Don't ruin tailgating experience for others

By Gary Barta

It's always Great to be a Hawkeye, but the start of the 2009 football season at the University of Iowa has been an extra special time to be a friend of the University of Iowa and a fan of the Hawkeyes. I'm so proud of, and excited for, our coaches and student-athletes. They are on a roll.

This Saturday, the excitement and energy increases. It's homecoming, it's prime-time national television - and it's the Michigan Wolverines.

As I enjoy my fourth season as athletics director at the UI, I appreciate more than ever before the special feel of “Kinnick Magic.” We truly enjoy a special game-day environment. With that said, there is something that I've wanted to address for some time. Among the tens of thousands of Hawkeye fans who “do it right” on game days, I am discouraged, and sometimes downright disgusted, by a small minority of alcohol abusers who ruin the game-day experience and give Hawkeye tailgating a bad name.

Each week, we deal with hundreds of fans who abuse alcohol to the point of embarrassment - and in many cases endanger themselves and others around them. We eject from Kinnick Stadium, and sometimes have to place under arrest, dozens of people who drink so much they can't stand on their own, pass-out, are under age, throw up on the fans around them, urinate in public, etc.

These scenarios occur with far too much frequency and simply aren't acceptable.

I believe tailgating is a special part of the college football tradition. But I am not comfortable with allowing those who abuse the alcohol privilege to ruin the experience for the rest of us.

I want to thank the overwhelming majority of Hawkeye fans who tailgate responsibly, cheer appropriately in the stands, respect their neighbor in the parking lots, respect our campus and respect the private property in the neighborhoods adjacent to our football stadium.

I thank the hundreds of volunteers who wake up early each Sunday and return Kinnick and the area around the stadium to normal. I thank fans who use the complimentary garbage bag they are provided when entering a UI parking lot.

I thank the volunteers who operate the Hawkeye Express and the more than 4,000-plus fans who ride the Express each week because their efforts mean there are about 1,300 fewer vehicles in traffic and parking around the stadium.

I thank everyone who contributes in a positive way to the game-day experience at historic Kinnick Stadium.

I also ask that if you are going to the game on Saturday, you assist the UI in our efforts to maintain the family atmosphere. If you see a fan engaging in inappropriate behavior, please don't hesitate to call UI Police. If a friend of yours is having difficulty, please be a good companion and keep them out of trouble and safe. Of course, if anyone appears to be in distress, call UI Police or 911 for medical assistance.

And, remember, this week – because of the late start - tailgating after the game in UI parking lots is prohibited.

Our staff will be doubling its efforts this weekend to make certain everyone at Kinnick Stadium and in the areas that surround it have the very best game-day experience possible. We can't be everywhere and would appreciate your assistance if it's needed.

As always, Go Hawks!

Gary Barta is Director of Athletics at The University of Iowa