The SECond to None Tejano Tailgaters have been a powerful presence at every Texas A&M football home game since 2013. Proudly displaying their Latino heritage, they’ve taken the fan experience at Aggieland to another level, energizing the Aggie faithful before kickoff.
The Tejano Tailgaters aren’t just attending the games. They’re redefining inclusivity and what it means to be a part of the Aggie family.
The SECond to None Tejano Tailgaters were founded by Joseph Rodriguez, James Rodriguez, Reuben Marin and Roger Villanueva. Their vision was to represent their Latino heritage and stand out. To achieve their vision, they purchased their trademark maroon 1986 short bus with a rooftop bar.
“We wanted to do a tailgate and stand out a little bit, and we ended up purchasing a 1986 short bus from the school district in Somerville,” Villanueva said. “I had a vision of putting cabinets in, big screen TVs, pop-up doors and a rooftop bar upstairs.
“That is kind of how it all started. Now it’s grown and we have about 80 members and have a committee that puts everything together.”
Latino culture highlighted
The SECond to None Tejano Tailgaters can be found each home football Saturday at lot 67, which is closer to A&M’s Reed Arena than Kyle Field. It’s across the street from Texas A&M’s Albritton Bell Tower, which sits at the intersections of Old Main Drive, Jones and Lamar Streets.
They were first-year winners of the H-E-B Tailgaters of the Year. The SECond to none Tejano Tailgaters proudly display their H-E-B Tailgaters of the Year banner on the bar’s rooftop. The Texas grocery store chain recognized them with Menudo on the menu.
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“Man, that was pretty neat and unexpected,” Villanueva said. “We knew that H-E-B was going to be here this weekend. We didn’t know it about 15 years ago, so actually we had menudo, the only thing with patas.
“It was the only thing on the menu. And, of course, all of those guys are from San Antonio. They loved our theme and what we did. The rest is history, man.”
The Tejano Tailgaters are proud of their Latino heritage and want to share it with everyone. They create a welcoming environment on game days by incorporating a variety of Latino foods. Moreover, they are committed to ensuring everyone feels included regardless of background or team affiliation.
Texas A&M culture
“We thought it was imperative to represent our culture and show people that we can have a great tailgate and represent, while being inclusive to everybody,” said prominent Houston attorney James Rodriguez, who graduated from A&M in 1989. “So it’s very important.
“I’m very proud that we’ve continued this for years, but to do this for everybody. Love sees no colors. We’re here. This is not just Tejano. We do play Tejano music, but we’re known to embrace even the opposing teams to come party with us.”
Joseph Rodriguez, a founding member, made it clear of their intention to keep the Latino cultural flame burning at Texas A&M. Their goal is to make an impact on the university’s Latino landscape.
“We love it. That’s who we are because we’re Tejano tailgaters. A&M is a Land Grant institution.” Joseph Rodriguez said. “We feel that Texas A&M should reflect the state, which is predominantly Hispanic.
“It’s been designated as a Hispanic-Serving Institution, and so we want to reflect that. We want to represent that. Tejano Tailgaters have been in existence since 2013, and we’re going to plan on going until we cannot go anymore.”
