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CMU’s new tailgating procedures killed the Kelly/Shorts Stadium pregame atmosphere

By on September 21, 2009 1:00 am in Editorial / 18 comments

 
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The result of CMU’s new tailgating policy can be described as nothing more than a disaster.

Instead of the vibrant pregame atmosphere we have grown accustomed to over the years at Lot 63, students and fans instead were treated to a barricaded and nearly lifeless tailgating crowd Saturday south of Kelly/Shorts Stadium.

More than half of Lot 63 was empty. Half the students who did make it protested the new rules with signs and chants. Many others felt uncomfortable with an excessive number of police and guards standing around, watching their every move.

The food vendors, new for this year’s tailgate, saw virtually no business. A live band played music, but the DJ south of it drowned the sound out.

The rules, which included a six-beer limit, a ban on external sound systems and increased security, were supposed to promote a safer, improved gameday environment. Instead, they effectively destroyed CMU tailgating.

In previous years, CMU was acclaimed among Mid-American Conference schools for its gameday atmosphere. Many publications voted it the best of the conference, and some even said it rivaled those of bigger schools.

Wave goodbye to those days. Even if it had to do with playing Alcorn State, which CMU beat 48-0 in front of 18,323 fans, and not a MAC opponent, the experience leading up to it was dismal and did nothing to improve game attendance.

The most successful tailgating movement Saturday took place several blocks away. Greek organizations and hundreds of other students participated in pregame celebration on Main Street in protest of the new rules.

We applaud their efforts in having fun and standing up against a policy that may have been well-intentioned, but enforces unnecessary restrictions.

Bring it back

We understand the concerns of the Athletics Department in looking for ways to make tailgate safer and more enjoyable for everybody.
But a rethinking of this “new” policy is in order.

Barring minor incidents, there was never a serious problem with CMU tailgating in previous years. Lot 63 was never even close to turning into a riot and should never be compared to that of the infamous “End of the World” parties of the late 1980s.

Worried about intoxication, fights and broken glass? Join the club. Those things happen on every campus tailgate, in every bar and at every house party.

Get rid of the alcohol limits, the grill size limit, the pedestrian checkpoints and the ban on external sound systems. All are silly restrictions which, believe it or not, have little effect on maintaining order among students. If they can’t drink alcohol in peace on Lot 63, they will drink it somewhere else (Main Street) and take a longer, dangerous walk (or drive) to Kelly/Shorts.

Keep the good ideas in the policy, such as the emergency lane, the extra number of restrooms and the vendors. Each of those addressed true shortcomings and can enhance the pregame experience south of the stadium.

But most of all, bring tailgating back toward the way it once was. The committee can start by listening to the students, something it should have done in the first place.

Give them a reason to come to Lot 63. Arrest the few that fall out of line, but let the rest have a good time.

 

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  • Andrew

    Great editorial!

    Let’s not forget the alumni who have, in the past, made the trek back loyally for homegames! We spend our money in Mt. Pleasant and buy those tickets to put our butts in the stands.

    If the sanctions on tailgating aren’t lifted, the only game I’ll be making it to is homecoming, and rest assured that I’ll not be tailgating at Kelly Shorts, nor buying that ticket. If the school doesn’t want to listen, my only draw will be the people I want to see. I’d rather not drive 2 hours just to get searched by the TSA, I get enough of that at DTW.

  • Vince ’88

    I was in Lot 62 and it was half empty too. Unbelievable for the first home game and
    coming off a win over MSU.

  • Marie

    The pre-game on Saturday certainly lacked some luster. It was eerily quiet. However, it is pathetic that many students and some alums are focused more on drinking than on supporting a fantastic team in what should prove to be a stellar season. Saturday proved who the true fans are, and I”m proud to say I am one. Besides, usually those who are there to party rather than to cheer never make it into the stands anyway. While the guidelines hurt the pre-game feel it won’t deter the team or those of us who are there for FOOTBALL.
    Go Fire Up Chips!

  • Andrew

    @Marie, calling those with differing opinions ‘pathetic’ is pretty small-minded. Assuming that those of us concerned with the new policies are completely focused on ‘drinking’ is as well. The new rule changes do much more to the atmosphere and experience that just making an attempt to limit alcohol consumption.

    It’s pretty obvious, and crystal clear given the picture on the front page, that those policies are a failure. They’ve removed an experience that I’ve enjoyed (responsibly, mind you) for nearly a decade.

