Eye Dee Ten Tee | 3:53 a.m. Aug. 13, 2008
"599,000 injuries, 696,000 assaults, 97,000 sexual assaults and 1,700 deaths"

And they still choose to promote this stuff. It is all about the money.

It's ALWAYS about the money | 7:41 a.m. Aug. 13, 2008
But where did you get your quote?

Is that a reference to what happens in the SEC due to Football and tailgating?
Brigham Kimball from Zarahemla | 7:45 a.m. Aug. 13, 2008
Dear Brother,

The NCAA is like any other Business. "What is in it for me?" If the coaches would slip the NCAA a few bucks for breakfast they may look the other way on these kids getting 1 more phone call, or a ride from the coach. I tried to donate a gazebo tent and a few other items to a struggling Track program, but the trouble the coach would have to go through and getting approval at this level and that level to accept it made it too complicated....
Comments continue below
$$$ | 7:57 a.m. Aug. 13, 2008
It's all about the cash. If they limit a few advertisers it will inevitably drive ad space prices lower, unless they can find someone else to pick up the space and increase the demand. But to them they see the $$ signs, it'll always be the driver.
Beer and Circus | 8:11 a.m. Aug. 13, 2008
The NCAA doesn't want to alienate the TV networks. It's that simple. TV depends on alcohol ad revenue, and beer companies invest heavily in sports telecasts. The NCAA doesn't want to jeopardize that relationship.

The NCAA isn't worried about what message this sends the students or what the university presidents have to say about it. The NCAA isn't concerned with academics at all. The NCAA is worried about making sure a few college sports make money (most don't) and generate good PR for the schools and their rich alumni.

Read Murray Sperber's Beer and Circus. It's an eye-opener about college sports and the state of the modern American university. He goes overboard about some things, but is spot on about most of them.
Anonymous | 9:05 a.m. Aug. 13, 2008
Everybody knows the NCAA is corrupt. They don't have the athletes best interests in mind. It is all about the money they are making. If the NCAA is a business and needs to be run like a business, maybe it's time for a new organization that is focused soley on the athletes!
Try Again. | 10:05 a.m. Aug. 13, 2008
Perhaps the college presidents and coaches should send thir petition straight to the TV networks, and ask them to do the right thing. Just because the NCAA says the ads are okay doesn't mena that the networks should show them. The networks are the ones who sell the ad time. TV execs are always looking for good PR opportunities.
misinformed as usual | 11:10 a.m. Aug. 13, 2008
Another writer castigating the big tough NCAA. Did this crack reporter take a moment to find out who Michael Adams is? He doesn't work for the NCAA, he is a college president. I'm not a defender of the NCAA, but if you are going to "report" something, at least take a few minutes to do some research. Calling Chris Hill and Lee Benson doesn't really count as "research" does it? Try taking a few minutes to learn how the NCAA really works. Don't misinform the Utah public.
The Old AAU days | 11:20 a.m. Aug. 13, 2008
When it comes to NCAA football it's just like the old AAU days when they controlled athletics in the name of preserving the game's integrity but became corrupted by revenues.
Boo hoo | 11:22 a.m. Aug. 13, 2008
beer is going to be consumed by college kids, like it or not Mormons. PS: Drinking beer will not ban you from entering heaven.
Do it for Bubba | 11:42 a.m. Aug. 13, 2008
Heck, even Bubba Smith stopped being in beer commercials because he saw the cause and effect first hand when he returned to some Michigan functions.

He gave up a ton of moneyh for principles. Seems these NCAA heads don't want to give up the money.
Anonymous | 11:43 a.m. Aug. 13, 2008
adding to misinformed as usual | 11:10 a.m

Would you like me to make a couple calls for you?

I mean, other reporters get information and quotes that are more difficuult to get everyday.

Oh, and calling another reporter for infomation?

Hard hitting news at its Des News best
Nice... | 11:49 a.m. Aug. 13, 2008
"Among those who made the appeal were the presidents and athletic directors at BYU, Utah, Utah State and Southern Utah, along with Utah president Michael Young and Utah football coach Kyle Whittingham."

If you say "presidents and athletic directors at BYU, Utah,", why is there a need to add "along with Utah president Michael Young and Utah football coach Kyle Whittingham."

Isn't Michael Young included already as presidents at Utah? Why specifically name Yong and Kyle?

