Booze and the Salukis do not mix

Steve Dunford-FranklinCounty-News.com

Southern Illinois University athletic director Tommy Bell made the announcement today, that alcoholic beverages would be sold at SIU sporting events, as well as concerts.  His main reason was additional revenue into the Saluki program.

I remember going with a school trip to McAndrew stadium when I was probably in the sixth or seventh grade.  It was back when alcohol was sold at sporting events.  There were several in the student section that became wasted.  After halftime, they began to throw beer on everyone in the student section.

The Salukis quit selling beer at sporting events soon after Rich Herrin resurrected the Men’s Basketball program in the mid 1980’s.  This is not an exact quote, but I remember him saying he does not want his players playing, or coaching in a tavern.  When the contract lapsed with the beer company, they did not renew it

I did not realize there was a statewide ban on selling alcohol at sporting events on Illinois campuses soon after Coach Herrin’s statement.  There was a bill that passed the Illinois Senate unanimously in the spring session of the General Assembly.  Governor Bruce Rauner shortly signed the bill into law allowing alcohol on university campuses.

Southern’s reputation of being a party school has improved.  A couple decades ago, SIU always was in the top ten in the nation of party schools when surveyed.  According to the website niche.com, they are ranked sixth in the entire state.

Since Halloween has been re-instituted, there have been some shady things happen on the strip.  This is in the heart of football season.  Adding alcohol sales would add fuel to the fire in the middle of the “festivities.”

During Football, there is a lot of tailgating going on at Saluki Row.  There is ample opportunity to enjoy an adult beverage or several outside the stadium.

It has improved over the years, but SIU sporting events are tough to get out of the parking lots.  There are a lot of fender benders.  It would increase with people leaving tipsy.

In addition, there are a lot of local watering holes in a short distance of SIU Arena and Saluki stadium.  The Dawg Pound would be much rowdier at basketball games.

I am not trying to be Holier than Thou, but I do not drink.  However, I understand that people would enjoy an adult beverage during games.  This is a done deal.  Guidelines are going to be established for serving.  I say there needs to be a cutoff similar to the seventh inning stretch of baseball games.  I propose that is should be sometime in the third quarter at football games, and at the 12 minute TV timeout during basketball.

In Tommy Bell’s statement, he referred to Ohio State selling alcohol has increased revenue for the athletic program.  Ohio State has joined Big Ten schools Maryland and Minnesota selling beer according to the website saturdaydownsouth.com.  The U of I is establishing guidelines in case they start selling beer in the future.

I studied the map on this website.  In the other major conferences, there is not alcohol served at any SEC venue.  The only ones in the ACC are Syracuse and Louisville.

This is how I feel about the issue, booze and the Salukis do not mix.  Agree or disagree, I hope it brought some thoughts of discussion to the table.

Steve Dunford is a guest columnist for FranklinCounty-News.com.  He is a 1993 graduate of Southern Illinois University.