    ‘true fans’ Really? You’re going to troll the messages here with that? I suppose following the team for the last ten years doesn’t amount to much, if I disagree with the school’s policy changes. Nevermind being there to witness the ’00 WMU upset, never having missed a home game during my 6 years at CMU (when they were god-awful), never missing a home game after I graduated and all those tickets I purchased for the 3 Motor City Bowls.

    (impending sarcasm) Nah, I’m no fan at all – just a mindless, drunken idiot.

  • Becky

    Maybe I’m a minority, but I’ve never actually become “wasted” at a tailgate. I don’t go there for that reason. Tailgate to me was the most unifying school event I have ever seen with thousands of students coming together to celebrate a great football program. Obviously alcohol was a huge part of the experience, but isn’t that what football is about? Nachos, hot dogs and beer? I’ve brought friends from around the state to CMU’s tailgate and they all responded with awe. Then I brought my brother Saturday and he was less than impressed. After all the buildup, we stood in an empty parking spot where normally a Chevy Silverado with a lift would have had 13 people bouncing in the back getting ready to watch Dan Lefevour continue to wow fans with his agility and accuracy. Saturday, we stood in that parking spot and thought; “I wonder what O’Kellys is like right now”.

    Why do they always try to fix something that’s not broken? If you want to monitor underage drinking that’s fine, but a snow fence and advance tickets only isn’t the answer. Those 18-20 year-olds just went home to drink instead, and then most likely didn’t come into the game.

    So Central, how about you just take the new “rules” away and we’ll pretend like it never happened in the first place. Call it equal and everybody goes back to having a blast, watching great football and knowing that CMU not only supports their athletics, but knows how to have fun.

  • Joe

    I’m sure that CMU officials thought their new tailgating policy would solve some of their headaches on game days. Well, what it has done is drive the students into the neighborhoods and away from the game. I have attended about 30 tailgate parties over the last 6 years. Many at the GLIAC schools, Ferris, Northern Michigan, Michigan Tech., Northwood, Saginaw Valley, Grand Valley and also at North Dakota, MSU and Central. Central is the only place I’ve seen students intentionally isolated from the rest of us. By isolating them you are exponentially increasing the probability of bad behavior. My experience has been positive with students when another tailgater asks them to keep it under control. Please revise this policy quickly so as to get the students involved with the football team again. I would like my neighborhood to be free of staggering kids and obscene music on Saturday afternoons. City Resident.

  • Glenn

    I can see arguments for and against the new rules, but on the whole, the main concern has been focused on the alcohol aspect, and that’s what seems to be what all the arguments entail. Heck, in one of the letters written by long time Mt. P residents talking about moving the ‘gate back from Main Street to Lot 63, one of the concerns was the blasting of music (I think it was called f-rap).

    Yes, I know people can enjoy their drinks responsibly, but it really does feel that the amount of outcry has more to do with people feeling their “right” to drink irresponsibly has been taken away from them (which it has). I keep mulling this over in my head, but 6 beers is plenty, especially if you want to combine it with some sort of drinking game–hey, you get your buzz and you’ll “come down” by the time it’s time to enter the stadium, or if it’s really that important to you, you can wait before you enter the stadium to have a power hour/half hour/fiver.

    I know that alcohol does impart the feeling of being more social, but alcohol is also a depressant–if you are not having fun doing the same activities sober (such as playing catch, scamming on people of the opposite sex, or hanging out with people in general) as you are drunk or “feeling nice,” then I really do think there is a bigger issue at hand.

    Feel the limit is ridiculous? Find friends who are not heavy drinkers and get them to bring the same amount with them–the spoils of war. Or, designate a driver, get smashed before coming to Lot 63, and use the 6 beers to keep the party going. The only thing boycotting tailgating is resulting in is more people passed out on local lawns versus the concrete.

    It may be a bit callous to simply equate those not tailgating as not being true fans, but sometimes all that is thought about of tailgate *is* that it is a party, not there is a sporting event after. The pregame festivities should not really affect your desire to see the game, just as an opening band should not affect your decision to see a headliner you like. If you truly have no desire to support the football team by attending the games, I’m not offended if you choose another place to party Saturday afternoon. If you find the rules offensive but would still like to come to the games (not tailgate), fine by me–you have your fun one place, I’ll have my fun another, and we’ll meet in the student section and both cheer our hearts out.

    For Greeks who may read this–I hope if you continue to use your houses/”closed” areas for tailgating festivities (instead of Lot 63) that you keep in mind your risk management policies, such as guest lists, and be mindful of the material you learned via AlcoholEdu–it’d be a shame if something happened on your property and you got held liable for it.

