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Other area colleges have similar tailgating policies

By on September 23, 2009 7:00 am in Metro / 11 comments

 
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While the new tailgating policies have many CMU students up in arms, other universities are modifying their own policies.

Ferris State University decided to implement a special fundraiser for its Oct. 3 football game against Michigan Technological University. Fifth Third Ballpark in Comstock Park, where the game will be played, will sell alcoholic beverages during a tailgate before the “Battle at the Ballpark.”

Free shuttle bus rides also will be provided to and from Big Rapids on the day of the game.

“We needed to generate money for our football program,” said Jon Coles, FSU associate athletics director. “We’re splitting everything 50/50 with the ballpark.”

The new procedures at Central Michigan University include a six-beer limit, a ban on external sound systems and five to six pedestrian entrances. An estimated total of 300 people were at last Saturday’s student tailgate at Lot 63.

Coles said Ferris State’s game day atmosphere is not quite the same as in Mount Pleasant, and the fundraiser will help build it.

“We can’t deny the fact that college students like to drink beer,” he said. “We’re not encouraging it… we do want students to congregate and enjoy each other’s company.”

Around the MAC

While policies such as alcohol amount limits and external sound systems are not specifically stated in some other Mid-American Conference tailgating policies, there are similarities.

Western Michigan and Ball State University, for instance, both have policies against tailgating after the opening kickoff.

At the same time, the University of Minnesota declared it will require certain students to submit to breathalyzer tests prior to entering the stadium.

Students previously disciplined for drunken behavior at games will be subject to the tests.

The policy, modeled off a similar Wisconsin program, is different now the university’s football team has moved to a new stadium on campus, where alcohol is prohibited.

However, it has met with only minimal complaints from fans.

There will be no limit on the amount of alcohol that can be purchased for FSU’s tailgate, Coles said.

Students also will be asked for identification.

Coles said the university expects to sell a lot of beer and is expecting each person to contribute an average of $6 to the fundraiser.

FSU hopes to have a similar event in the future if it is a success. Coles also praised CMU tailgaters and said he was aware of the change in tailgating policies outside of Kelly/Shorts Stadium.

“Central students are welcome to come and show our students how to tailgate,” he said.

The Associated Press contributed to this story.

 

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  • AngryAlumniBee

    Dave Heeke, I really hope you’re reading this.

  • Rob Barrett

    Once again, people are missing the biggest point. OF COURSE other schools will have similar tailgate rules…. DUH. The problem is that CMU will not enforce the new rules consistently. Their security staff has been advised to NOT enforce the rules as they are stated in the new policy. It’s basically a get-out-of-jail-free card for the athletic administration. If something does go wrong, they can turn around and say “Hey, the rules are there, it’s not our fault that students break them.” It actually would be your fault. By creating stricter rules, then not enforcing them, you’re setting a terrible example for students. If you’re going to make new rules enforce them, and after they ARE being enforced, you’ll realize how big of a mistake it was to create them in the first place when no one shows up to tailgate, or the games…

  • CMUgrad09

    This is absolutely ridiculous they are comparing Ferris to CMU’s tailgating style. Go to some of the biggest high school football programs/school’s tailgates and I’m sure they are more “dangerous” than Ferris or CMU’s now.

  • Pirate

    I read this article and really saw nothing that kind of relates to Central’s new policy with those of others. But Ferris State though? Really? Do we really have to compare ourselves to Ferris State? If anything I wanted to know more about how Western does theirs because as sad as it sounds they probably have a better tailgate than we do now

  • private

    well i geuss if Central wants to be like other weak mac programs then lets stick with it but comparing us to western or even ball state for rules is dumb, i can tell from a-lot of talk from certain football player not saying names but their not very happy about all of this, thank god there was still people in the student section. how is the city of mount pleasant going to handle having the western michigan kids on main next season and all over the city very one-lot. this is just another example where central michigan cares more about them than the students.

  • Phil

    Jake, sorry, but you have not pointed out 1 similarity to the part most people are upset with: Alcohol limit and No sound systems.

    No tailgating after the game starts was not liked by students, but was accepted, however, its the alcohol and music that really made it fun. When I was there, I remember when we brought my DJ equipment for the first time and people loved it … over the next years, local radio DJ’s would attend and the party really got fun!

    Truth is, CMU has crossed the line and are crossing their fingers people still attend thier games. I think the only way to reverse these rules is if Alumni stop coming back and stop donating money and if students stop supporting the team (not an advocate of that).

  • puhleese

    I stopped reading this when the comparison or Ferris to CMU…..you might as well put University of Phoenix in that caparison too if you’re going to put a non factor like Ferris in it.

  • E

    Can we try and look at this in perspective? It’s tailgate. TAILGATE.

  • Katie

    I think they are grabbing at straws here…. this article didn’t have much to do with the current problems with CMU tailgate. We are not other schools we are Central and we want our tailgate again. No comparisons in the article had anything to do with the major problems students are having with the tailgate regulations. And what does Ferris states fundraiser have to do with CMU tailgate…

  • WixomAlum

    Who really gives a crap about other schools? I don’t, and I don’t think any other CMU students or alums do either. Bottom line hasn’t changed: the administration is regulating something it doesn’t need to, and they need to step back and admit they screwed up. Leave the kids alone, and let them have their fun. College goes by too quick, and the best marketing the university can have is word of mouth. Crap like this doesn’t help anyone.

    Go Chips!

  • KC Chip

    As an alumni who strongly disagrees w/ the new regulations I encourage any alumni or student who feels the same way to email Mr. Heeke and voice your displeasure.

    heeke1dw@cmich.edu