PHILADELPHIA (KYW Newsradio) — Eagles fans have taken over in South Philadelphia as they get ready to cheer on the birds in their NFC Championship Game against the San Francisco 49ers.
“We are ready to party and we are ready to win, bird gang!” said Jeanine Bergos, who came out at 4 a.m. with her husband and friends in a green and black Eagles school bus with photos of players decked out inside of it to tailgate.
Tailgaters like Bergos came in school busses, while others rolled up in winnebagos and vans decked out in Eagles colors and flags, eager for kick-off at 3 p.m.
Jeremy Smith said he started prepping for their Sunday morning tailgate Saturday night.
He came decked out in Eagles gear and even sported a kelly green beard because, to him, it’s tradition.
“I started it about five years ago, week three of the Super Bowl season,” Smith explained.
“It was fake painted and then I went and got it done at my wife’s salon. After that, I’ve just been doing it on my own and I just do it every day ever since.”
Eric Wayne, a “diehard fan,” came out at 8 p.m. Saturday to start cooking for the tailgate.
“I’m throwing a big tailgate today for about 50-60 people, so I got a big pig on and a brisket and they take about 16 hours to smoke.”
Wayne says his tailgate tradition dates back more than a decade.
“Basically, to bring some good food to some great fans I throw a tailgate so people don’t have to worry about bringing their grills or coolers or anything I bring all the beer, all the food. I throw the party. All they gotta do is show up.”