  • Jonesman06

    Lift the new tailgating policies or CMU is going to lose one of its campus life proud points, its excellent gameday atmosphere. The athletic department has done a great job building a competative program, especially with the football team. CMU has average house parties and a decent bar scene (which both get old quick), but if these new tailgating policies arent lifted then that Saturday morning gameday atomosphere is extinguished. That will be devistating.

  • Antonio

    Becky,

    “Obviously alcohol was a huge part of the experience, but isn’t that what football is about?”

    You think the only rule that was changed was the amount of alcohol? You didn’t read what they changed, did you…

  • F Dave Heeke

    And we’ll all be right back out there this weekend!!!

  • Tom

    As a 93 graduate from Bay City with a wife and two children, I have to choose where to best spend my free time and money with my family. A Saturday CMU football game has always been a great choice that we all enjoyed. After last weeks pre game atmosphere, I think we’ll stay closer to home and go to the Saginaw Valley games. I would urge the decisions makers to think about enforcing previous rules instead of sticking with the new ones that will obviously affect the atmosphere everyone has enjoyed. I guess the MAC stadiums and tailgates really can’t compete with the Big 10. Things haven’t changed much since I left. There are always those who think they know whats best for you and like to think way too much. I applaud the students who decided to tailgate elsewhere. When the attendance and enrollment continue to suffer maybe they will invite you back. As for me, I’ll be bringing my 30 pack to the next SVSU home game. It’s not about drinking it’s about controlling and I’m way to old to be told what to do. It’s to bad the team will have to suffer as a result.

  • Byron

    This new policy has killed our atmosphere we had one of the best if not the best tailgate in the state because all the students were togather if you thought the turnout was bad this week wait till next week now that everyone knows how terrible it is its not about if you can get drunk over that 6 beers for 3 hours isnt much barely enuff to hold your buzz, as far as the booze and its not about getting drunk its about our rights to be drunk and have a good time before the game its never fun when your being babysat.
    All the new policys have done is take the unity of the student body and push them to main st. and the niebor hood this is going to increase drunk driving and townies will complain of the noise but they cant stop it unless you give us back control of the music, drinks and our tailgate we pay to go to school here we are your coustomers you are supposed to make us happy not the other way around. If this continues we will drop to a d2 school due to lack of attendence because we would rather watch the game on tv and have a good time enjoying football with a beer and a hotdog.
    Give us back our tailgate this is wrong and a big disapointment

  • AngryAlumniBee

    I don’t even know where to begin. I plan on attending Homecoming and after seeing the pictures of the tailgate from last Saturday, I don’t even know if I want to go anymore. I was disgusted at how pitiful the tailgate, and game attendance (under 19,000), looked. IT WAS THE HOME OPENER OF A CHAMPIONSHIP TEAM! ARE YOU KIDDING ME!!!! These new rules are killing the Gameday atmosphere that I happily experienced at my time at Central. BEACAUSE OF THESE OVER THE TOP RULES GAMEDAY AT CENTRAL MICHIGAN FOOTBALL HAS TURNED INTO FRIDAY NIGHT AT MOUNT PLEASANT HIGH SCHOOL FOOTBALL. This is NOT high school, this is COLLEGE. Give these kids a genuine college experience before they have to enter the not-so-great reality of the real world. FROM THIS DAY ON I WILL NO LONGER ATTEND ANYMORE CMU GAMES OF ANY KIND AND I WILL NO LONGER GIVE ANYMORE DONATIONS TO THE UNIVERSITY UNTIL THESE NEW RULES ARE LIFTED. I ENCOURAGE ALL ALUMNI WHO BELIEVE IN THIS TO DO THE SAME. IF THE UNIVERSITY WILL NOT LISTEN TO THE STUDENTS, THEY WILL DEFINITELY LISTEN TO THE SOUND OF SILENCE AT THE FOOTBALL GAMES.

    TO THE STUDENTS: I encourage ALL students at CMU to protest these rules. Not going to tailgate/games is not enough. MAKE SIGNS, MAKE T-SHIRTS, YELL, UNITE, PASS OUT FLYERS, SHOW CHIPPEWA PRIDE, BE LOUD, BE HEARD! MAKE THIS THE BIGGEST, LOUDEST, MOST RECOGNIZED PEACEFUL PROTEST CMU HAS EVER SEEN. GO, FIRE UP CHIPS!!!

