Alums young and old descend on San Diego for sun, fun

SAN DIEGO — There were plenty of signs that this wasn't just any ordinary Princeton football weekend: the swanky receptions, the 80-degree weather, the palm trees in the background.

But it was the spread at the pre-game tailgate that truly symbolized the difference. On a well-kept lawn in the middle of the resort-like University of San Diego campus sat giant buffet tables at the same event. One featured the normal tailgate fare of various grilled meats and condiments galore; the other boasted an array of Mexican specialties, like fresh guacamole and enchiladas.

So as alums of all ages recalled old times, munching on burgers and chorros while sipping refreshments from the well-stocked bar, there was no forgetting that the Tigers weren't in New Jersey anymore. Yes, for a weekend at least, every student's dream came true: Princeton moved to Southern California.

With over 500 Princetonians in attendance, the tailgate was a microcosm of the University. The alums were there, garishly dressed in all shades of oranges, as always. So were the band and the cheerleaders, happily entertaining the crowd. And off to one side stood a circle of power-schmoozers: Shirley Tilghman, Janet Rapelye, Janet Smith Dickerson, and Gary Walters '67. The only thing missing were the students.

Of course, a few undergraduates were in town — the football team—and they did their part too, defeating San Diego, 24-17, to the delight of the large portion of the crowd dressed in orange and black. All in all, the weekend couldn't have gone much better for anyone involved.

"We're thrilled. Not just with the numbers, but with the range of people here" said Frank Vuono '78, the president of the Princeton Football Association. "It just says the Orange and Black runs deep."

The PFA, in conjunction with the athletic department and the Princeton Varsity Club, was responsible for organizing the schedule of events, for which planning began early in the summer.

Festivities kicked off Friday night with a reception at the Museum of Contemporary Art in La Jolla. The swanky soirée — $60 a head — was one of the smaller events of the weekend, with roughly 150 attendees, mainly former Tiger football players. Those who came were treated to spectacular views of Pacific Ocean from the Museum's back terrace, where the reception was held.

Although the team itself was not in attendance — players spent the night prior to the game holed up in their hotel — the coaching staff, administrators, cheerleaders, and band were all on hand to greet the alums. The band played a few songs early on before being removed; the cocktail dress-clad cheerleaders were allowed to stick around for the duration, however, and happily enjoyed the food and open bar.

At 10:30 the next morning, the food and beverage flowed freely again. The tailgate was held at USD's Copley Library, one of the school's many beautiful Spanish-style buildings. Situated on the edge of the high hills that ring San Diego, the school also boasts breathtaking views of the city below.

As usual, the band kicked things off with a few rousing Princeton fight songs. The 50 members who made the trip — after raising nearly $20,000 to make it possible — were all smiles, even as half a dozen fought fatigue caused by fasting for Yom Kippur.

Appearing at the tailgate were Tigers of all ages, from 1940s alums to Class of 2004 graduates. The crowd was a mix of California locals and New Jersey residents who had flown in for the occasion. The former players clustered by era, reliving their glory days.

Get the best of the ‘Prince’ delivered straight to your inbox. Subscribe now »

Among these were some of Princeton's most accomplished footballers, including Heisman Trophy winner Dick Kazmaier '52 and Keith Elias '94, who spent five years in the NFL.

But for the cheerleaders, the biggest star was Kyle Brandt '01. Almost the instant they arrived, the eight female members of the squad swarmed the former Tiger tailback — better known for his appearances on "The Real World: Chicago" and "Days of Our Lives" — flirting and posing for pictures with the biggest Princeton teen heartthrob this side of Dean Cain '88.

Brandt coolly played the encounter off, claiming, "I swarmed them," and saying it wasn't just the cheerleaders who knew him; many of the wives of older alums were familiar with his soap opera work.

But Brandt was most at ease talking about football — it was the first game he'd seen since graduating — predicting a big win for the Tigers. He wasn't alone, as every Princetonian asked predicted a victory for the Orange and Black.

President Tilghman joined in the chorus, calling it "an easy prediction to make." With her daughter Becky Tilghman '03 at her side, Tilghman talked about how glad she was to be able to attend the game (it corresponded to a preplanned business trip to California) and how thrilled she was by the alumni turnout.

"It reflects what is most remarkable about Princeton: the loyalty of the alumni," Tilghman said.

Indeed, it seemed that half the fans in the stands were cheering for Princeton. They'd leave happily, many heading to yet another event, this time the Padres game at Petco Field. Even the players got to enjoy this event, stopping by briefly before the team jet made the red-eye flight back to the East Coast.

Sure, as the various travel parties made it back to New Jersey on Sunday, they were exhausted. But it could have been worse — they could have been in Dartmouth.