Home » News » University »

No change in sight for tailgating procedures

By Lindsay Knake on September 23, 2009 7:00 am in University / 85 comments

 
No change in sight for tailgating procedures
(Paige Calamari/Staff Photographer)

University officials remain committed to the new Central Michigan University tailgating procedures despite Saturday’s low turnout at Lot 63.

Athletics Director Dave Heeke said he was disappointed more students did not attend.

“They formed their opinions without actually visiting and seeing what the overall impact would truly be. I think it’s really shortsighted on their part,” he said. “I think we’re forgetting that there was the very real chance that tailgating would not exist for students at all.”

Misconceptions and sensationalism from Facebook and the media hurt the overall perception of the procedures, he said. The tailgating policy limits students to six beers or one pint of liquor each, bans external sound systems, bans cars leaving before the third quarter and instates six pedestrian entry points, among other rules.

“It seems like they took a couple of small pieces and rallied around those to de-unify the student body. I believe the students de-unified themselves,” he said. “I think if you talk to people who were there, the level of enforcement was very reasonable.”

Senior Associate Athletic Director Derek van der Merwe said the terms “checkpoints,” “restrictions” and “regulations” were never used.

“We talked about this in terms of expectations,” he said. “The message has become this imposition of regulation.”

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.

The initiatives for student tailgating cost around $2,500 to $3,000 per game, which included restrooms, fencing, security, entertainment and food, van der Merwe said.

“We want more students,” Heeke said. “I hope they’ll come back and give it a try to create a great atmosphere in the parking lot.”

Game attendance

A total of 18,323 attended CMU’s 48-0 win over Alcorn State at Kelly/Shorts Stadium on Saturday. The stadium seats 30,255.

Several comments from people claiming to be alumni on Central Michigan Life’s Web site raised concerns that alumni attendance might suffer because of the new tailgating procedures, but Heeke is confident alumni will return.

“If alums want to occupy space that’s been allotted for our student body, that in itself is concerning sometimes,” he said. “Is it really alumni’s spot to go into that tailgate?”

Ted Tolcher, interim vice president of development and alumni relations, said he has not heard of any alumni cutting contributions to CMU over the tailgate procedure.

The procedures did not seem to dampen student attendance at the game, which Heeke said was one of the best he saw in his four years at CMU.

Even if game attendance drops, he said the university is committed to providing a safe environment.

“I understand the picture that’s in the paper,” Heeke said, referring to the front page of Central Michigan Life on Monday. “That’s a difficult picture. I also have to make sure there’s not a picture of a dead student on the front page. We all have to keep that in mind because the environment was not safe and it was not conducive to keeping people out.”

Tailgating in previous years was very dangerous, he said, and the number of injuries increased significantly over the last three years, said CMU Police Chief Bill Yeagley.

Heeke did not address whether tailgate procedures would be change if attendance drops.

Enforcement

Yeagley said the expectations are not laws, and students cannot be subject to a ticket or arrest for not complying.

Instead, students who do not follow the expectations will be asked to comply or leave.

“If they’re coming in with a case of beer and it’s just one person, we would say you need to get rid of the beer or you have to leave,” he said.

Overall, he said the atmosphere was what the university looked for — relaxed.

“I would love the students to come try it. If you aren’t pleased, I’ll meet with anybody personally,” Yeagley said. “None of this was intended to drive people away. None of this was intended to ruin tailgating and I don’t think it needs to. I think we can still work within the expectations.”

 

Tags

, , , ,

Related Posts

 
Newer Comments →
  • Recent Alum

    “I think we’re forgetting that there was the very real chance that tailgating would not exist for students at all.”

    What are you talking about? Students will ALWAYS tailgate, its just a matter of where. If the administration would rather the student body be downtown than at the game than so be it. They’re only hurting the football team.

    Dead Student? Am I missing something? When did somebody die at tailgate? Sure, occasionally someone will drink too much, or trip and hurt their wrist… but a dead student? That’s just ridiculous.

  • http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xdpbTtcPniw Fed UP

    The problem with Dave Heeke’s commandments is how Orwellian they are…

    “A Championship Culture expects you to only drink 6 beers”

    “A Championship Culture expects you to like the entertainment we provide you”

    What happenes when we go through a 5 year dry spell and we are no longer a Championship Culture? Do your rules expire?

    So a 90 pound girl and a 300 pound guy are each entitled to 6 beers? Can you see the forest from the trees.

    10 different Cops voted to make their job easier? Why wouldn’t they vote to kill tailgaiting?

