BAKERSFIELD, Calif. (KGET) — Half a century of spring barbecues at Cal State Bakersfield.

An opportunity for the community and alumni to connect with Kern County’s university.

Good food, good company and supporting a good cause.

“Everything that we raised tonight, from the ticket sales and all the profits are going directly back to the student athletes and helping support our student athlete scholarships and putting young people through college and letting them play the sport that they love playing,” said Sarah Tuohy, CSUB’s acting athletic director.

Mac and cheese, half chicken, pit beef, salad, bread, beans and more courtesy of Salty’s BBQ and PrimeTime BBQ.

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What more could you possibly want?

“It’s a historic event, right? People know the CSUB Spring BBQ, and for years they had a fantastic group of people that did it,” said Jeff Salters, owner of Salty’s BBQ. “Last year they approached us and said ‘Hey, we’ve got to make some changes.’ So, we were honored. You get asked to be a part of such an iconic event in our community, it’s a great honor and a great privilege to be a part of this.”

Under the soundtrack of a live band, attendees were able to enjoy their food while conversing with players and head coaches, including new basketball coach, Todd Lee.

“We used to do it at the fairgrounds, and we’d look forward to it every spring and summer because it was the event of Bakersfield,” Lee said. “Now we’re here at Cal State Bakersfield, and it’s a great venue and it brings so many people out. It’s great.”

Another coach in attendance: baseball coach Jordan Banfield, preparing for a huge Big West series against UC Santa Barbara, one of the country’s best baseball programs.

“I’m looking for us to go play the best version of baseball that we’re capable of. Take care of the baseball, fill up the strike zone, control the things that we can control,” Banfield said. “If the messaging we’ve been trying to deliver starts to show itself, we’ll be the same group that we’ve been.”

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A series to worry about later.

For now, the Runner Gold flows and plates are packed, just like they have been for 50 years in a row.

“I think there’s a nostalgia for the event. It’s less about what the event is and more about what it represents, and being around good people and around a place and a team that you love,” Tuohy said.

“This event connects alumni and the community to Cal State Bakersfield. I’ve always look forward to it,” Lee said.

“As President Harper says, this is Kern County’s university and we need to act that way all the time,” Banfield said. “So, any chance we have to get the community and the folks of Bakersfield and Kern County on campus and integrated and involved with our department and our university, I view that as a huge positive, and we need to take full advantage of those chances.”

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