have been named as the Texas State Tailgate of the Game seven times. 

The award for winning is a $100 gift card; it’s enough for Dennis and his group to plan the next tailgate, and use the award money accordingly. 

Of course, with any tailgate, traditions are a must.

For the Salamanders, no season can be complete without at least one brisket made during the year. In addition, they also cap off the final home game with a big pot of Chris’ chili. Burnett said 2013 saw the addition of a pickling contest, with Chris claiming the title with his pickled Okra. 

As with any tailgate, washers are the defacto game of choice. And before heading out to the stadium, Salamander members often fist bump their wooden mascot, Euri. 

“At least some of them do a fist bump,” Dennis said. 

What you won’t find at the Salamander Camp is a television; something Dennis had done without for some time. 

Several reasons predicated the move; one of which was a discord on what should be viewed on the TV. 

The biggest reason perhaps was the simplest – no one watched, because everyone was socializing. 

“We realized, no one was watching the games. Everyone was visiting with each other,” Dennis said. “A lot of us don’t see each other but six times a year.” 

Since 2005, the group has steadily grown. Today, as many as 20 to 30 regulars show up, with many more making their way before the game. Hartsley said as many as 75 people showed up at their Texas Tech tailgate last fall. 

For Burnett, the camaraderie and kindness of the Hartley’s allows for the success of the group. 

“[The Hartley’s] are so welcoming that if you are willing to visit and support the (Bobcats) you are part of the family,” Burnett said. 

Maintaining friendships made during tailgates is most impactful for Hartsley. 

“That’s been the fun part,” he said. “Getting to know people you may not have even met. Some of them in our group may just happen to be sitting in the same part of the stadium.”

Tailgating Tips

1. Get there 3-4 hours early to have enough time to set up, eat, play games, socialize and break down your site.

2. Find a good parking spot. If you have to pay for parking, you might want to move the party to a free lot, cutting down on the total party budget.

3. Know the rules. Whether it’s posted or not, don’t leave grills unattended, clean up when finished and make sure alcohol is permitted in the parking lot. If you do grill, bring an aluminum container of some sort to dispose of coals, as they can continue burning for hours.

4. Be prepared. Tailgating is much like camping and if you’re an avid tailgater you might want to have a special “go toolbox” that has all your picnicking supplies, utility items, first aid kit, etc. Another tip when packing your cooler is to pre-freeze certain items like water bottles to keep things a little extra cold; and label your food and drink coolers, so people don’t keep opening your food cooler looking for beer.

5. Bring water. Bring water to drink and it’s especially helpful to bring a water container with a spigot to wash your hands and such. A clean laundry detergent bottle works well.

6. Bring some fun accessories. Have an inflatable object or a spirited flag to help your party recognize your area. Face paint and temporary tattoos can make for a fun time.

7. Play nice. Get to know your neighboring tailgaters and make having fun a team effort.