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The Davidson Tailgate Gang

September 2008 - Barbara Walch

This is going to shock you, but I want to join a gang. Not just any gang … no siree. I want to become a member of the Davidson Tailgate Gang, as they are affectionately referred to by original organizers André and Warren Davidson. After listening to their engaging, enthusiastically told tales about the tailgate parties they enjoy before Dallas Cowboys football games, one couldn’t help but wish to be a part of all the fun and frivolity.

Both originally from the southern part of Louisiana, André and Warren met at college in Lafayette, Louisiana, eventually married, and, after several moves around the country, settled in the Plano area in 1976. Twelve years ago they decided to purchase season tickets to the Dallas Cowboys football games. Finding the traffic to the games horrendous, they elected to do what many sporting fans do – get there early and join in the tailgate party tradition. But what started out as a pre-game event out of the trunk of their car for André, Warren, and their son Jason, has now grown to awesome (and welcome) proportions. At any given game, they may have anywhere from 12 to 18 participants, everyone pitching in, sharing the load, and bringing food.

André begins, “One of the things we’ve learned is that tailgating is contagious! It’s so much fun that once people join us, they’re hooked. We started with just the three of us. For about an hour before game time, we sat in chairs by our car in the parking lot with a small ice chest and a box of fried chicken, enjoying the time together, the fans around us, and just the excitement of being at a Dallas Cowboys game.”

She continues, “At the last game of last season, three hours before game time, instead of a car we are outside our 38-foot RV we named Cajun Spirit with multiple tables and chairs, color TVs, programmed game-day music on an iPod with loud speakers, two tents – and our tailgate gang had grown to 18. Some of them didn’t even have tickets to the game, they just came to tailgate!”

Warren adds, “Some of them may bring their own car, stay for the pre-game tailgating, and then leave. Others may try to buy tickets before the game or just stay at the RV and watch it on TV.”

Over the years, the tailgate gang has grown to include some of Jason’s buddies, Mike Gruich and Billy Snipes, as well as the Davidsons’ daughter Shelley (when she can find a sitter for the children) and her husband Ray Strickland. Several neighbors (Jill and John Richmond, Stephanie and Don Strain) with season tickets asked if they could join in the festivities along the way. Jason’s wife, Jennifer, participates as well when she can solve the “game-day babysitter challenge.” Becky and Dave Mead became regulars after a chance meeting one night at the ballpark. The Davidsons have even been known to invite good friends who may be rooting for the other team, like Cindy Sue and Buzz Kolbe who are big-time New York Giants fans. (Buzz’s sister works for the organization.)

Coordinating an off-site party for that many people takes a lot of organizing and delegating, but they’ve learned to keep it casual, including the food. The Davidsons are responsible for picking up the buckets of Popeye’s fried chicken for every game, while someone else brings hot Italian sausages to throw on the gas grill. But in the team spirit, everyone is more than happy to contribute a dish to go along with the chicken and sausages.

Jason’s friend, Billy Snipes, often gets the ball rolling with his Spicy Sausage Queso Dip and chips appetizer. Regular Jill Richmond has made her Egg Salad Sandwiches an early morning delight for the tailgate parties that kick off at 9 o’clock in the morning. She also often gets into the Cajun spirit cooking up her New Orleans-Style Barbeque Shrimp for the crowd – a tasty recipe that can be made in the oven or in a covered pan on the grill.

Apple Dump Cake, contributed by fellow tailgater Becky Mead, has become a favorite dessert, especially for their Thanksgiving Day feast. For the New York Giants games, Buzz Kolbe whips up his white bread asparagus rolls, which sound weird but are really delish. André gets into the act when the New Orleans Saints are in town delighting the gang with her Chicken and Sausage Filé Gumbo. It’s one of the easiest recipes for gumbo I’ve ever seen, made with an instant roux mix.

The only exception to the simple-but-good rule is for the annual Thanksgiving Day game, when things get a little fancier. André explains, “Some of the group misses that game to be with family, but others actually bring additional family members and friends – some from out of state. We all contribute to a full Thanksgiving dinner with turkey, dressing, and all the trimmings. Then we set it up so everyone can sit down, we say a blessing, have some wine, and eat together, rather than everyone wandering around and eating when and where they want.”

Everyone in the Davidson gang also has what Warren calls “unassigned-assignments” when it comes to set-up and take-down for the tailgate parties. “When we arrive it’s almost like watching a herd of ants,” André says. “Somebody lifts the bed in the RV and grabs the stereo, someone else raises the tent, someone puts up the flags, someone sets up the grill to cook – they’ve just all fallen into a pattern.”

Warren agrees, “Everybody pulls their weight, and new people that haven’t been before are somewhat embarrassed because they see everyone scatter and they don’t know where to help but they want to get involved. We’ve been doing this for so long, when I park that thing and open the slides, everyone moves into action. I think that’s my favorite part to watch.” One pre-assigned-assignment, though, is a designated driver. Warren and his son-in-law Ray gladly alternate that responsibility.

“Although all the same folks aren’t at every game, there’s always a great group of family and friends that come,” André adds. “We’ve learned to keep it simple because if you have too much of everything, you take all the fun out of it. The real fun is enjoying the time together, the music, the games, the food, but mostly the friendships! The Davidson Tailgate Gang has shared some great times together over the years and have some treasured memories, with more to come.”

Football season is here. Let the good times roll!

“André the Giant” & “The Godfather” – leaders of the gang

What started out as a tailgate party for three – André and Warren Davidson, and their son Jason – 12 years ago, has grown to a party for as many as 18 participants at any given Dallas Cowboys football game. In the true tailgating spirit, the parties began out of the trunk of a car, but for the last two years they have moved to the Davidsons’ 38-foot RV named Cajun Spirit.

Among fellow tailgaters, they are affectionately known as “André the Giant” and “The Godfather.” André’s nickname is a leftover from her involvement with Leadership Plano, where she served as executive director from 1998 to 2005. The tailgate team gave Warren his moniker in recognition of his role as founder and patriarch of these tailgating events.

Both André and Warren are natives of Southern Louisiana and met at college in Lafayette. They moved to the Plano area in 1976. Warren retired from his career in the electronics industry five years ago. Along with André, he is a Eucharistic minister for Our Lady of Angels Catholic Church and he also serves on the board of the Texas Catholic Credit Union.

André is a celebrated community volunteer who has been involved with numerous civic organizations over the years. In 1997, The Volunteer Center of North Texas honored her by naming their annual top award the “André Davidson Spirit of Volunteerism Award.” She was also selected as “2005 Citizen of the Year” by the Plano Chamber of Commerce. Currently she serves on the board of CITY House and the board of trustees for Medical Center of Plano. Warren says, “In her world, I’m ‘Mr. André … and proud of it!”

The Davidsons have two children, Shelley Strickland and Jason Davidson, and five grandchildren. When not volunteering (or tailgating), André and Warren love to golf and spend quality time with the grandkids.

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