Why isn't Texas State Greek life showing up at football games? It starts at the tailgate

Former Texas State football player Mike Orakpo recalls opposing coaches used to comment about the difficulty of hearing at UFCU Stadium, due to the disruptive and loud behavior of the student section located right behind the opposing bench. However, the excitement may be absent from the stands when Texas State faces Colorado State in their Pac-12 home opener. This is primarily because of a disagreement between the university's Greek life and the administration regarding changes made to the tailgating experience.

The majority of the Greek organizations were against the alterations to the tailgating layout. Lambda Chi Alpha's president, Evan Flores, expressed his displeasure, saying they wanted to maintain the same atmosphere during the tailgates. The university invested in improvements such as a partnership with Aramark food services, new sound systems, and a new destination called Boko's Backyard for tailgating.

Located at a recreational grass field across Aquarena Springs Drive from the stadium, the setup has been a source of contention as it provides a shadier spot and shorter walk to the stadium compared to the previous location.

Damphousse, the university president, aimed to enhance the game day experience by minimizing the spread-out tailgating spots and condensing the camps for better administration. However, this redesign was perceived by the Greek organizations as an attack on their tailgating culture. Flores said that his organization tried to adapt to the changes, but the overall vibe was not the same.

He believes that the other Greek leaders think their culture is not considered "cool" enough, which is why they oppose the changes. Damphousse denied this claim, stating that the university wanted to curb underage drinking.

Orakpo reached out to the fraternities, trying to motivate them to return, while also supporting the administration. The athletic affairs director for Texas State's student government, Hailey Bowen, believes that both sides are in a difficult position and are trying to find a compromise. Damphousse acknowledged that change can be challenging for some people, and athletic director Don Coryell met with student groups to discuss what changes would encourage their attendance.

To motivate the Greek life chapters, the university is offering incentives such as $1,500 to the chapter with the highest attendance percentage and allowing them to bring their own DJs after previously disallowing them.