    If you could vote to make your job easier, would’nt you?

    Revolt:

  • PG

    When will the 9pm curfew for college students be implemented? Surely that would avoid a lot of ‘dead students on the front page.’ If you really want to avoid ‘dead students on the front page’, Mr. Heeke, then implement your emergency lanes, restrict cars leaving until after halftime, and use that money to pay for more police officers to walk around the lot instead of food and cups of water in Lot 63. Students are not ‘de-unifying’ the student body, you did that yourself. We are not babies and just because some people want to come in and drink 24 beers doesn’t mean that everyone does. That lot is full of alumni and parents that come back to visit their kids at CMU. I guess we’ll all just have to find a different spot to tailgate at now.

  • ChipAlum

    “If alums want to occupy space that’s been allotted for our student body, that in itself is concerning sometimes,” he said. “Is it really alumni’s spot to go into that tailgate?”

    In response to the above quotation, I find it VERY interesting that University officials think it is their place to tell people where and when to tailgate, or even how much they are allowed to drink?!?!?!

    How is it that so many universities across the country dealing with SIGNIFICANTLY larger crowds manage without this degree of regulation.

    You’ve overstepped your boundaries with regard to reasonable enforcement and regulation. You’ve gone overboard. Your best course of action would be to reverse field.

    Designated areas for tailgating are fine, but when you start to attempt to control behavior, you will fail, and you will see more of the emptiness of the photograph in the paper, and perhaps, in the stands as well.

  • Stephanie M

    Heeke blames the media?!

    Of course he does. Because CM-Life is a wacked-out liberal medium intent on bucking the system and warping the minds of students.

    Kudos CM-Life, your coverage of all this has been fair and neutral. Don’t let some administrator quickly blame you. Maybe if tailgating rules weren’t so ridiculous, more people would show up to tailgate.

  • 80/90 Alum

    I kind of take offense to Heeke’s comment about alums going into the student tailgate area. When I go to a game I walk all around campus and all the parking lots. Why would he say that alums shouldn’t go into the student tailgate area? Doesn’t make any sense to me.

    Also, about the person bringing in a case of beer. What if he/she was sent to the party store to bring it back for 4, 5, 8 etc people who are already at the tailgate? Are you telling me that all 4 or 5 people have to go with that person in order to bring in a case of beer??? Come on.

    When I was in school at CMU we used to bring kegs to the tailgates and we’d sneek in pints of schnapps to the game for petes sake. Nobody ever got killed.

    I think this crack down has gone WAY too far… I applaud the students for protesting the imposing of these new rules.

  • CMUgrad09

    So tailgating with the coolers, grills, and speakers caused it to be dangerous? Put in the damn Emergency lane, water stations, and bathrooms. Those were a must. But why so extensive to put in the alcohol limit and all the others.

    Of course, the administration will not say there is any decrease in Alumni contributions. That would make them look bad.

    Why can’t there be any compromise with the students. 3, yes THREE, students have the voice of 27,000 students? Why not allow the students vote for rules on tailgate. Send out a mass email or something. And then use the students opinions as a percentage of the total voting.

    And of course, HEEKE PUTS IT ALL ON WHO? THE STUDENTS. OF COURSE, THE ONES WHO ACTUALLY PAY FOR THAT MANS SALARY ARE THE ONES TO BLAME. IF YOU’RE NOT GOING TO ENFORCE IT ALL STRICTLY, THEN WHY PUBLICIZE IT SO MUCH TO PUSH AWAY PRACTICALLY YOUR WHOLE STUDENT BODY.

  • Alum

    “If alums want to occupy space that’s been allotted for our student body, that in itself is concerning sometimes,” he said. “Is it really alumni’s spot to go into that tailgate?”

    First, most students graduate when they are 22 or 23 years old, not 45.

    Second, I know I cut all ties with all my friends still at Central when I left. Why would there be anyone I would want to see in the student lot?

    Seriously? Being told that I should stay in the “alumni” lot sure does make me feel welcome to come home. I probably shouldn’t be allowed in the Wayside either.

  • Greg

    Leave it to CMU to dig in their heals once they realize they have a failed policy.

  • CMUgrad09

    They are worried about a student lot that is already distanced away from family and alumni. Do they not look at what michigan state has. Their tailgates are 5 times larger than CMU’s. Do they have problems? Nothing is ever said. Yet their tailgates are much crazier and “dangerous” than CMU’s, yet why find the need to fix something that isn’t broken????

