The Vessel Takes Tailgating To Entirely Different Level

Football season is upon us and so is tailgating which means a certain vehicle will again be a mainstay at all Purdue home games.

Meet “The Vessel,” the brainchild of Plymouth’s very own Mark Lindsey, Rod Lindsey and Craig Woolfington.

The Vessel is entering its 20th season attending games at Ross-Ade Stadium.

If you head down to West Lafayette for a Purdue game, you can find her parked in Lot T just west of the stadium on the golf course.

She’s a 1988 white Ford Econoline with an unknown amount of miles on the engine because its gauges are questionable at best.

The Vessel has no air conditioning and the driver’s side window requires some duct tape to stay up. One of the inside door handles even has a special rope device so it can open.

Needless to say, you would think The Vessel’s best days are long gone, but as popular college football commentator Lee Corso says, “Not so fast.”

You see there’s nothing quite like The Vessel. Yes, she’s one of a kind, a treasure to put it mildly. To use cousin Eddie terminology, “It’s a beaut.”

No doubt Lindsey and Co. has gotten creative through the years to keep her road worthy.

Plywood complete with indoor/outdoor carpeting has been added to the back floor to reinforce a rusting floorboard. Believe it or not the guys installed side paneling in the back stuffed with insulation to keep a somewhat climate-controlled environment, not to mention muffle the rather noisy ride.

The trio of Plymouth natives came up with the idea to up their tailgating game after Purdue beat Ball State Sept. 11, 2004.

“We were tailgating and after the game were sitting and talking and there was a very nice Purdue van next to us so I said, ‘We need to do something like this,’” Lindsey recalled.

A few days later, Lindsey found exactly what he was looking for.

While driving on the south side of his hometown of Plymouth, he found her.

The Vessel was purchased for $500 and immediately following, the three Purdue graduates began working on creating a one-of-a-kind terrific tailgating treasure.

And that they did.

The Vessel is decked out with Purdue logos all over its body.

On one side are not so nice greetings to every other Big Ten school along with ‘Go Boilers’ on the sliding door.

The front windshield has ‘Boiler Up’ on the top with a mini Purdue helmet on the hood to go along with the words ‘The Vessel’ painted in gold with two block Ps on either side, not to mention the gold bumper.

On the driver’s side exterior is a large painted Purdue helmet, some bumper stickers and a listing of The Vessel’s Crew, which includes the Crew’s nicknames – Meat Locker (Mark Lindsey), Woolf (Craig Woolfington), T-Bag (Tony Plothow), The Encroachment (Rod Lindsey), Big Kat (Ted Hayden), Caino (John Caine) and Dani Double Down (Danielle Hayden).

Two of those Crew members – Woolfington and Caine – have passed away and there are picture boards inside The Vessel remembering them.

More bumper stickers don the back of the roadster complete with a Purdue license plate.

Making The Vessel even more special are its spinners on the wheels.

“Craig was sick with cancer and found these four plastic silver or gray spinners,” Lindsey said. “He wanted them painted gold and black, but he couldn’t do it because he was so sick so his mother did it.

“After his mom did it, he told me he was really down because the paint had run and it wasn’t a professional looking job. I just laughed.”

When you open the side door of The Vessel, you are greeted by a gold toilet and a couch, which simply solidifies its place as a one-of-a-kind tailgate experience.

The Vessel made its first appearance at a Purdue game Oct. 16, 2004.

She’s attended well over 100 games and even been to road games against Notre Dame and Indiana, plus a Louisville game in Indianapolis.

The Vessel was even one of 20 Purdue vehicles invited to a tailgate event on the circle in Indianapolis.

“She was the ugliest stepchild of the fleet of Purdue vehicles there,” Lindsey admitted.

The Vessel has had its share of VIPs visit through the years, including Gene Keady, Mitch Daniels and several former Boilermaker players like Leroy Keyes, Brian Cardinal and Frank Kendrick among others.

Every Purdue home football Saturday, The Vessel’s tailgate spread doesn’t disappoint.

It has one heck of a food spread to go along with satellite TV to keep an eye on all the college football action. There are plenty of adult beverages flowing to boot, too, and music.

On average, The Vessel hosts around 50 tailgaters per game and on occasion has had crowds exceed 100.

“When we’ve had rough seasons at Purdue, the entertainment value is greater at The Vessel than inside Ross-Ade Stadium,” said Lindsey laughing. “There are things we do at The Vessel that you just can’t do in Ross-Ade. It’s just like Vegas, what happens at The Vessel stays at The Vessel.

“I remember going with mom and dad to games and tailgating consisted of popping the trunk. Now, it’s more of a party. It has become an event by itself.”

The Vessel and its Crew’s dedication to tailgating is unmatched. For noon kickoffs, she will be parked by 7 a.m. For 3:30 p.m. starts and even night kickoffs, The Vessel is parked by 9:30 a.m.

“We tailgate some five to 10 hours prior to kickoff,” Lindsey explained. “They get stupid, crazy. We’ve even been on the JumboTron as Tailgaters of the Game.”

So with its age and miles mounting are The Vessel’s tailgating days numbered? Not if Lindsey gets his way.

“As long as I have air in my lungs, we will keep doing it,” he said. “I’m as excited for tailgates as I am the games.

“The Vessel holds a special place in our hearts.”

Without a doubt, The Vessel has created some of the most memorable tailgates in Purdue history and is certainly one of the best tailgates you can ever experience. It is a must visit on a Boilermaker football game day so put it on your bucket list as it simply will not disappoint!

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