When thousands of football fans arrive in East Lansing on Saturday, it will be the beginning of a new year - with the same tradition.

The rock on Farm Lane and the tennis courts south of the Duffy Daugherty Football Building will fill to capacity, and traffic will be pouring in from all directions.

For hours before the 3:30 p.m. kickoff of the MSU vs. Eastern Michigan University game, a new community will form - the MSU tailgating community.

Tailgaters also can’t forget the police officers patrolling the area, keeping the party scene running smoothly.

Kinesiology freshman Bethany Danielski and no-preference freshman Lisa Marin said despite being newcomers to tailgating tradition, have some idea of what to expect.

“All I know is you sit by a car and drink,” Marin said. “We have to get the full effect.

“It’s half the reason we’re here.”

Danielski said she will be out enjoying steaks and barbecued shrimp with a beer - and some caution as police look for minors sipping alcoholic beverages.

“Someone told me they don’t bother you, but as soon as you start walking around, then they’ll pick you up,” Danielski said.

Up to 92 days in jail, a suspended driver’s license or a fine are possible consequences for those under the age of 21 who are caught drinking on campus, MSU police Capt. Ken Hall said.

While the fans have their party, every officer on the MSU police force will be working some aspect of the pregame, game and postgame festivities, he said.

“We know tailgating is a big part of the football game,” Hall said. “We don’t discourage it.

“If you are over 21 and want to enjoy a few beers, we suggest you enjoy it moderation.”

Hall said the department reported about 800 alcohol violations in 2000, and half of those took place during home football games.

The department will get additional patrolling help from the Ingham County Sheriff’s Department, the East Lansing Police Department and the Michigan State Police on Saturday, Hall said.

But not everyone plans on participating in game day festivities from a tailgater’s point of view.

Marketing junior Matt Fitzgerald, a Greencoat security guard, will be focusing on activities outside the stadium, helping to reroute traffic through campus.

“There are a lot of people,” he said. “You look around, and there are 70,000 people outside of the stadium.”

And for those 70,000 fans, food is a must-have.

Beer joins hot dogs, bratwursts, chips and hamburgers as the essentials for throwing a successful tailgate party.

And that’s what brings the shoppers in to Goodrich’s Shop-Rite, 940 Trowbridge Road, store manager Bruce Grambausaid.

“If you have a noon game, you have people throwing the football in the parking lot at 7 a.m.,” Grambau said. “It slows down after the game.

“The biggest hassle is the traffic in the parking lot and the amount of empties brought in by the bottle collectors.”

But the arrival of Farmer Jack, 2775 E. Grand River Ave., may put a dent in Goodrich’s sales, Grambau said.

“You never know with competition,” he said. “We haven’t had a new store move in in years.”

But Goodrich’s ace in the hole is their 14-year resident meat surgeon Dave Lindemann, aka Dr. Beef.

He said the biggest seller for tailgates are homemade assorted bratwursts flavored with cinnamon mint, Guinness stout or brown sugar, as well as lamb bratwursts.

And those distinct flavors are their best sellers, Lindemann said.

“Because I have over a dozen different brats and we have 131 different mustards, people tend to create a painter’s pallet,” he said.

He said easily grillable items like hot dogs and hamburgers are a must at any tailgate party, along with somebody who has a grill.

Kinesiology senior Megan Kuehnel said she has been tailgating at the rock on Farm Lane with for years. The rock is also a popular spot for greeks to tailgate.

“The greek spot is wild and crazy, but at the same time not out of control,” she said. “The police are really cool about letting us take care of it.

“We’ve gotten up at 7 a.m. to start tailgating. It just depends on what happened the night before.”

While she doesn’t start tailgating that early every game, Kuehnel said she usually gets to her tailgating spot a couple hours before the game starts.

Kuehnel said she has had the usual hamburgers and hot dogs, but this year she wanted a fancier spread - such as shish kabobs.

“(Tailgating) is so much fun, but there is no reason for it to get out of control,” she said. “We don’t need to have any rioting.”