You may not be a student anymore, but you can still cheer on your alma mater with other alums on a fall Saturday.
The new Cavanaugh’s Rittenhouse on Sansom shows matches in Wisconsin and Michigan, in case you need a place to root for your team next to people wearing the same college sweatshirt as you. / Photo courtesy of Cavanaugh’s Rittenhouse
College football season is in full swing again, with all its Buffalo wings, off-key fight songs and cornhole. You may not be a student anymore, but you can still cheer on your alma mater with other alums on a crisp fall Saturday. (Personally, as a Penn State alumnus, I’ve enjoyed my fair share of wins and heartbreaks over cheap beer and chips.) This city’s university alumni groups have made their mark on Philly bars by hosting special experiences. So grab that college shirt, load up on the 12-legged parlay that will win you $1 million, and use this guide to find out where your folks gather on the weekend.
Team: Alabama
Bar: Cavanaugh’s main house
This is where Crimson Tide fans show up and come out. The old-fashioned Irish pub offers free hoagies during halftime for alumni groups who sign up for a private room. Enjoy $5.50 Goose Island beer, plus wings tossed in their signature sweet-and-spicy Cav’s sauce as you watch future first-rounders roll over the competition. 421 South 2nd Street.
Team: Notre Dame
Bar: the mulberry
Mulberry owner and Notre Dame alum Ben Haney makes sure other Fighting Irish fans feel comfortable at his Logan Square spot. The cozy, upscale pub has a huge menu with a cheese board that would make any game better, plus Jameson wings and a double-stacked smash burger. The Mulberry doesn’t have any Saturday drink specials yet, but maybe that’s a good thing. Who wants to hear ND fans yelling not to join a conference after lugging multiple hard seltzers? 1835 Arch Street.
Team: Penn State
Bar(s): Tradesman’s and La Roca
Penn State stalwarts gather at Tradesman’s, where you can get a special table package that serves eight and comes with wings, deviled eggs, chicken fingers, cheesesteak spring rolls, chips, and beer for $225. The Center City bar is busy with fans glued to the huge media wall. All alums looking for a less raw experience should check out La Roca in Manayunk, especially for its tacos and jalapeño cucumber margaritas that are tough enough to forget you lost the Rose Bowl in 2016. 1322 Chestnut Street & 4161 Main Street.
Team(s): Pittsburgh and the State of Michigan
Bar: Sto’s Bar
It’s understandable why Pitt and Michigan State fans flock to Sto’s Bar. The reliable Old City watering hole serves all day, every day $5 all over town and good drinks. If that somehow isn’t enough to motivate you, know that Sto’s offers $20 Miller Lite buckets and jello shots after every touchdown. Not bad for the second best teams in Pennsylvania and Michigan. Market Street 236.
Team: Texas
Bar: Chickie’s & Pete’s
The Texas Exes gather on Saturday at Chickie’s and Pete’s in South Philly. Things get noisy in this popular bar with dozens of TVs. While cheering on Texas and watching Oklahoma on the other side of the bar, grab a bucketful of Chickie’s and Pete’s signature crinkle crab fries with creamy cheese dip. Then wash your fries with $5 domestic tap water pitchers offered as a special. Packerlaan 1526.
Team: USC
Bar: Dave & Buster’s
This giant restaurant and entertainment chain is your childhood dream with pre-workout supplements complete with video games, pop music, huge TVs and bright lights. It’s also where Trojan fans brave the east coast temperatures for game days. D&B’s usually offers a list of fall drink specials with remixes for classics like old-fashioned and pumpkin-flavored shakes. If playing PAC-12 isn’t going well, throw out the giant flat screens and head to the arcade. 325 North Columbus Boulevard.
Team: Ohio State
Bar: ladder 15
The Buckeyes take over Ladder 15 — a Rittenhouse bar where crowds dance — every weekend in the fall. It’s a good place to watch any game if you don’t want to feel too stuffed, as Ladder has 15 TVs on both levels. Expect standards like wings, as well as elevated pub fare like calamari and truffle fries. Sansom Street 1528.
Team: Michigan
Bar: Flanigan’s Boathouse
Michigan fans watch the Maize and Blue at Flanigan’s Boathouse in Conshohocken. This family-friendly sports bar serves breakfast tacos and quesadillas from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m., along with crispy pork bun sandwiches. Those looking for game day drinks can add $25 High Noon buckets or $4 Bud Light bottles. (Cavanaugh’s Rittenhouse also shows all Michigan games). Fayettestraat 113, Conshohocken.
Team: Clemson
Bar: The mail
Clemson alums make the first ACC action at The Post in University City. In addition to showing games, this bright, colorful bar with beer hall seating offers activities such as pool, air hockey, and shuffleboard that add to the game-day experience. If you like martinis, The Post has eight (yes, you read that right) varieties of the drink. Whenever you need some air, head upstairs to the Cira Green rooftop where games are played on their giant screen. 129 South 30th Street.
Team: Wisconsin
Bar: Rittenhouse by Cavanaugh
Wisconsin fans will take advantage of Cavanaugh’s new two-story Rittenhouse location, which is equipped with wall-to-wall TVs. While you watch the Badgers play Big Ten football hard, order from Cavanaugh’s Saturday specials list, such as $18 Bud Light buckets and $24 White Claw buckets. Make it an even better Saturday and load up on Philly-style tots topped with steak, onions, and cheese. Sansom Street 1921.
Team: Rutgers
Bar: O’Neals Pub
It’s hard to have consecutive losing seasons, so it’s only right that the folks at O’Neals take care of the fans of Rutgers. This family-owned Irish pub in Queen Village serves Bud Lights all day for $3.75, as well as breakfast sandwiches until 10pm. If Rutgers manages to get a win in the conference game, grab one of the pub’s frozen margaritas. Head’s up: They show most college football games indoors, as well as on their street side and back patio. 611 South 3rd Street.
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