So this is what it takes to put on a big-time tailgate party

Nadine Babu puts on one helluva Gophers tailgate party.

Nadine Babu. Gopher diehards undoubtedly know the name, and where to find the tailgate party she throws before every Gopher football home game. 

But if you're not a regular to the tailgate parties surrounding TCF Bank Stadium, you also probably don't know about the amount of prep that goes into throwing the best tailgate party around. 

Introducing, the exhaustive, nearly finished product, as presented by Babu. 

To recap: 

• Crock pot of corn casserole
• Crock pot of mac n' cheese
• Huge tin of taco dip
• Spinach dip
• 4 massively overflowing tins of shrimp boil
• 4 additional giant bags of shrimp to make more shrimp boil
• Feta dip
• Vegetables for dipping
• Hawaiian rolls
• Brats for after the game
• Ginormous flavored ice cube for cocktails
• Blueberry lemonade with gin cocktail
• Loads of beer
• Loads of ice
• Seasonings
• Utensils
• More crock pots
• Red Solo cups
• Chips
• Brat buns
• More chips

All of that, not to mention tables, chairs, TVs, satellite dish, grills, and a generator. Oh, and they provide heated tents when the weather turns cold. 

"I don't think people really understand the magnitude," said Babu. "So much work the day before and week before, planning and shopping. I'm absolutely exhausted and crashed after a game." 

Babu's party happens in the Ski-U-Mah parking lot and starts at 2 p.m. Thursday. That gives tailgaters six hours to drink, eat and play games before heading into the stadium for the 8 p.m. kickoff between the Gophers and South Dakota State. 

It's not uncommon for past Gopher greats to attend the tailgate, and it's likely that anyone who shows up will run into parents and family of Gopher players. Running back Rodney Smith's parents have been regulars at the tailgate party since he was a freshman. 

She's got food covered but anyone who isn't a regular guest of Babu's is asked to bring their own drinks. And if you dive into that incredible smorgasbord it would be very nice of you to make a donation. There will be a donation bucket on site, with all proceeds going to the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society. 

Last year, their tailgate party raised more than $3,000 for various local charities. 

Before you ask me any questions about tailgating, please read this (my post from last year). The only things that have changed...it's the 10th year at The Bank. Tailgating starts at 2pm. Also, @DZulgad and I cooked for an army, so come hungry...it's a shrimp boil!!! pic.twitter.com/uMAtu6nWS8

— Nadine Babu (@NadineBabu) August 29, 2019