  • Alex

    Many of you sound like you have a drinking problem. I think there should be a limit to the amount of alcohol brought to games. Thats about it. It is a reasonable request. The amount of illegal drinking and binge drinking at the games are excessive. Students are not capable of being responsible enough to have these rules lifted. Its a drunkfest at tailgating, plain and simple. To try and convince yourself that it isnt is a joke to me. Other than that.. I loved tailgating there. I think there was some excessive partying that needs to be checked, but grilling and drinking should be allowed to an extent Six beers per person or group of people should be fine.. Tailgating is an excuse to drink, if you need alcohol to have fun, your life is more pathetic then you know.

  • Becky

    Antonio,

    Did you read my comment? I did not say alcohol was the only thing they changed. If I had wanted to write a thesis on event (or lack thereof) I would have. Thanks for taking your time to tell me that I addressed just a part of CMU’s new policy issues.

    I used to bring my Jeep into tailgate but probably won’t this year after the price increase and having to purchase tickets in advance. But regardless of whether or not I bring my car, the atmosphere sucked. So it doesn’t really matter what rules changed, my point was that it was a change for the worse. I didn’t wasn’t aware that I had to dissect each issue to complain. Now I know. Geeze.

  • Antonio

    Heeke stated, “I think if you talk to people who were there, the level of enforcement was very reasonable.”

    What does this even mean? It’s really great he THINKS that, it really is, just as he thought people would show up to tailgaiting, but it’d be more useful to hear that he’s actually spoken to students about it.

    –”Van der Merwe said students were represented at all committee meetings regarding tailgate and were supportive of the initiatives. Three of the 21 positions on the committee were students.”

    To the non-critical thinker/reader, this MIGHT mean something. “Oh, students were there, that means I should be ok with it too!”
    Three students? Who were they? Did they speak assertively at these meetings or lie back and agree with everything? Did officals listen to them or just dismiss the comments the three students made? Something makes me feel like I could make a confident bet that these students haven’t even been tailgaiting.

    But, I guess in the end, it is most important to provide a safe, padded, guarded gameday environment to ensure a great environment for everyone.

    I guess this does roll along with most attitudes of private property, gated communities, antibacterial everything, swine flu fear…

    That reminds me, don’t forget to bring your hand-sanitizer to the football game!

  • John

    Alex,

    We were students once, and I can say we were responsible. Did we drink a lot, of course, it was college, but to say these people have a drinking problem is a bad analysis. If everyone, students and alumni, feel the atmosphere is worse they will go somewhere else. It’s not about getting drunk before the game, it’s about being able to relax and have fun. I plan on going to Mt. P for homecoming but if I get harassed about having too much beer, or my radio being too loud, etc., well then I’ll go somewhere else. We just want to have fun.

  • Brent

    While I understand what University officials were trying to accomplish, it is obvious that they have gone too far and essentially destroyed what was once the single most unifying on campus activity. Obviously some changes did need to occur such as added restrooms, an emergency lane, and even food vendors, but what has been taken away (not just packed coolers full of ice cold beer) is completely unnecessary.
    The University is destroying what had become the best gameday atmosphere in the conference. When I started going to CMU back in 1999 the football team was absolutely pathetic. Students would show up to tailgate and never even bother to set foot inside the stadium. Most people were more concerned with seeing Michigan or MSU on television than supporting OUR TEAM playing a few hundred feet away.
    That all began to change when Brian Kelly took over as head coach. Not ony did he turn the program into a winner, but he also sought to change the culture amongst the students. Suddenly the thousands of students partying in the parking lot became the thousands of students flooding the stadium and turning Kelly-Shorts Stadium into the most hostile Mid American Conference venue.
    For me this is less about the limiting of alcohol than it is about ruining what had become an amazing gameday atmosphere and experience. While I completely dissagree with the alcohol limits, I think I am even more upset by the fact that you can’t blare music and fire up a grill loaded with burgers and brats. Seriously what is tailgaiting without those things? This was once nothing more than an excuse to get up early and tie one on, but over the years it became something more than that. We came together and partied and we came togther in support of our football team.
    I don’t know that I will make the trip up to Mt. Pleasant this year or in the near future, because I think I would rather remember it as it was rather than what it has become. I encourage all of you current students to take a stand. If that means tailgating on Main street before making the WALK to the stadium then so be it, but do so safely and respectfully. Show the University that they made a mistake and that you can party and be responsible. While we may not be able to party in the parking lot like we used to, we can still support our team in the stadium. FIRE UP CHIPS!!!!