  • AngryAlumniBee

    “I understand the picture that’s in the paper,” Heeke said, referring to the front page of Central Michigan Life on Monday. “That’s a difficult picture. I also have to make sure there’s not a picture of a dead student on the front page. We all have to keep that in mind because the environment was not safe and it was not conducive to keeping people out.”

    Um, so, when did someone die at tailgate Mr. Heeke?

    “The procedures did not seem to dampen student attendance at the game, which Heeke said was one of the best he saw in his four years at CMU.”

    One of the best he saw in four years? Um, have you been going to the games Mr. Heeke?

    “If alums want to occupy space that’s been allotted for our student body, that in itself is concerning sometimes,” he said. “Is it really alumni’s spot to go into that tailgate?”

    Alumns still have friends who still attend CMU. Are you trying to create an “us vs. them” atmosphere? Alumni vs. students atmosphere Mr. Heeke?

    Mr. Heeke, I do not know what kind of paranoia crept into your head, but it sounds like you need a hot dog and a beer. BUT DON’T DRINK MORE THAN SIX IN THREE HOURS. OH, AND DON’T COOK THAT HOTDOG ON A BIG GRILL! Use a George Foreman instead.

  • Mike

    I graduated when I was 21. I’m all of a sudden looked down upon if I want to hang out with my friends in the student lot? You’re being ridiculous.

    This is the ultimate case of “lowest common denominator”. Rules have to change because one idiot per tailgate decides they’re going to drink 30 beers in four hours. You’re trying to punish every single person for one person’s mistake and I’m confident it’s going to bite you in the end.

    Last year I made the 2.5 hour one-way trip to see almost every home game. This year I will be attending no games, I will be spending no money in the bars after the game, I will be spending no money to get beer to take to tailgate, I will be buying no overpriced hotdogs or nachos, I won’t be giving the gas station my forty bucks to fill up before I make the trek home. Keep telling yourself that it’s not affecting Central and Mt. Pleasant’s bottom line.

  • Andrew

    This makes be LOL. Literally. It’s a great antagonistic piece, as this is sure to only irritate opponents of the policy further.

    (And just so the boozer bashers don’t jump on me – I’ll state again that the alcohol rule doesn’t bother me, it’s everything else that does.)

    Fun Police! Put away your fun! Don’t want to get caught with your fun out!

  • CMUgrad09

    Kind of sad that Heeke is talking to Detroit News now bad-mouthing the CMU students regarding this situation. For christ’s sake, we have 5 tailgate ALL YEAR long. This is a load of crap. So glad I graduated when I did.

  • Pirate

    I remember when Central was really bad in 2004 and there was this campaign to bring students to the game to where we needed like 15,999 at Kelly-Shorts to go to the game to keep our Division 1 status. Whether that was true or not I don’t know but if something were to happen again we shouldn’t go. We’d welcome becoming Division 2 or 3 since our tailgate has been reduced to that

  • Andi

    “I believe the students de-unified themselves,”

    If anything, the student body stood together against something we don’t believe in. It’s a shame that because we don’t agree with something that we are being made out to be the bad guys. The only rule I have a problem with is not being about to have external sounds systems. That’s the part I find extreme. Music was the whole feel to tailgate. There was no reason to place that ban, and when that sole ban is lifted I might be willing to give tailgate a second chance.

    I hope that the student body will stand together until they see the change they are looking for, I just hope this doesn’t affect attendance to the games, or maybe that’s how we could get the admin to pay attention.

  • Alum

    I graduated from CMU nearly 10 years ago and have been driving to home games at CMU to tailgate every year. Not once did I ever consider entering the north lot. I’m 32, and NOT a big drinker, but Lot 63 was still the place to be. I’d see old friends and kids who attended the same high school as me and decided, like me, to attend Central Michigan. The student atmosphere in the south lot is (err, was) unmatched. So much pride, so much maroon and gold. We’d grab the grill and a case of beer and it was the best experience you could ask for after a long week of work. It always reminded me of the fun I had attending CMU and the loyalty of its fan-base.

    But these restrictions are just absurd. As a alumnus, I assume I have the choice to tailgate in either the north or south lot. But by choosing the south lot, I’m being bound by different rules? I can drink repsonsibly in the north lot but not the south? I can grill burgers responsibly in the north lot but not the south? I can pitch a large tent with a company logo on it and attach speakers to the tent posts and stockpile multiple coolers filled with all sorts of alcohol as long as I’m in the north lot?

    Then I guess I’ll bring my grill, my case of beer, and my external speakers to the NORTH lot and we’ll see what kind of reception I receive.

