UGA needs to decide if it really wants tailgating or not
Grilling was part of the North Campus tailgating scene in 2009 before the restrictions were put in place. (Photo by Bill King)
I’m not sure what the UGA committee assigned with issuing game day rules hopes to accomplish with the “easing” of North Campus tailgate restrictions announced Thursday.
The changes don’t amount to a whole lot: Tables can now be 6 feet long instead of just 4; set-up can now be five hours before kickoff instead of four; and, most notably, tents are allowed again. The five-hour limit might make things a bit easier for morning tailgating on the days of noon games, but still pretty much will preclude much of a tailgating scene if kickoff is scheduled for mid-afternoon or evening.
And the other restrictions instituted last season remain in place. No kegs, generators, TVs, amplified music, grills or cookers of any type or household furniture (folding chairs not included). It’s hard to imagine many folks wanting to go to the trouble of hauling a tent and table to North Campus if they can’t cook anything.
We all recall what prompted the new rules, of course. North Campus had become tailgate central and was one big drunken party. While the official reason for clamping down was to protect the historic old campus quads from damage, in reality UGA was embarrassed by national media attention given to the tons of garbage left behind by tailgaters and the increasingly disgusting behavior (mainly involving drunks relieving themselves in public) during the 2009 season, when there were a lot of night games, making for daylong tailgating.
Tim Burgess, a UGA vice president, maintained Thursday that the changes were never aimed at wiping out tailgating on North Campus. “The essence of the changes was to change the type of behavior and the kind of experience. We saw some tailgating in North Campus last season that fulfilled that,” he told The Red & Black.
In reality, last year, after the new rules were put in place, hardly anybody bothered to tailgate on North Campus, with most of the action shifting to the Myers Quadrangle.
Actually, the biggest surprise in Thursday’s announcement was that UGA decided to hold off on clamping down on the Myers tailgating, which got a bit out of hand when there finally was a night game last season. “There was a lot of discussion about Myers Quad, whether the behavior and types of tailgating on North Campus is now happening on Myers Quad,” Burgess said. “There was some discussion as to whether or not we should institute some restriction over there. The consensus of the committee what that we should not do that yet,” but he wouldn’t rule out restrictions there in the future.
School officials seem conflicted on the issue of tailgating. Probably thinking of all the positive press that Old Miss garners for its charming tailgating scene at the Grove, another UGA veep, George Stafford, told the AJC that it’s hoped that the relaxed rules will “bring more people out and they will have a good time.”
But just adding tents and bigger tables doesn’t seem likely to revive North Campus tailgating. And Stafford made it clear that things won’t go back to the way they were because of “the damage that was being caused. The all-day drinking The behavior issues. … We were just tearing up the grounds there.”
If UGA really wants a healthy tailgating scene on North Campus, one of two different approaches seems necessary: Either turn the North Campus quads over to companies who will operate supervised paid tailgating areas where deposits are forfeited if trash is left behind; or lift the restrictions and deal with the trash and behavior problems by adding a heavier police presence and active enforcement of laws on public drunkenness and indecent behavior.
Halfway measures like those taken Thursday don’t serve anybody’s interests.
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77 comments Add your comment
Buckeye
March 25th, 2011
4:17 pm
Dang, Coach Sweater Vest’s emails sure point to his knowing a lot more than he said.
Of course that would NEVER happen at THE Ohio State University
AltamahaDawg
March 25th, 2011
4:29 pm
Just as I predicted last year when this story broke: They went overboard on purpose to stop the abuse, then they relaxed it back to a point where the vast majority of fans can easily live with it.
Buckeye
March 25th, 2011
5:29 pm
I may be a complete a**wipe, but I’m SO sophisticated and clever.
tony
March 25th, 2011
8:27 pm
The answer is to get rid of Michael Adams.
Scott
March 25th, 2011
8:40 pm
Very disappointing reaction to what was a very embarrassing tailgating scene. I had friend come from out of town last year and they were comparing the scene to NC State’s (never been there, but I can’t imagine it’s a good comparison). At least we have some fun away games in 2011.
AltamahaDawg
March 25th, 2011
9:57 pm
What’s disapointing about not allowing kegs and couches on a publically owned manicured historic site?
AltamahaDawg
March 25th, 2011
9:59 pm
Tables and chairs and tents, and coolers, and boxes of food are what 95% of tailgaters bring no matter what the restrictions are.
AltamahaDawg
March 25th, 2011
10:03 pm
If you really need to roll out household furniture and big screens, who wants to lug that stuff 5 blocks in the first place. Pay the chicken scratch 40 bucks, open the back of the SUV and have at it.
UGA '05
March 25th, 2011
10:29 pm
Hell get the Green Club to clean the mess up. They are environment friendly. Plus it would give them hours of volunteering.