Well written.

It seem's as if most of Doug's stories are written in an effort to get his kid more playing time up at the U.
RE: Try Again. | 10:05 a.m. | 11:56 a.m. Aug. 13, 2008
I applaud your sense of idealism, Try Again, though the cold, hard fact is: IT'S NEVER GONNA HAPPEN.

You know why? The TV networks don't care ONE DARN BIT about "doing the right thing." They care about two things, and ONLY two things: a) whether people are watching the tube, and b) how much they can charge advertisers for it. That's how they make their MONEY. That's it. Period.

"Doing the right thing" from a TV network standpoint is throwing in just enough ooze and sleaze in TV programs so people will be curious enough to watch.

PR be d---ed--people watch TV no matter what's on anyway. The networks don't care about their PR. They care about how much cash is coming in. Given our media dependency, the media currently operate more like a public utility than a private enterprise as it is--you might hate what your electricity company is doing, but you pay the bill anyway.

For better or worse (and a whole lotta worse), Try Again, that's the reality of the U.S. commercial media.
Pay attention | 12:01 p.m. Aug. 13, 2008
If you read the article you would have seen that Michael Adams is the chairman of the NCAA's executive committee. While he may be a college President he is still part of this committee. So I guess he did do some research
Blue Chelan 56 | 12:19 p.m. Aug. 13, 2008
Re:Misinformed, the NCAA is made up of all the Nations member Colleges. The Presidents of these member Institutions make up the ruling body that make all the decisions.Some Coaches and some AD'S serve as voluntary committee members giving advice and labor to the running of the organization. The presidents have the final approval for this governing body.And yes, they are all looking out for the larger Institutions, and the Big Market Conferences.And yes, money , carries the day over what is best for Students and Athletes.
BlueBoy | 12:34 p.m. Aug. 13, 2008
Any "public" organization that's around very long becomes corrupt. The NCAA has gotten finally there. The invention of the BCS assured it.

Think about all of the organizations that started out with the right idea, then became "owned" by certain entities that only ended up caring about money. For example, unions, AARP, CLU, to name a few.

The NCAA isn't going anywhere soon (is not being replaced by its members with something better), and its love of money won't change, so get used to being stuck in its world. There isn't enough guts in the membership to fix it. They'll just loudly and proudly put bandages on the problems so that they can sleep at night.
NevadaCoug | 12:35 p.m. Aug. 13, 2008
Re: Boo hoo | 11:22 a.m. Aug. 13, 2008

And another Mormon hater misses the point because he/she can't get past his/her prejudice. Nothing in the article has anything to do with Religious values. It's is about limiting the enticements for under-age kids to drink. Most college kids are between the ages of 18 and 20. That's under-age. Why are they targeting that age group with alcohol ads?

By the way, I've always really loved the "they're going to do it anyway..." excuse. Yes, the sarcasm is intended. Let's throw away having standards at all just because a select majority believe that nobody will live up to them.

RealityCheck | 1:06 p.m. Aug. 13, 2008
First: None of the commercials are promoting underage drinking. The actors in the commercials are all portrayed as legal drinking age adults.
Second: Just because the ads are on TV doesn't mean kids will decide to drink. When you see a beer ad on TV does it make you want to drink? Not necessarily. So it is feasible that other individuals will also choose not to drink regardless of the TV ads.
Third: College sports are aired on national TV to ALL audiences. Including responsible individuals over 21. The ads are generally intended for those individuals. Millions of people watch college football every weekend, not just college students.
Fourth: Really, why does this matter? WHO CARES!!!!
Mike | 1:25 p.m. Aug. 13, 2008
This article is naive and ignorant. You can't protect the public by regulating advertising. People under 21 already cannot purchase alcohol. Just because your religion doesn't approve of alcohol doesn't permit you to make choices for others. Beer is not illegal. Beer companies should be allowed to advertise their product however they want (without making false claims, obviously). And the NCAA should be allowed to make money selling said advertising.
RE: RealityCheck | 1:36 p.m. Aug. 13, 2008
WHO CARES!!! Put your beer down and sober up for a moment and think about all the good and bad that beer does... Good: social and personal relaxer??? I'm stretching here... Bad: Kills thousands of innocent victims every year, is involved in rape and all kinds of abuse and countless crimes and idiotic stunts that aren't crimes. Get a clue!
Dr. J | 1:42 p.m. Aug. 13, 2008
Why should the UU contingent care if beer and alcohol commercials are on NCAA events. Did the they forget that the beer cooler is in the same place where their degree got them that gas pumping job?
Anonymous | 2:01 p.m. Aug. 13, 2008
Re: misinformed as usual

You are complaining as usual. Do YOU know who Michael Adams is? Read the SI article. Some people just want to complain...

drob: good article
This is Who Cares... | 2:32 p.m. Aug. 13, 2008
... every college campus in America who's ever had to deal with a binge-drinking death, that's who. Which is to say nearly every publicly funded campus in every one of the 50 states!

