The stands are the pews, the fight song and the alma mater are the hymns, the fans are the faithful congregants, and Jayhawk football is the religion. Before every home game students, families and alumni join in a mass exodus from their homes, through the student ghetto and toward Memorial Stadium.

There’s no incense, but the aroma of fresh barbecue and hamburgers permeate the crisp fall air as the voices of thousands of excited fans mingle with the muted notes of the marching band warming up in the distance. It’s 9 a.m., on Saturday, and it’s time for the age-old pregame ritual of tailgating to begin.

Like any religious ceremony, there are rules to be followed and principles to be adhered to. Something this important shouldn’t be taken lightly, which is why we’ve compiled the Ten Commandments of Tailgating, detailing the do’s and don’ts of pre-game partying.

1. Thou shalt not arrive on campus an hour before game time and expect to get a good spot on the Hill.

“The key is to get here early,” says 2006 graduate Dave Cronin, whose tailgating group had been on campus and ready for the 11:30 a.m. kickoff against Kansas State on Nov. 1 since 6 a.m. Cronin says not showing up with enough time to get a spot and get organized is a rookie mistake that a lot of beginning tailgaters make.

2. Thou shalt play yard games.

The diehard tailgaters, like Cronin, know that when you show up to a game more than five hours before it begins, you have to have something to do. That is why God created yard games like washers, horse shoes, beer pong and flip cup. “You’ve got to have activities leading up to the game to get people excited,” Cronin says.

3. Thou shalt have no other priorities higher than tailgating.

Whoever came up with the football schedule didn’t seem to take into consideration the Saturday morning post-party hangovers of the majority of the student population. But real tailgaters know to throw back a couple aspirin and suck it up. There are more important things than personal comfort.

4. Thou shalt not forget the beer.

Cheap beer is a fundamental component of any student tailgate for obvious reasons, says 2006 graduate Chris Bennett.

5. Thou shalt not be the obnoxious drunk three seats down who ruins the game for everyone.

While beer is a necessary part of the tailgating experience, don’t forget that tailgating is just the beginning of the day. There’s a whole football game left to watch, and nobody likes the obnoxious drunk in the stands who’s convinced he’s really funny. “If you’re so drunk you’re throwing up, it’s probably not a good idea to go into the game and ruin everyone’s time,” says Baldwin City sophomore Avery Baughan. “I’ve seen people carried out of the stadium after they fell down a flight of stairs, and everyone just laughs at them.”

6. Thou shalt honor thy team and thy colors.

“Blue is the color,” says Emery Baughan, a 2005 Baker Univeristy graduate and lifelong KU fan. “It’s a pride thing. I grew up in Kansas being a Jayhawk fan my whole life, and then I come here and look around and see everyone from all walks of life wearing KU blue. It’s a really cool experience.”

7. Thou shalt partake in the glory of grilling.

Any true tailgater knows that, after beer, burgers are the most important item to have in your cooler. If you’re thinking about going all out with your cooking, be sure to check out sites like www.tailgating.com for professional-grade grills and setups, ranging from the basic outdoor grill to the over the top “Cooks BBQ Kitchen,” which unfolds to include a 90,000 BTU propane stove, grill and griddle, microwave oven, mini-fridge, and even a kitchen sink. Just in case.

8. Thou shalt plan ahead.

The greatest tragedies to befall tailgaters—like forgetting the beer and the burgers—can easily be prevented with a little planning. Get together with your group a few days before gameday to divvy up duties.

9. Thou shalt exploit thy friends should their apartments be closer to campus than thine own.

Location is everything, so you shouldn’t be above using your friends for their proximity to the gameday celebrations. Augusta senior Laura Vest says her pregame location generally varies, but it’s always within a few blocks of the stadium, depending on who is willing to offer up their home to the masses.

10. Thou shalt wave the wheat. Enough said.

“It’s a rock chalk thing,” says Andreas Brandenberger, Athens, Greece, senior. “Everyone who has graduated from KU will know what that means. If you’re anywhere and you see someone wearing a KU shirt, you both can just bond over being a Jayhawk.”