Head coach P.J. Fleck of the Western Michigan Broncos celebrates after the game against the Illinois Fighting Illini on September 17, 2016. With the Broncos ranked for the first time in school history, it makes for some sweet MACation. Michael Hickey/Getty Images

TailGreater: Every sport is going right now, including MACtion

October might be the best month ever for sports fans. Both pro and college football are in full swing. The NHL returns tonight, with high profile matchups including a rivalry game between the Chicago Blackhawks and the St. Louis Blues. The baseball postseason is underway. And the NBA season starts later in the month. It's heaven. So no matter what your sport of choice is, it's the perfect time to level up your tailgating skills. And that, my friends, is what we're here for. Read on as we help you TailGreater.

Playlist of the Week: The Classics



Last week, we went a bit indie, so this week, we're going back to the classics. We combed the '60s, '70s, and cheated a bit into the '80s for 21 classic rock tracks that are sure to fire the fans (and your grill) up. We go from party mainstays like Steppenwolf's Born To Be Wild and Gimme Shelter to more punk-tinged tracks from Iggy Pop and The Animals. Sure, you've heard all of these songs before. Probably hundreds of times. But, much like Notre Dame schadenfreude, these classics never get old.

Recipe of the Week: Vegetarian Pumpkin Chili

Vegetarians deserve awesome tailgate food too. (Image via SkinnyTaste.com)

Okay, listen, we get it. Meat is an integral element in most-if-not-all quality tailgates. That said, next time you're at a tailgate with your vegetarian friend, look at their face as they limply pick at the tortilla chips, loading their plate up with lonely globs of pre-made salsa and guacamole. Listen to their defeated sighs.

Vegetarians deserve delicious tailgate food too. So this weekend, do your part and make this hearty, satisfying pumpkin chili. If not for yourself, do it for your poor vegetarian buddy.

This chili is made with a base of beans and pumpkin puree for a decidedly fall-ish mix of flavors. Sauteed vegetables are invited to the party as well, and add depth (as well as essential vitamins and nutrients) to the dish. Trust us. You won't miss the meat. And, I mean, if you do, nothing is stopping you from browning some ground turkey beforehand and bringing it along to the tailgate to add to your bowl of chili when nobody is looking. As an added bonus, the recipe only takes about an hour to put together from start to finish. You can find all the step-by-step instructions here, via Skinnytaste.com.

Invention of the Week: Vibe It Portable Sound System

It won't replace your bluetooth speakers, but it does an admirable job of turning a beer can into a speaker. (Image via Amazon)

Despite its salacious-sounding name, the Vibe It is a fairly simple and benign device. It is a "portable sound system", and while it's not a speaker set, it promises to turn pretty much anything in the area into one. The concept is that the device attaches to an object, ideally an empty box or other hollow item, and then vibrates in such a way as to turn the object into a resonant space for whatever music you're playing. What that means is that, in effect, anything you attach the Vibe It to becomes a speaker. Reviewers note that sound quality will vary depending on what you attach the Vibe It to, but we're sure you'll be able to find a few empty cans around somewhere. You can purchase the Vibe It here, or a lower-priced (but equally well reviewed!) competitor here.

Tailgate of the Week: Rowing the Boat with the Western Michigan Broncos 

Sure, everyone's thinking about that other undefeated team over in Ann Arbor, but this week is historic for the Western Michigan Broncos. They have multiple Big Ten wins (albeit over a struggling Northwestern team and an even worse Illinois squad), and after a decisive win over the Northern Illinois Huskies, find themselves ranked for the first time in school history. The Broncos will be heavily favored over the unranked Akron Zips, but that won't matter to Broncos fans excited to watch their team protect their ranking. This Saturday, Kalamazoo will be an all-day party, and football fans with a taste for some MACtion could do a whole lot worse than to join Western Michigan fans in the lot at Waldo Stadium.

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