From an institutional standpoint, it's a PR nightmare. From a fiscal standpoint, it costs the university money to provide counseling, discuss and implement prevention efforts, work with local law enforcement and other agencies for more control of underage drinking, and so forth. And from a HUMAN standpoint, such preventable and regrettable tragedies leave social and psychological scars that only rarely heal.

Anyone who thinks this is a problem that only LDS people care about should pull their heads out of the sand or wherever else they happen to be located at the moment and take a honest look at the nation and world they live in. Read and learn about what MANY other universities across the country have had to deal with.

This is NOT about religion or religious tenets in ANY way. This is about the "Beer and Circus" student culture run amok. (Yes, I'm also "Beer and Circus" above.) Educate yourselves, people.
From Montana | 2:45 p.m. Aug. 13, 2008
Isn't the NCAA an organization established by - governed by - for the benefit of - the nations colleges and universities sports programs? Then why can't those who petitioned take the issue to the full governing body - made up by these same petitioners? Override the committee!!!!!
Re: Mike | 2:50 p.m. Aug. 13, 2008
Dude, this isn't just an issue with "Mormons" here in Utah. This is a nationwide issue.

What good comes from Beer advertising anyway?
To RealityCheck, Mike, etc. | 3:06 p.m. Aug. 13, 2008
I'm not sure what happened to a previous more or less reasonable post about this NOT being a religious issue, but a quality of life crisis that affects every university campus in America. But apparently, a DN moderator knows something I don't.

I did say that people who believe this is a religious issue need to pull their heads out of the sand. They can also feel free to attend a non-Utah public university for a semester; too many people in Utah get a bit paranoid about the supposed influence of the Church in public life.

This is a problem on any American university campus that has had to deal with a student binge-drinking death. People who think this is ONLY a religious issue need to be more educated, frankly.
RealityCheck | 5:09 p.m. Aug. 13, 2008
Just for the record. I never once stated anything about this being a Religious issue. Nor do I believe that it is one. This is about freedom of choice. Last time I checked the only way that affected religion was in allowing you to practice whatever you choose without persecution. Yes underage drinking is a problem, I never denied that, but it is not the responsibility of the NCAA to fix that. The U and BYU are dry campuses. If schools want to take up a similar stance, then they can. But that is NOT the NCAA's job. It is the school's job. That is all I was saying.
By the way, plenty of other things cause all sorts of crimes as well, should the NCAA start advocating against those as well.
P.S. Get a clue!, I have a clue. I don't drink, so don't assume because i disagree with this article that I need to sober up. Way to judge!!!!!
lost in DC | 5:59 p.m. Aug. 13, 2008
I think Nevadacoog misundertsood boo-hoo 11:22. Mr. Boo, (or is it Mr. Hoo?) seems to be saying that all 400 signatories on the petition from all across the country are - gasp - Mormons!!!! Oh no, they've infiltrated the entire universe of higher education. All those college presidents and head coaches must all be mormon. OK, I got the sarcasm out of my system, you were right, he's just a hater.

Of course the NCAA is not going to do anything. If they turn down the beer money, where are they going to get the funds for their PC police? They conveniently forget that alcohol has had a more devastating effect on American Indians than somebody wearing a fighting Illini shirt.
Mike | 6:12 p.m. Aug. 13, 2008
I never said anything about Mormons, and I didn't portray it primarily as a religious issue... My main point is you can't regulate common sense. Again, beer is not illegal. Beer companies have the right to market their product. The NCAA and the media have the right to sell advertising space to whomever they want. The way the author approaches their problem with this issue is naive and ignorant, and quite frankly, how can any of you argue that the ethics surrounding the placement of 30-second beer ads is a nationwide issue? It all seems rather irrelevant to me.

