‘Gridiron Belles’ author to promote book
before UK takes on Florida Gators Saturday

Drive anywhere near UK’s campus on a Saturday in the fall, and it becomes instantly clear whether it’s a game day.

A sea of blue blankets the campus as fans gather around the stadium to tailgate and show support for their beloved Wildcats.

However, not all of these dedicated fans know as much about football as others. That’s where Christie Leigh Mueller’s new book, “Gridiron Belles: A Guide to Saturdays in Dixie,” comes in handy.

“Gridiron Belles” is an SEC football guide for females who were never taught the game, for fans looking for fun ideas for their tailgates or any woman who just loves the culture surrounding SEC football.

Mueller spent the last three football seasons conducting research, visiting the 12 SEC schools to document tailgating traditions and rituals. This season, she is spending each Saturday tailgating and promoting her book at a different SEC game, including at the UK-Florida game Saturday.

She will be in Lexington this week to promote her book at Peppermint Palm on Friday from 12 to 4 p.m and can be found tailgating before the game in Commonwealth Stadium Saturday.

Mueller, a Louisville native, grew up loving football. With a grandfather who played for University of Louisville and older cousins who attended Auburn University, she was exposed and attracted to the sport at a young age.

Mueller had plans to attend either Auburn or Alabama for college, but her desire to continue to play field hockey took her to Rhodes College in Tennessee. Though attending a college without the football culture she loves “was painful” at times, Mueller’s girlfriends and Kappa Delta sorority sisters at Rhodes gave her the idea for her book.

One of Mueller’s sorority sisters came to her, knowing how much time Mueller spent following college football. She had “a never-ending list of questions” about the game because she had met a guy who loved football and wanted to be able to talk about it on their upcoming date.

Mueller decided to put together a football guide for her friend, and “long story short,”,her friend and her football-loving crush are now married, Mueller said.

“I realized that she wasn’t the only girl down South who had questions about football,” Mueller said.

So Mueller, who is a business etiquette consultant as well, decided to write her book for all women who want to learn more about football in the South, and has a great time researching for and promoting her book.

“The best part is that I tailgate for a living. Hands down,” Mueller said.

Mueller said every SEC has had “something worthwhile about it” and she hasn’t “had a bad experience at any SEC game” but she is excited to be back in Kentucky.

“Its never felt better to be in the bluegrass. It feels good to be back with my people,” Mueller said. “It will be nice to supported by friends and family as well as people on the road.”

Check out Mueller’s blog at www.gridironbelles.com and follow her on twitter (@GridironBelles) to see where she will be tailgating this weekend.