September 12 and 13 may have been a big music weekend for Union County, but it was also significant for Sun Tavern, Fanwood’s local sports bar. With football season officially here, local fans turned out in droves to watch the big games on the bar’s 30-plus televisions. The parking lot was jammed both nights, as inside friendly wagers were flying over beers.
On Saturday, the Tavern was a sea of red when Rutgers University fans took over the bar to watch New Jersey’s Scarlet Knights, who nailed their second game of the season against Howard (45-7), after an embarrassing 47-15 loss to Cincinnati on Labor Day.
Sunday was all about the Jets and the Giants. Even the Sun Tavern bar maids donned Eli Manning jerseys to celebrate the start of football season. Not to be outdone, Jets and Giants fans wore their colors proudly, and both New York teams walked away happy with wins: 24-7 (Jets vs. Texans) and 23-17 (Giants vs. Redskins).
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“I love football,” said Robert Hansen, a Jets fan from Cranford. “I never miss a game.”
Ivan Grant, a Jets fan from North Plainfield, couldn’t agree more.
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“We always come to the Sun Tavern for football,” Grant said. “They have great wings and the best bar pie in New Jersey. As a Jets fan, it’s refreshing that we have a quarterback who can move his legs and has a great sense of awareness in the pocket. Football is here, and it makes me forget about the Mets. Baseball season … what??”
The Giants contingent was also out in force on Sunday. Warren resident Brett Kaye joked: “I watch every game, and I play for the Giants in the off-season. But seriously, I am looking forward to the Giants winning the Super Bowl. It’s going to happen. Football season is awesome!”
National retailers are also getting into the football spirit. Wal-Mart’s latest commercials are football themed, and Ihop is offering a new "All Pro Lineup" menu featuring Blitz Pancakes, Quarterback Scrambles, and football-shaped AFC/NFC Stuffed French Toast.
It’s clear that no matter what team you root for, fall hadn’t officially arrived for many until this past weekend’s football kick-off.
Dave Doyle, a Jets fan from Scotch Plains, summed it up perfectly.
“The first day of football season is like Christmas Day for men,” he said.