If this is the approach the author wants to take regarding this "important" issue, then his efforts will fail. What he really wants is some semblance of prohibition--the very issue that caused such confusion for him, because what he's advocating is suppression of American's rights to choose and business's rights to sell a legal (albeit highly regulated) product that, quite frankly, millions of people enjoy responsibly.

The issue isn't the beer, and the issue most definitely is not the advertisements--the problems are bad parenting, poor choices, and socioeconomic factors, which are best fixed through other means besides limiting 30-second commercials.
re: Boo hoo | 7:30 p.m. Aug. 13, 2008
How do you know?

Unsung heroes | 7:45 p.m. Aug. 13, 2008
For once common sense beats emotionalism. I've drank legally since I was 19. I've enjoyed beer in eight countries. I've shared beer and good conversation with many people.

Let me take a minute to thank the brewers, distributors and servers for all your efforts.

Ridgerunner | 8:33 p.m. Aug. 13, 2008
Why do so many people defend drinking alcohol? Why would anyone with a brain drink? Has there been a behavior that has produced more human suffering in this world than consuming alcohol? Why not just hit yourself in the head with a hammer each day, the effects are about the same. What a mindless activity to drink yourself into a stupor and call it "fun". Maybe you never had any real fun?
re:anonymous | 10:04 p.m. Aug. 13, 2008
Michael Adams is the president of Georgia. The NCAA is just a bunch of young people doing the bidding of the school presidents. Writers complain about "the NCAA' when they don't know who to blame and are too lazy to find out. Whenever you read an article that says "the NCAA" that means the over 1,000 schools that make up the organization. There isn't some hierarchy in Indianapolis making up stupid rules and/or issuing decisions from on high. If the writers want to blame someone, blame the school presidents who control the NCAA and have override power in the process. Thanks anonymous for staying anonymous!
to RealityCheck | 1:07 a.m. Aug. 14, 2008
You may not have brought up religious things in your statements, but do you realize that the beer companies are targeting the uneducated? Yep, that's where they target. This info was straight from a tour a friend took of a beer company (ask the right questions to get this info). With that in mind, do you think that the target is for someone that has had two or three years of college (21 and up). Stating the obvious, No, it's to get the 18 to 20 year old to start to drink. They will have them for live if they start them at that young age. Why else would they want to advertise to a college? High School is out the question because no is of age. They can hide behind those that are of age on a college campus to make "legal".
Waste of time | 1:17 a.m. Aug. 14, 2008
I just don't understand the point of writing an article like this. As the law currently states, drinking beer is not illegal. So harping on the NCAA for not banning beer commericals is a waste of time. You should be harping at the government for allowing beer to be legal. But what do you want? Prohibition all over again? As a member of the church, I believe in free agency. If someone wants to be stupid, get drunk, and make an idiot of himself, that's his choice. It's his agency. If the NCAA wants to make money off of beer commercials, once again, it's because of free agency that should be allowed. I have a real problem with people like Mr. Robinson who think it's their duty to tell everybody how they should live and the decisions they should make and that being a journalist somehow empowers them to spread those wacked up ideas to the masses.
Larry H | 5:53 a.m. Aug. 14, 2008
To those who have brought religion into this discussion: your logic is very bad. You are assuming that because Mormon's do not drink beer, and the writer is a Mormon, therefor, anything he says about beer is because of his Mormon beliefs. It is possible, if you take a moment to think and to investigate before spouting off, it is possible to have an opinion against the advertising of beer along with college athletics because it is bad for college athletes and athletics, regardless of religious belief. I'd like to see us leave religion out when it isn't mentioned in the article, if possible.

There is no reason why drinking alcohol ought to be allowed to be associated with college athletics. It can be associated with PRO athletics, because PRO players are adults and are free to choose. Many college players are under legal drinking age; the fact that they drink illegally and that such acts are glorified in movies etc., does not make it something the NCAA ought to support or turn a blind eye to. The large number of college coaches, presidents and other college leaders who sent the petition shows it has broad support.
RE: Waste of Time@1:17 | 8:20 a.m. Aug. 14, 2008
Your point would hold more water if there were no UNDERAGE statute for beer drinking. But Waste of Time, you forgot, conveniently or not, that it IS illegal to drink alcohol until you turn 21.