  • http://TheSSareback Tim Wojcik

    I think I may have to take my comment back about this being a part of Obama’s Socialist Plan from about three weeks ago. This is actually leaning more towards a Tyrannical Plan.

    There are two quotes in this article that really hit me. One I am taking as a threat to the students. “I think we’re forgetting that there was the very real chance that tailgating would not exist for students at all.” If it wasn’t for the student population there would be no atmosphere at Kelly Shorts. Students’ tailgating has been a part of college football basically since its incarnation.

    The second comment “If alums want to occupy space that’s been allotted for our student body, that in itself is concerning sometimes,” he said. “Is it really alumni’s spot to go into that tailgate?” Where on GODS green earth Mr. Heeke do you get off passing a judgment on me or any other alum that tailgates in the student section? You do not know me you do not know the majority of us. And you dare judge us. That is absolutely irreconcilable. I cannot believe someone in your position would make such a statement towards a very large group of people who in one way or another provide income to the school that they love and a football team that many would die for.

    I am absolutely applauded by these statements made by the administration of Central Michigan Athletics. One you threaten the student population and then you make judgments on your alumni population. I am changing my plans and staying home this weekend.

    FIREUP ALUM!!!

  • private

    i geuss who we can blame the mac championship on “heeke”, this is sick and honestly i hope less people so up this this weeks tailgate, go to main, go to jamestown, etc. it’s so sick the our tuition dollars are bring wasted once again on things we never had an input on. sure a panel of students and alumni and staff made these rules but who were these people?

  • AJ

    This is ridiculous. Poor Heeke and the rest of the administration wants to paint the picture that everything is all and good with tailgate and the mind-twisting media created the idea that the new “tailgate” (if you can call it that) would be a happy and fun place for students to be. “Senior Associate Athletic Director Derek van der Merwe said the terms “checkpoints,” “restrictions” and “regulations” were never used.” Really okay, then what would you like to call them? Isn’t that EXACTLY what they are? Now we’re just splitting hairs.

    ” The initiatives for student tailgating cost around $2,500 to $3,000 per game, which included restrooms, fencing, security, entertainment and food, van der Merwe said.
    “We want more students,” Heeke said. “I hope they’ll come back and give it a try to create a great atmosphere in the parking lot.”

    Students, alumni, don’t come back. Find someplace else to party and force them to pay their 2-3,000 for a crappy controlled tailgate. Hit ‘em in the pocket books and then see what happens…

  • Buck

    Heeke is a commy…I say better dead then red

  • Andrew

    Detroit News Article – http://www.detnews.com/article/20090923/SPORTS0203/909230336/1004/CMU-students-tailgate-elsewhere-because-of-booze-rules

    “I’m disappointed in the students. I fault them for not giving it a chance. They formed an opinion before ever checking things out. We more than doubled the (student) lot, added live music, brought in food stations and more than quadrupled the number of restrooms.”

    Let’s say it together – ‘out. of. touch.’ Perception is reality, Mr. Heeke. That’s a rule of life, and a rule of business that every single professional knows all too well.

  • http://cmlife chip90

    Every comment I’ve read blames the Athletic Department and Administration. What about the students who served on the committee that gave this policy their blessing?

  • Matt

    How can Mr. Heeke blame us students as the fault for a horrible tailgating turnout. Whose fault is it for making one of the best tailgating environments into one of the worst nation wide…Mr Heeke.

    His outragous rules will make the attendants drop dramatically in the next few years. The only reason why it is staying high is because we have an amazing football team this year which i support but to make a statement, I along with lots of my friends are boycotting tailgate along with this game. I hope you all do that same.

    Mr Heeke! Us students will make your life difficult and hopefully you will feel the effects of being one of the most hated men on campus. So take your big salary (that us students pay for) and take a trip to clear your head, since its obvious that you need one!

  • CMUgrad09

    Funny. Isn’t michigan’s economy in shambles right now? Isn’t Mt Pleasant one of the worst in the state. Everywhere you go, food stamps and bridge cards. This is a disgrace to anyone related to the C, M, and U. You would think in an economy that we have, the school would be concerned with packing the stadium, and finding any way to boost the health of the Mt. P economy. Looks to me like Heeke and his part in CMU seems to be doing great financially, yet the students who pay the Dollars, who have seen a 55% increase in tuition per credit, are the ones to suffer in this situation.

  • CMUgrad09

    Matt,

    We don’t want him to do that. It would be written off as a “business expense”

  • Nick

    I say FIRE HEEKE!!! Someone make some shirts and they will be making some big money.

