Jeff Lund Assistant Sports Editor

Before you even think about going to the football game tomorrow night, you must not miss two other monumental Family Weekend events.

First off, Lute Olson's sickly talented team has a scrimmage that is open to the public tomorrow at noon. This will be like watching two top 10 teams play each other ÷ a definite must if you wish to give your parents the full Family Weekend experience.

If you are a student dedicated to giving your parents the full low-down on the important things on campus, it must include a trip to McKale Center for reasons other than having your folks pick up some fresh new Wildcat gear from the McKale Sports Stop.

Even before the scrimmage, tonight at the Tucson Convention Center, the Icecats start their season against Arizona State. The fifth-ranked Icecats really know how to bring the best ÷ or worst, depending on how you look at it ÷ out of the rivalry with ASU.

This will probably not be a good place to bring your mother. Alcohol is served for those of age. It is definitely a father-son bonding time. The crowd is raunchy, a fight or two is almost guaranteed, and there will probably be a few on the ice, too.

Now to the pigskin.

No Saturday college football game is complete without the tailgating. Nothing gets a fan ready for football better than brats, burgers, dogs, chips, soda and beer (optional). The key is to get so uncomfortably full or out of your mind that the only cure is standing for a couple hours watching a football game so you don't have the time or mental capacity to concentrate on the pain your stomach and digestive system are going through.

Those planning on tailgating for the game should make sure to bring some sort of tarp, tent or cover. You will be amazed how fast your grill will heat up. If you toss some ice cubes into your hat, that tends to help, but the Department of Public Safety recommends sunscreen.

When it is finally time to go to the game, seating is everything.

In past years, there have been parent sightings inside the student section. Now, there is nothing really wrong with this, but if you are going to subject the parental to such a vulgar, tortilla throwing, inebriated environment, you might want to make sure that you give them fair warning. It might just be a better plan to sit them in the corner next to the band.

I'm not sure which is worse, being stuck in such a poor seat next to the alternative marching band that butchers all the songs we used to like to hear on the radio, or having ma and pa cover their ears and hide their eyes from the occurrences in the student section.

On second thought, just take them through both, and hope that you don't see your drunken friends. They have no shame, no matter who is around.

Now for the kickoff.

The last time Washington State came to Tucson for Family Weekend, half the student section wound up on the field following a triple-overtime thriller.

It was a bit awkward, because after most of the students got down onto the field, it appeared to be more of a, "OK, here we are, now what" reaction. It wasn't an important enough game to attack the goalposts, and the manpower was not present.

However, this weekend WSU is No. 9. So in case of a victory, I expect UA students, moms, dads and little brothers to be dangling from those yellow posts. I hear that they are buried in a couple feet of cement ÷ that could make things more difficult. Oh well, the game has to be won first before jumping to conclusions.

Just so you know, Arizona is 4-1 when playing Washington State on Family Weekend, and 3-0 in its last three meetings. So, if you think it might be a blowout victory by the Cougars, I would recommend going.

No Family Weekend is complete without a trip to The Good Egg, El Minuto Cafˇ (on Cushing Street next to the Tucson Convention Center), Frog & Firkin and happy hour at Old Chicago. A warning though: If you do happen to consume one item from each of these places within 48 hours, you will feel worse than a nine-month-pregnant lady with hemorrhoids.

Oh, and make sure your parents stay through Monday so they can buy your basketball tickets for you. Or at least make sure they give you extra money if they don't. Enjoy the weekend and have plenty of water handy.