Wanna tailgate at NSU? It's gonna cost you.

NORFOLK

Be careful, Rudy Robins warns as he lifts one of four turkeys sizzling in a deep fryer. Surrounding him, rap music blares, boom boxes boom and the smell of charbroiled sausage wafts in the air, but Robins is oblivious to it all. He's tending to an impressive cooler full of food in need of tedious preparation.

Alongside him, a crew of men breads chicken while wearing "Danger - Men Cooking" aprons. Everybody seems to be in a good mood just outside of Price Stadium on this homecoming Saturday. The morning sprinkle might be threatening to turn into more, and Norfolk State has had its problems finding ways to win football games this season.

But if you've forked over $100 to $125 to tailgate, you'd better enjoy yourself.

Robins paid that kind of money to the NSU athletic department just for the right to park his car and tailgate on the grass along Presidential Parkway.

"Money's tight," Robins said, settling the lid back on another tasty-looking turkey. "They've got to make revenue somehow. It's their property."

Not all Spartans fans are as generous with their praise of the school's tailgating policy, which requires those wishing to tailgate in Norfolk State's designated area to pay $100 per car and $125 per recreational vehicle. That doesn't include a game ticket.

"They're not looking out for the people who support them," said Vernon Fields, a longtime contributor to the school where his three sons and two grandchildren have attended. Fields and family are preparing a load of food underneath a large red and white tent they had delivered to Price Stadium that morning. The delivery driver faced a hassle getting it to them.

"They didn't want to let the truck in to get us the tent; they said he didn't have a pass," Fields said. "They make us go through too much."

Paying money to tailgate is nothing new at Norfolk State. Athletic director Marty Miller said the policy has been in effect at least five years. A year ago, fees to tailgate were actually higher, Miller said, noting, "We're going through some hard times with our economy. We're doing what we can to offset some expenses for our fans."

Last season, tailgaters were charged $125 per car and $150 per RV, although unlike the current scale, those fees included two game tickets. The revenue for that season amounted to $9,045, and all of it went to the same place it has the past five years, Miller said: the tennis program.

"That's a nonrevenue sport, and it needs as much financial assistance as possible," he said.

Tennis coach Nathaniel Warren, who oversees the school's tailgating, estimates that only about a dozen or so folks pay those fees fo r routine games. They're more popular for the Virginia State game and homecoming weekend, as well as when Hampton plays in Norfolk. NSU has limited tailgating space available, given a lack of available land around the stadium.

"We're using the space we have available to raise funds for a nonrevenue sport," Miller said.

Many tailgaters were stunned the tailgating revenue went to tennis.

"I thought it was going to the football team and band," said Isaac Lee, standing next to his modest tailgate area, a cooler full of beer and soda.

"Tennis should raise their own money," said his buddy Rob Combs. "Anybody can wash cars."

While many Division I-AA programs do not charge specifically for tailgating, parking charges do apply for fans who unload their tents and grills in premium lots. At William and Mary, boosters with higher established giving levels get premium parking in the closer lots. The same is true at James Madison.

Some other MEAC schools charge for tailgating, including South Carolina State, which has similar fees to NSU. Delaware State, Hampton and Howard do not charge, while Morgan State charges $10 and North Carolina A&T $25.

Many NSU fans say they wouldn't mind paying the fee if the school would help reduce the hassle. Many Spartans fans commented on the lack of bathroom facilities in the tailgating area. Fields said the portable potties that are available are disgusting, and occasionally, doors are locked from the outside. He tried renting his own port-a-potty but was told he couldn't put it on the premises.

"They need to give us more support," Fields said.

Angela Hays, who sells green-and-gold lollipops from a tent set up like a full kitchen inside, said like most, she splits the cost with others so the $100 is not prohibitive.

"I know the school needs to make money," she said, "but the bathroom facilities should be better."

Benjamin Fuller, operating a rotisserie in his space, doesn't think $100 is unreasonable but is disappointed he is only allowed to park one vehicle.

During homecoming, his mother drove to the game, was unable to find parking and left, a common story among older Spartan fans. Fuller has tried to get his mother into the handicapped lot with no luck.

"They should at least give you two parking spaces with that $100," he said.

Many fans can't understand why NSU doesn't consider building an on-campus garage to eliminate parking problems that have grown worse over time. Some think lack of parking impacts attendance, though others say a winning team would bring fans despite any hardship.

Fans in handicapped lots don't pay to tailgate, b ut they still have strong opinions about the policy.

"I think it's kind of terrible," said Tom Burt, a regular at home games with his wife, Bertha. "They're always sending stuff out for money. A guy's going to think twice before packing up his stuff and coming out here to pay $100."

Vicki L. Friedman, (757) 477-6874, VickiL120@cox.net