For the past six years, Danny Dickerson’s Sundays have usually started at about 5 AM. While most Panthers fans are still dreaming of the final score in that day’s game, Dickerson, whom his friends call “Downeast”, is out bright and early preparing his tailgate. Smoking his own pork butt. Marinating his steaks. Making macaroni and cheese from scratch. Prepping what he calls “the big grill” to cook food for almost 50 guests at his weekly tailgate on Mint Street. While the number was higher a few years ago, health issues forced Dickerson to curtail the food offerings and sell his trailer. So instead of cooking for 150, he only cooks for 50, which allows him to spice up the menu a little bit. “Last year, we had ribeyes and prime rib,” Dickerson said. “Whatever I can bring out there to make people happy, that’s my goal.”
For even longer than the six years that Dickerson has been hosting his weekly tailgate, a group of Panthers fans have been gathering outside of the Panthers practice gates, hoping for autographs and player interactions. In 2008, the “Panthers Practice Posse”, as they’ve dubbed themselves, added an annual event to their schedule on the Saturday of the first home game of the year, when the Panthers hold their final walkthrough. But this smorgasbord that includes brats, hot dogs, macaroni & cheese, gumbo, pulled pork BBQ and cupcakes isn’t for the fans.
It’s for the players.
The posse, began by superfans Pat LeClair, ‘Qit Qat’ Tait, and too many others to name, sets up a buffet line of food directly outside of the practice fields for the players to grab a plate on their way back to the stadium. The group uses a Facebook fan page to gather the supplies, which are all brought on a volunteer basis; Dickerson started leading the tailgate three years ago. “Some of them eat, some of them don’t,” says Dickerson. “But they’re all thankful, they’ll all talk with us on their way out. It’s just a real nice way to get to show them how much we appreciate them.”
Each fan at the tailgate has their own story. ‘Qit Qat’ remembers Deangelo Williams requesting a specific sauce for his ribs (“honey mustard, not too sloppy”); LeClair recollects the year that running back Mike Goodson and Jon Beason hopped the fence and ate their plate amongst the fans. The story about Luke Kuechly’s eye lighting up when he realized there was a cupcake inscribed with his own number on it is told with much gusto by Loretta To, a fan who traveled from Atlanta for the game this weekend. While the Panthers’ faces may change, the family remains strong. Fans watch others’ children grow up before their eyes. “Your son was about 11 when you started coming,” LeClair remarked to a fellow member of the ‘posse’ passing by. “Now he’s full grown!”
Finally, the moment arrives when the players come filing out of the practice fields. While not every player stops for a plate, most marvel at the spread. Captain Munnerlyn says he’s too old and has to watch what he eats, but eventually is cajoled by lure that the gumbo will “bless your life”. Andrew Norwell, Kawann Short, and Mario Addison aren’t shy, though. “Yeah, usually all the linemen come through here,” LeClair says with a smile. One player who doesn’t grab a plate is quarterback Cam Newton, who arrived and departed the walkthrough shirtless; the fans on the line offer him donuts as he speeds by on a cart.
“You know I can’t do that! It ain’t gluten-free!”