You and I both know that doesn't stop teenagers from doing so anyway AND alcohol producers from targeting them, but it IS illegal. And there ARE several very good reasons for that law--pass through any near-campus bar district of your local state university next Friday night and observe any number of them for yourself.

Asking people and organizations to help limit alcohol consumption to responsible levels is hardly a return to Prohibition. Textbook hyperbole, my friend, if not a "straw man" outright.

Last of all, "free agency" needs to be used wisely. If I'm angry enough at someone to want to kill them, should I be free to do that in the name of free agency? If I see a car I'd really like to have, should I be free to steal it? Under your logic, why do laws and law enforcement exist in the first place? Sorry, not understanding that AT ALL.
re:Unsung Heros | 10:22 a.m. Aug. 14, 2008
I'm all for drinking, just like you.

I also know for everyone of you, here are many that can't contain it, drive drunk, get alcohol posioning and do stupid things.

I say if someone responsible drinks and gets alcohol posioning, drives and gets on a wreck, etc, they are responsible, not the government.

Let them personally pay for eveyone they hurt. If someone get's paralyzed, they need to carry that person around the rest of their lives. If they die in a wreck, get the family to come, get the car off the road, clean up the mess, stuf the corpse in the trunk, and haul it to the cemetart. Someone else dies, they become the slave of that family until they die, an the family gets to choose when that is. If they die of posioning, let their familily come either run them to the hospital, or get the corpse.

Serious, we let people drink, we advertise it with "club scenes" and hotties", and clean up their messes for them.

It's pretty stupid.
Do the Right Thing! | 10:26 a.m. Aug. 14, 2008
All you who rattle on about this being a non-issue completely miss the point.

How influentual are beer commercials? I think they're kind of funny, but most of the time lame. Do they make me want to drink? I don't even get thirsty watching one. Why is this important then?

We as a nation and a people are heading down a destructive path. We are advocating "freedom" as "doing whatever you want whenever you want" and to a college kid that sounds pretty good. Unfortunately they will pay for it the rest of their lives. Where is the constraint? Why can't we set societal limits or at least take a stand on moral issues? Colleges and Universities have a responsibility to the fabric of this nation to educate and promote discipline. I applaud them in this instance to send a message that drinking beer is not wises for college aged kids whether or not the commercials influence them to do so. Taking a stand is noble and the right thing to do.

As Homer Simpson so elequently stated, "BEER: the cause, and the solution to, all of life's problems."
BRT | 1:41 p.m. Aug. 25, 2008
"responsible drinking" is an oxymoron.
still laughing | 1:56 p.m. Aug. 25, 2008
Remember back in 1996, when the Fiesta Bowl officials openly admitted that they didn�t want BYU because the fans wouldn�t be buying beer and they�d lose money? Remember as well in 2003 (Miami/OSU), when that same Fiesta Bowl decided to allow beer sales for the first time during the championship game? ASU police weren�t happy about it, and the Fiesta Bowl had to go spend much of that overhead profit to buy more security to ensure the drunken rowdies didn�t get out of hand and ruin the �family friendly� atmosphere. They did a lot of grumbling about what that would cost. Think maybe BYU looked a bit more attractive in hindsight? Maybe not, but I�m still laughing at them.

Add your comment

Comments are monitored. Any comments found to be abusive, offensive, off-topic, misrepresentative, more than 200 words or containing URLs will not be posted.

Words Remaining

E-mail address: For internal use only. We may want to contact you to publish your comment (not your e-mail address) in the newspaper or for a separate story idea.

Advertisement
previousnext

Latest comments

No, students are NOT safe from predators. If a parent wants to make sure...

If you really think Mormon's are mainstream, you must not have paid attention...

I don't see the schools presidents voting to get rid of WYM or NM, even...

Big games keep UHSAA coffers full

why people complain about how football is covered by the media too much. when...

A little perspective is not a bad thing. Notice the Cougar's won loss record...

I actually was encouraged by some aspects of the game. Any Utah fan who has...

A story about Mormons as minorities? In this paper? Get over the "victim"...

she was an awesome woman someone i looked up to when i was younger she was...

Relieved Cougs prep for Falcons

Wow you just made one of the dumbest comments I've heard yet. Fire Bronco????...

Photos: A Royal welcome home

Re: Huh?, You like many other haters are probably oblivious to many obvious...

Advertisements
Advertisement