"It's not an official tailgate without chili," she said.

Ramirez, along with her husband, Tom, were mingling with other Bloomington High School fans in the parking lot at Normal Community before Saturday's Class 6A football game.

"Our kids have been out of high school for two years, and we're still wearing purple," Tom Ramirez said.

But Tom Ramirez said as a one-time director of the Twin City Tigers football program, he enjoys getting to watch the kids he coached play at the high school level.

"It's so fun to see how they've developed," he said. "We know kids on both sides of the ball today."

Eric Sadlo, vice president of the Friends of Ironmen Football, said the group tailgates before every home game to help raise money for the football team.

"The key to tailgating is onions, peppers and hot sauce. If you have enough of those, you don't even need meat," Sadlo said.

But they grilled brats and hot dogs anyway.

Sadlo said he is very impressed with the Ironmen this year because of their deep sense of camaraderie.

"They've got that will-not-quit, will-not-die attitude," he said. "I'm very excited and anxious. My son Tyler plays on the offensive line, and I'm a much more active fan because of it."

Twila Braden of Bloomington said she is amazed every year how Bloomington coach Rigo Schmelzer brings out the talent in his players.

"They always come into the season with people saying they're not going to be a good team," she said. "But every year they end up being good. Coach Schmelzer has a wonderful gift of building his players."

Dave and Paula Mitchell, both 1982 NCHS graduates, admitted they felt a little bit guilty wearing purple and gold.

"It's hard," Dave said. "I used to play football for the Ironmen, but our son is a wide receiver for the Raiders, so we've had to switch sides."

The extended Mitchell family was helping pack up their grill and put away food as Paula grabbed for the cowbell she brings to every game.

"My son knows the sound of our bell," she said. "We're diehard Raider fans."