Show Off Your Tailgate And You Could Win A Year’s Supply Of Meat And Bacon

Ah, tailgating: sunshine, assorted meats, and endless games of cornhole. My favorite tailgate memory is from my freshman year of college. Before the first football game I attended as a student, I randomly went up to some people who seemed to be my age. In my hand were some uneaten bacon-wrapped sausages. The food was an easy ice breaker, and many of the kids in that random group have become lifelong friends of mine. When everyone comes back to town for homecoming, we go all out, and turn our tailgate into something resembling a feast.

For those of you who love tailgating as much as I do, there's a chance for your tailgate to become the envy of your friends. Microsoft is giving away some awesome prizes for people who can show off their own incredible tailgate experience, including an HP Envy x2 (a Windows 8 notebook with an HD Touch display and removable tablet), a Weber Grill Genesis s-310, and a year's supply of meat and bacon. Seriously, free meat, you guys. What more do you want? Bragging rights? You'll get those, too.

Entering is super simple. Just go to upgrademytailgate.com, click on the "Connect to Facebook" icon on the page, and upload a picture or video showing off your tailgate. Both college students and adults can participate, so be sure to select the correct category (Rookie for students, Veteran for adults), and share the submissions with your friends. The deadline for submissions is December 8, so there's little time to waste. Go out there and make America proud by proving yours is the most over-the-top tailgate imaginable.

Patrick Burns is a writer from Plano, Texas. Find him online here.