Cali Dawg
March 25th, 2011
11:36 pm
Notice how fast the haters post on the Dawg blogs? In your mind 24/7/365!
big d dawg
March 25th, 2011
11:50 pm
charging for tailgating?? is there no cap to the greed. $1000 a year for the privilege to buy tickets, $120 to park in a deck paid for with tax payer money, and now you want to charge me to tailgate. I’ll be the first to drop all my donations and tickets if that happens.
chazzo.crw
March 26th, 2011
6:11 am
As sloppy and irresponsible as the fans may have been, why can’t UGA set up proper receptacles? Set up designated areas with plenty of temporary trash cans, dumpsters, and porta-potties. Then police it. For the price of tickets and parking, what’s another $5 to cover the additional costs. Tailgating of some variety is going to occur whether it is structured, legal, and instituted.
Silver Classic
March 26th, 2011
7:03 am
Tailgating is no problem at Bulldog Park. Grills, TV, Bathrooms, tents, etc. are all part of the experience. You are even free to have fun if you care to. Check it our at http://www.bulldogpark.com
AltamahaDawg
March 26th, 2011
7:04 am
I don’t get the outrage. Nobody seriously disagrees with these simple rules.
AltamahaDawg
March 26th, 2011
7:12 am
And yes Bill , they really DO want tailgating. Or allow it anyway. Not sure it’ really the universities place to even “want ” or not. They bend over backward to accomodate patrons that have no more rights than what buying a ticket to a sporting event afford them, when it really come down to the cold hard facts.
GR82BAG8R
March 26th, 2011
7:17 am
Simple solution: Charge a hefty fee for every tailgating spot and use the money to pay for numerous porta-potties and trash cans. Upon inspection after the game that confirms no trash is left behind, half the fee is returned. Additionally, post signs that remind Bulldog fans to clean up after themselves and to take some pride in where they are.
Tailgating without cooking is not tailgating. Period.
AltamahaDawg
March 26th, 2011
8:40 am
That is a simple solution, and already exist NOW, almost anywhere you look.
AltamahaDawg
March 26th, 2011
8:56 am
except for the hours of interviewing 30k people after dark, and the armored cash handlers it would take for your refund proposal.
GR82BAG8R
March 26th, 2011
10:03 am
Set it up so you have to rent the space in advance – - along with the season tickets if you want to tailgate. People complained about the lack of trashcans and lack of toilets. Only let those who pay in advance for a spot tailgate. All it takes is a little planning and some enforced structure and you can make it more enjoyable for everyone. Charge more for larger spaces for winnebago’s etc.
Tailgating is an SEC tradition. It’s just not college football without tailgating and that means cooking.
Law of supply and demand works wonders….
AltamahaDawg
March 26th, 2011
11:18 am
What are you missing? They already do all of that. Cook away. Good grief.
Mississippi Dawg
March 26th, 2011
12:08 pm
As a UGA grad that now lives in MS, I can offer some perspective…I’ve been to Ole Miss and State games and they do have nice controlled tailgaiting (esp the Grove)…but this is about numbers….UGA has easily twice as many fans that “have” to drive in (mostly from ATL) to the game…More people means you have a need for MORE port-a-potties and trash cans…given a convenient place to dispose/relieve oneself and a greater police presence will produce a better result than banning grills, TV’s or couches. Serioulsy,tailgaiting without grilling out? How silly.
AltamahaDawg
March 26th, 2011
3:08 pm
They don’t allow tailgating at Ol miss right on top of thier historical assets.
TheRawr
March 29th, 2011
12:05 pm
There’s a funny cartoon about a guy who’s never been tailgating and doesn’t know anything about football, but he loves it cause it’s just sitting around eating and drinking.
http://thedailyrawr.com/2011/03/19/tailgating/
Bamma Ramma
March 30th, 2011
8:22 pm
Big difference: at the Bama Quad and Ole Miss Grove, fans pick up their trash when they leave. Plus, there are tons of bathrooms, trash receptacles, power provided (no generators are needed), etc. At UGa, the fans just leave most of their trash on the ground, pack up and stagger back to their trucks, half drunk and angry about another bad game.
LetEmDrink
March 31st, 2011
9:54 am
UGA fans certainly aren’t going to enjoy many games next season….might as well let them get drunk first. If they want to trash it like they were in their own trailer park, have some prisoners come clean it up
Lugnut
March 31st, 2011
10:52 am
You artsy liberal types folks want a nanny state and then B&%$h when you get it.
Why not simply open all spaces to all, but ban the booze. No – really. Do you have to drink to enjoy a day in Athens? Must you be drunk to enjoy football? No and No. The town and the Game are actually quite enjoyable even without be inebriated. Try it. I know – how else are you to justify your loathsome behavior?
No More Drinking!
April 1st, 2011
2:52 am
The university needs to ban all forms of drinking on game days in Athens. I’m tired of seeing all these drunks all over town, staggering around downtown and then to and from the game. There is way too much drinking already in athens—it must be stopped on gameday. The government should totally ban all drinking on Saturdays during the fall of any type. If not, I may not go to a game next year!