In the beginning, tailgaters wandered aimlessly throughout campus landscapes with only the basic necessities for survival. These necessities were found in packs of 24 and were carried up and down Lane Avenue where they were often consumed right in the middle of the street. The word "Kropkogate" had yet to be coined and Satan had yet to initiate her quest to destroy gameday. This would all change during a fateful New Years day bowl game in 2002 as a group of tailgating enthusiasts joined together for the first time for a gameday experience. Much like the meeting of Smith and Wesson, this gathering would alter the their lives forever.

It all started with the 2002 Outback Bowl. The world had not had such a gathering of fascinating ideology since the Geneva Conventions. The tailgate itself was lame, but the assembly of some of history's most influential gameday drunks set the groundwork for the future of Kropkogate. Stuck in traffic and arriving only an hour before kickoff, the tailgaters were forced to chug a few beers and leave for the game. It was then that they vowed to celebrate all future gamedays to their fullest ability. The origins of Kropkogate would evolve over 3 distinct eras as follows:

• The Primitive Era

The first era of our tailgate commenced in the fall of 2002, as several of today's Kropkogaters began traveling across the Midwest to watch the Buckeyes on the road. These were simple times. Tailgates consisted only of beer and a Weber hibachi grill, with the car stereo blasting Cowboy Mouth and Deadeye Dick. Despite it's simplicity, the tailgaters were undoubtedly creating a scene throughout various Big Ten campuses as they endured an undefeated and often heart-stopping Buckeye football season. The tailgaters remained scattered and unaffiliated during most of the home schedule, often only meeting after the games at Hineygate.

• The Norwichian Era

The Norwichian Era featured the beginning of massive home tailgates, hosted upon the grounds of several different locations along Norwich Avenue.

• The 220 Period

The legend of the tailgate spread quickly when kegs began to be tapped early in the morning at 220 E Norwich Avenue, which at that time was home to a group of hooligans including editors of this website: Mr. Marbles and Pizza Hall.  Drinking games, heckling, and drunkenness reached new levels every Saturday at this location. The Kropko Plunge was initiated and tailgaters were sure to be treated to the hosts' odd selection of music, most notably the repeated playing of Conway Twitty, Deadeye Dick, and Cowboy Mouth.

 

• The 101 Period

The folks at 220 moved away after the 2003 season, but the tailgate continued to grow just down the street at 101 E Norwich. This period is celebrated for the level of heckling indecency that ensued from the front porch. Anyone walking down the street was subject to clever shouts, requests and chants--attractive females, opposing teams' fans, and "walk of shame" girls most often falling victim.

• The Period of Uncertainty

2005 would be the final period of the Norwichian Era. Several different Norwich Avenue locations played host to our shaningans, with none of the residents appearing to be overly eager to continue their hosting duties. The majority of the tailgating crew had finished school and realized a new home for tailgating had to be established. This would commence the beginning of a new era of tailgating.

  

• The Modern Era

The modern era began at the end of the 2005 season when Kropko hosted the first home tailgate west of the Olentangy. It continued in 2006 at its present home by the ag-campus building and gathered momentum quickly as tailgaters were treated to luxurious tailgating equipment additions each week. It became known as Kropkogate, a welcome retreat from the pressures life brings Sunday through Friday.  Heckling has declined in the Modern Era as heckling targets only present themselves on rare occasions.  Rivalry amongst surrounding tailgates has increased during Kropkogate's tenure at this location--most notably with the sons-of-bitches at Stoleygate on the other side of Woody Hayes Drive. 

The Modern Era started with a single canopy and expanded through the years.  With the addition of The Kropkodome in 2009, the tailgate now has over 900 sq ft of covered space under the dome and the four auxiliary canopies.