  • 2009Alum

    Congratulations CMU and Mr. Heeke. Way to stick to your guns and piss off a lot of people. Alums, please voice your opionion about how rediculious and unnecessary this change is for the 5 tailgates students have this Fall. Implement some changes, i.e. the emergency lane, more restrooms, etc. That is where the danger comes in. That caused many of the problems. Sure there were a few not acting responsibly. The VAST majority were. You had finally gotten great student support for your program at games. Kiss it goodbye. Tailgating is all about having drinks with friends and family. Or wait, are family members not allowed in the “designated student area”? A great pregame atmosphere is what brings on the student support. With your new policy it is quite obvious that the support is falling apart.

  • CMUgrad09

    Just make sure it has no school logos on it, cuz we saw what happened with the fudge western shirts. That would be a great idea. We get 5 tailgate over a 365 DAY period and they are doing this? This is absurd. HEEKE: go look at a Michigan State tailgate and come back to us and tell us what you think. Their tailgates have like 100,000 people, and way more “dangerous”.

  • Disappointed

    Sparty has the last laugh now…

  • Alum ’05

    First of all, the YouTube video posted by Fed Up was hilarious. I give credit to you or whoever made it.

    I am an Alum from ’05 and am also glad I am no longer a student tailgater. I was at last Saturdays tailgate and well…

    Welcome to Baghdad tailgating…Home of checkpoints, concrete barriers, increased security, imposed restrictions, and a countdown curfew.

    On a serious note, as others have said, some of the new tailgating items are positive. More restrooms, water stations, and food vendors are a good thing. I’m even fine with more security to ensure everyone’s safety. Had CMU given some of these a try without imposing restrictions, I think everything would have turned out fine.

  • Disappointed

    Our tailgate is an absolute embarassment now…there was a time when you could bring friends from Michigan State and Michigan to our tailgate and they loved it now they will just LOL. well atleast our tailgate can compete with GVSU or SVSU

  • MSU Alum

    That’s sad that the athletics department thinks it’s ‘alarming’ when alumni and current students tailgate in the same spot. So camaraderie is only accepted if the people are in the same age range? Seems like the worst place ever to tailgate. When MSU placed restrictions on tailgating – they eliminated drinking game apparatuses and glass-bottles of liquor, they didn’t create gustapoesque checkpoints to control who’s coming in and out.

    At least we still know how to tailgate at MSU. CMU students are welcome to join us like they did for the MSU v CMU game, they’re still welcome to come hang out with us even though they won this time. :-) We’re still friends.

  • MSU Alum

    Not to mention an athletic director that accuses the student body of being the problem. Sounds like a great reason to want to go support the teams when you’ve got a guy like that running things.

  • Christie

    I walked through the new tailgate. I was interested in what they had to offer. The bathrooms were wonderful and it’s nice to see that there were more for the students. The live music you implemented was absolutely awful. As soon as they started playing I wanted to plug my ears. I was standing off to the side when I saw a friend I wanted to run up to, but there was a parking baracade in my way. I had to walk down the line to find an open break to get into the tailgate area and by that time my friend was long gone. Fed up, I left, went to South Pointe to tailgate and returned right before kick-off.

    A Championship Culture needs fans. If you continue to impose these rules, you will not have student attendance at the games. Yes there are students who drink excessively. But not letting them tailgate is a mistake. Think of it this way. Either you let them tailgate in a place with police walking around and safety procedures in place to help the students that need it… Or, you push them off campus, they will tailgate elsewhere and now they will get drunk where there are no police, no safety procedures, cars they can get hit by, and neighborhoods they are bound to wander through drunk.

    Tailgating and grilling run hand-in-hand. Look at any tailgate, at any school and you will see that grilling is a part of the atmosphere.

    These new “rules” are a mistake. Without reconsidering them student attendance at games will drop to what it was my freshman year here, practically nothing. This is my last year here and I couldn’t be happier after this.

  • Jimmy

    I love how this moron Heeke acts as if he’s in control of the tailgating of students. The only thing he controls are the areas on campus. This guy is a freaking joke. Perhaps if they didn’t cram the students into that smaller lot with inadequate bathroom facilities they wouldn’t have problems like they do. The students power drink because they only have a few hours before the game to drink at the tailgate. This is simply another example of the continued erosion of the gameday experience at CMU. If you want to see what the future holds for CMU just attend a game at Toledo. It’s a joke. There are no students there. As an alum of CMU I’m proud of the student boycott. You don’t have to give in to this crap. If CMU wants students to stay away then oblige them. Not only is CMU hurting itself but it’s also hurting local businesses like O’Kelly’s/Wayside and BW’s. Keep up the fight!!!

