SALT LAKE CITY (KUTV) — The Utah Utes will open the 2024 football season, the team’s first as a member of the Big 12 Conference, with a home game against Southern Utah.

Thursday’s match starts at 7pm

However, the pre-match party started hours before kick-off.

Die-hard tailgating fanatics

A group that wowed reporters in 2023 by grilling a bacon-wrapped alligator during the Utes’ season opener against the University of Florida was back this year, once again serving up a dish based on the rival team’s mascot.

The fanatic tailgaters were equipped with grills, tents, seats and all the U of U accessories a fan could want.

MORE: 2024 College Football Season Begins

While the parking lots of East and West Stadium still felt like a ghost town on Thursday morning, the Guardsman’s parking lot, across the street, was filling up with partygoers who had been preparing for the game more than 12 hours in advance.

The lots officially opened at 6 a.m. That’s when Lek Holmes and his friends turned on their two TVs, cracked open a bottle of their finest Ten High Bourbon, and began prepping food for their annual rival mascot burning.

Or, to be more precise, their annual rival mascot who grills and spices to perfection.

During last year’s season opener, the group was nearly finished wrapping their alligator tail tailgating in bacon.

This year, when the Utes took on the Southern Utah University Thunderbirds, the tailgaters served up “Thunderbird burritos.”

The tailgating was just the beginning of a day of events leading up to the race, including one that the military had warned Salt Lake City residents to prepare for.

F-35A overflight

One of the highlights of the pre-game festivities is a flyover of F-35A fighter jets from Hill Air Force Base.

“The pilots and ground safety observer are from the 34th and 466th Fighter Squadrons and are a mix of University of Utah and Southern Utah University graduates,” said a statement from the U.S. Air Force, which listed the alumni as Capt. Tyler Penkalski, Maj. Derek Kirkwood, Capt. Kyle Yockey, Capt. Matthew Beinar and Maj. Dylan Nelson.

The announcement came with a warning to local residents: these fighter jets are noisy.

Flyover data:

• Time: Shortly after 6:50 p.m.
• Aircraft: Four F-35A Lightning II jets
• Pilots: 388th and 419th Fighter Wings
• Location: 1,000 feet above Rice-Eccles Stadium

You Start a New Tradition

Fans are encouraged to participate in “The Arrival,” a new tradition where supporters gather outside Gate L at 500 South in Salt Lake City at 4:45 p.m. to welcome the team as they step off the bus.

During this pre-match party you can enjoy food, live music and all kinds of fun stuff, which you can of course buy.

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