The day before a Patriots home game in Foxborough, while most fans are thinking about parking lot logistics and which jersey they’ll wear, Gerry “The Reverend” McCarthy is already deep into preparation. At his kitchen table, lined with a small notebook filled with scribbled lines, his iPhone open to notes dictated during the week, and a printed draft of his latest work in front of him, he gently balances tradition with creativity. Throughout the week he has been collecting phrases, punchlines, rhymes, concepts, and callbacks, many inspired by talk radio, sports shows, and the ebb and flow of Patriots Nation. Now, with a pint of Boston's finest lager nearby and gameday on the horizon, he fine-tunes the “Team Prayer,” his own poetic sermon, built verse by verse.

The process is meticulous and fluid. He’ll start with the Patriots’ current record and standing, move into insights on the upcoming opponent, and weave in cultural references, between-the-lines humor, and a few light jabs along the way. Each idea churns in his mind until it finds its proper rhyme and rhythm. It begins on a Friday evening, as chores are completed and dinner plates cleared, he revises and reworks, always seeking that perfect balance of heart and humor. By late that night or early the next morning, much of the prayer is complete. Come Saturday, another pass is made, adjustments are written, and the final version is printed and ready for gameday. Inspiration never strikes at a single preordained hour. It is spontaneous, occurring during the commute to work or in conversations. Maybe inspiration strikes when scrolling news headlines, or even during slow sips of coffee. Whatever strikes him gets logged before it can slip away.

When Sunday arrives, Gerry makes his way to Parking Lot P10 outside Gillette Stadium, where the Tailgater 2000 tailgate has been a fixture for decades. Fans always know when “The Reverend” is preparing to deliver the Team Prayer, not only because of the unmistakable sound of Blues Brothers’ “Rawhide” blasting from the speakers of the famous Tailgater bus, but because of the sense of anticipation that ripples through the crowd. Tailgater 2000 draws fans from all walks of life, some arriving early and others drifting over from nearby lots, all converging around the bus that has become a home away from home.

Towering over the crowd, Gerry steps forward with a quiet confidence borne through years of practice. Around him, seasoned tailgaters, young Patriots devotees, and curious visitors mingle, sharing stories about past games, predictions for the matchup ahead, and the intent to soak up every moment before kickoff. The “Team Prayer” is more than a ritual; it’s a gathering point, a moment of shared identity for this extended family of fans.

Tailgater 2000’s origins trace back to 1998, when Mike Young conceived and launched the first version of the tailgate bus, outfitted with a powerful stereo system, television, and the promise of good times. Soon enough, the bus became an unmistakable icon in Foxborough, and the crew expanded to include Greg Helms, Bob Signoriello, Marty Roche, and Ralph Helms; friends whose camaraderie, craftsmanship, and love of football have kept the tradition alive for more than two decades.

Those early days were marked by ingenuity and laughter. When the first Tailgater 2000 bus eventually succumbed to rust and age, the crew refused to let the tradition fade. They found a replacement for less than two thousand dollars, and hauled it home with nothing but some milk crate seats and a new battery to start the engine. From there, the lessons learned and mechanical savvy of original creator, Mike Young, combined with Gerry's mechanical engineering background, initiated a full rebuild from the ground up. By the next football season, the new Tailgater 2000 was transformed into an even more impressive tailgating shrine. Today it boasts multiple television screens, a rock-solid sound system, and all the comforts of a gameday command center.

But Tailgater 2000 is about more than a bus and gear. It is about people. The families who show up year after year, the next generation learning the ropes from their parents, and the visitors who drift over from other tailgates just to be part of the camaraderie. Gerry’s Team Prayer draws crowds large enough that some head into the stadium with time to spare, while many others linger to share one last laugh, one more handshake, and a unified cheer for the team they love.

For Gerry, Patriots fandom goes deeper than wins and losses. He lived through the highs and lows of the franchise, from the lean years when it was dismissed as a “pitiful franchise” to the dawn of the dynasty with Tom Brady and the 2001 Super Bowl win that made Patriots history. Today he watches with enthusiasm as a new era unfolds under coach Mike Vrabel, praising the organization’s focus on strong coaching, trench-building on both lines, and the kind of strategic leadership that he believes fuels long-term success. Gerry believes that paying top assistants like Josh McDaniels shows the franchise understands how to retain elite coaching talent and how to motivate players toward winning.

Gerry’s approach to tailgating reflects his values. Tailgater 2000 is welcoming, inclusive, and generational. While the team prayer has become synonymous with the tailgate, the true essence of the experience lies in how it brings people together. Spanning decades of family members. From children to parents and grandparents, this crew embodies the idea that football is a community sport, one that bridges time and age with shared traditions and shared memories.

As kickoff approaches and the crowd begins to gather, the buzz around Tailgater 2000 reaches its peak. Phones are raised to capture the moment, children stand on tiptoes to get a better look, and longtime friends lock eyes with familiar smiles. Gerry steps up, clears his throat, and begins the Team Prayer, a ritual that is as much about gratitude, unity, and celebration as it is about football. In that moment, the tailgate becomes more than a pregame ritual. It becomes a place where Patriots and fans from all walks of life share in a tradition that transcends wins and losses and reminds everyone why they come back every season.