  • 2005 Graduate

    Seems perfectly sensible to me. The school is providing this venue and can set any qualifications for its use that it would like. Anyone who doesn’t like it doesn’t have to come and is free to provide an alternate venue without those restrictions.

    Maybe the school should eliminate student tailgating for four or five years, then bring it back. It would flush the ingrates from the system.

    Why do you feel students are entitled to unbridled tailgating? I have serious doubts the NFL would allow the kind of behavior we saw at CMU tailgating.

    And this “it’ll just move downtown” stuff is ridiculous. The Mount Pleasant police aren’t going to let Main Street become the mosh pit that was lot 63.

  • http://www.facebook.com/group.php/?gid=139405227963 Tailgater

    Hey everyone.

    If you agree that what Dave Heeke has done is unacceptable, join this Facebook Group: http://www.facebook.com/group.php/?gid=139405227963

    Power By Numbers is More Powerful Than You May Think!

  • Disappointed

    Yeah they will and yes the NFL does allow it…Have you ever been to an NFL tailgate it is way bigger than a central tailgate…maybe not for Lions but go to a Buffalo or Cleveland tailgate and see

  • Disappointed

    There needs to be an open forum on this with all the responsible parties present

  • Eric

    Again, the university needs to be more focused on education, not how the student body celebrates, especially if there hasn’t been any reason to. Oh, and Dave Heeke, this message is for you bub: I played football there, and I can tell you, you better be concerned how the Alumni feel about this. They write checks to the university for things like new facilities, equipment, etc… You should know better not to go there, my friend.

    Let the kids have fun – stop trying to be their parents. Monitor, not regulate.

  • CMUgrad09

    Tailgate happens FIVE TIMES A YEAR. I’m tired of hearing people say “Students are there to learn, not drink.” It’s called having a social life. You mean to tell me the University can’t afford the “security” to allow tailgate to happen like it has the past few years. But they have the money to provide ReggaeFest quality live music, and then they pretty much run all those businesses that wanted to serve the students right outta the whole tailgate picture after ONE TAILGATE.

  • unsilent majority

    the tree of liberty must be refreshed from time to time with the blood of patriots and tyrants- Thomas Jefferson.

    It is time for the students/alumni/ANYONE who believes in preserving our individual rights to stand up against these OUTRAGEOUS rules! You are wrong Heeke, we are not de-unifying ourselves, in fact from what I see on these boards and from people on campus, it is just the exact opposite. I challenge the administration to come forward and have an open forum to really get the peoples voices heard!

  • BK_CMU_Alum

    As a CMU Alumni I was very disappointed with CMU Athletics Director Dave Heeke statements. “If alums want to occupy space that’s been allotted for our student body, that in itself is concerning sometimes,” he said. “Is it really alumni’s spot to go into that tailgate?” I did not know I was subject to confinement no matter where my friends (including current students and recent alumni) might be tailgating.

    “We talked about this in terms of expectations…” – Senior Associate Athletic Director Derek van der Merwe

    Yet, your Championship expectations are REQUIRED. Once your expectations are required and in fact policy, then they become “Checkpoints”, “Regulations”, and “Restrictions.” No matter how you decide to refer to them.

    According to the article Yeagley said the expectations are not laws, and students cannot be subject to a ticket or arrest for not complying.

    Instead, students who do not follow the expectations will be asked to comply or leave.

    “If they’re coming in with a case of beer and it’s just one person, we would say you need to get rid of the beer or you have to leave,” he said.”

    So Chief Yeagley, what happens when someone does not meet these “Championship Expectations”, and does NOT leave? Nothing, or would these people have some sort of disciplinary actions brought against them by the University or be charged with Trespassing. Sorry, I can’t believe nothing would happen.

    Now back to Mr. Heeke and his comments of displeasure blaming the students. The Students only recourse was to not show up, if they did not like your “expectations”. Chief Yeagley made that clear. Comply or leave. The only voice the students have is ACTION. If they had shown up for Saturday’s game, you would be praising the new regulations as a success.

    Oh wait, the students were represented by 3 students on a 21 person panel. So if I give you the benefit of the doubt that these 3 individuals were not a token gesture to deflect criticism, I ask, who chose them? When did they meet with their constituents to hear their thoughts? Did they really have a chance to impact the committee with 3 votes?

    Yes, some change for safety concerns are good. More bathrooms, water stations, vehicles not leaving, safety lanes, etc. Others are just more “Regulations”, “Restrictions”, and “Checkpoints.”

  • Mike K

    First off, I just want to say that tailgating is not allowed in Detroit. Many cities are adapting that policy because they want you to spend money at the local restaurants and bars. People still do it, but you can’t compare the NFL to a college tailgate.

    With that off my chest, I will post what I posted over on the Scout.com message boards with a few updates. Note: it’s a football message board, hence the football implications.

    I’m a CMU grad and I’m taken back by the new policies. I’m also pretty impressed with the amount of students that boycotted the tailgate. I would be pissed if i was Coach Jones and embarrassed. They might as well scrap the hotel walk and take the bus over now. What recruit wants to walk with the team and see this? You look at Sparty’s tailgate over by the tennis courts, Michigan’s over on the golf course. A couple hundred people in an empty parking lot is not impressive.

    I know many semi recent alums that are going to walk over to that lot for homecoming (including myself) and turn around… if they even come at all. When the team was bad, that was the only thing the football games had going for it. FACT.

    Don’t get me wrong, I love CMU Football, Basketball, Baseball, Wrestling, etc, but if the team ever slumps back down to the Deboard era, you’re looking at the student section the size of the Rose Rowdies (no offense). Ok, not that small but you remember how it was back when it was over in the east bleachers. 12,000-15,000 total people coming to the games. Do you remember when the students had to enter and exit the stadium like 5 times each just so we could get above the 15,000 people mark?

    You might not like this comment but here it goes. There are not enough students at CMU who are CMU football fans compared to Mich or State. I know, I said it. You know the people, they may have been your roommate, friend, co-worker. They will rather watch Mich or State play on TV if it is the same time as CMU. With all the students trying to have their tailgate parties over on Main St, I think it will be much more convenient to just stay at home, keep drinking and watch another game.

    I’m not saying that there aren’t plenty of students that will make the hike over to the game, but you KNOW that in previous years, there were students in the student section that weren’t diehard CMU fans. And they were in the game, making nose, cheering on CMU, just because tailgate is over and the game has started. AND since they are 20 feet away in the parking lot, they will go see the action.

    You might say “well, we don’t want them anyways.” That’s fine but i disagree. I want them, I want it packed. I want to have the crowd make an impact on the game. I want to grab the Michigan and State fan and change their fanhood.

    What I’m saying is that without the students support, the championship culture dies. The only thing holding it together right now is the fact that the team is AWESOME. I will go out on a limb and say that there are more actual CMU FANS NOW than 20 years ago. These are the people coming back. The one’s that are being told to go to the North Lot when they know the south is where the fun, people, and real tailgate is. Should the students just invade and take over the north lot since they can apparently drink more responsibly over there?

    I see where CMU is coming from and understand their need for reform. But they crossed the line. Drop the live band, Allow the students their own music, their own size grill. If you must, i have no problem with the six beer limit and the checkpoints to enter the tailgate. CMU students are smart and will find a way around the rules. They aren’t searching the cars for beer. Bring the Students back before you lose them for good.

    BTW: Heeke better hope it doesn’t rain Saturday…

  • 2008 Graduate

    Alright 2005 graduate… Thanks for being a Debby Downer. It’s quite obvious you haven’t been to tailgates for other sporting events. You are a waste of my time. I will not bicker with you because your argument is flawed, due to your lack of knowledge on the subject.

    As an Alumnus that once participated in student tailgating, I am simply disappointed with the fascist rules put in place. Heeke has shot himself in the foot by forcing students to seek alliterative spots for pre-parting before the game. This partying went from being in a fairly manageable parking lot to widespread, uncontained gatherings throughout Mt. Pleasant. Smart move Theeke and the students that approved of these rules….The football team will be good for only so long and with their demise will bring an end to a crowded Kelly/Shorts Stadium. This in turn will cause us to lose our 15,000 crowd attendance per game average which is required by the MAC. I wish CMU students nothing but the best. Keep up the boycotts and protests… My donations will go to my local bar which will only play the Chippewa’s on TV when a big school, such as U of M, decides to take on a Division IAA team at the beginning of their season.

  • puhleese

    Hey, how did we de-unify ourselves? Main was teeming with people. Many of houses had students having a good time and some porches were PACKED with people. Looked pretty unified to me.

    Oh and Dave…..what student has died? I mean the rules get more strict over time so what about all those other times no one died. Hysterical paranoia. Hey Dave, you might wanna ban vehicles at tailgating too….never know when a car might slip outta gear and run someone over.

    It’s fine…..don’t change the rules back….or even listen to the students (and we’re not talking about the kiss ass nerds who run for positions that most of campus doesn’t vote for…the same people who don’t know squat about football or go to games) but be prepared for another sucky tailgate at your precious Lot 63. The rest of us will be right back down there on Main st…..and don’t be shocked if the number is lower for attendance.

    Oh and for 2005 Graduate…..you sure you graduated? I know it wasn’t from this school…..ITT Tech? University of Phoenix?
    “And this “it’ll just move downtown” stuff is ridiculous. The Mount Pleasant police aren’t going to let Main Street become the mosh pit that was lot 63.”

    Ummm they have to bring in extra police force for Welcome Weekend…..how are they going to really police as many students that were scattered throughout the city as were this past weekend? They city doesn’t have the money.

    You failed

  • Alumna

    To my fellow and future alums – I think your anger is misplaced in suggesting boycotting Saturday’s game against Akron.

    We have an awesome football team this year -the best I’ve seen since I started supporting the football team in 1993 when I started CMU as a freshman. I’ve attended games when there were fewer than 8,000 fans in the stands and the weather was awful. I sat in the stands and cheered on the team when our record was less than beautiful. Do you want to miss out on the best year of CMU football in decades due to a new set of policies? When you are an alum and students ask about this season, what will be your story?

    I understand your disgruntled attitudes toward the new policies, but let’s act as adults (which we are) rather than spoiled children. Life is full of policies and laws we have to abide by, and the way to change them is through maturity – not whining or ineffective boycotts.

    Therefore, my suggestion is that instead of boycotting the game, which impacts a team that had no role in the new policies being set, you show up on Saturday and prove the administration wrong.

    “Hold the Rope” and try out the new pre-game environment (despite the lousy DJ – maybe he’ll take song requests), cheer on the team as they march to Kelly Shorts, and show up to the game. Support and cheer on the Mighty Chippewas IN PERSON and ACTUALLY STAY FOR THE ENTIRE GAME -and prove to the AD how much you care for CMU, the team, and the pre-game environment.

    The majority of you have boycotted a policy without actually trying it. Give it a go this weekend, and if the tailgate stinks then act by circulating a campus-wide petition, ask for an open forum with the Athetic Dept., get the student government involved, etc. Remember, that it was your fellow students whose behavior over the past few years is what led to the new policies being enacted. Show the administration that the few don’t “speak” for the many.

    One way to get creative has been suggested on the Scout.com website- if you decide to boycott the tailgate then walk as a very large group from Main St. to the game – arriving in time in the student section PRIOR to kickoff. A few thousand students walking together, singing the CMU Fight Song, would make a profound statement and could start a new CMU Student tailgate tradition- one that no other college in the country has.

    Whatever you decide to do – tailgate in the Lot, or elsewhere, remember that there is a TEAM that needs your love and support. Don’t let your reaction to the policies affect your support of CMU’s football team. WHAT MAKES OUR GAME DAY ENVIRONMENT GREAT IS NOT JUST THE TAILGATE, BUT THE FANS IN THE STANDS! It is the fans in the stands that help create a CHAMPIONSHIP CULTURE.

    - An Alumna who Bleeds Maroon and Gold

  • alumnustud

    then what does heeke expect us to do on the weekends when our prestigious CMU degree doesn’t land us a job?

  • besttoworsttailgatinginlessthatnonegame!

    I went to the tailgating Saturday to try it…What a mistake! The music sucked! I was left curious to what the middle lot was for longest time, to find out it was concessions! why waste a whole lot for that come on seriously! It just put more distance from people tailgating. Why all the security, why all the barriers? was this meant to look like minimum security prison or tailgating?

    I have been tailgating in that lot for 2 yrs as a student and the only time i saw this few of people was for crappy weather or crappy teams when we were losing all the time!

    Why waste 2-3thousands dollars a game on DJ’s and bands and concessions and more security when people brought music anyways and it was free and people loved the competing nature of the music. Why more security when there is already 5 different branches of police officials there, that is unbelievable to waste more money on that when already have so many officers there! Why have concession? that makes no sense in tailgating lot, people are grilling food like crazy in the lot and handing it out to anyone who wants it. Why would they waste there money on concessions in tailgating lot!

    Save the money take down the barriers get rid if security and concessions and open up the minimum security prison opps i mean lot 63 to help create that championship culture you so dearly want, before we are a division 2 school and then no one will ever come to the games if that happens!

    Economy sucks think it over Heeke before you lose it all !

Newer Comments →