Ohio fans at Saturday's Homecoming football game could take in the hot dogs, cheerleaders and marching band action, but they will not get to fill up on what some might say also goes with sports - beer.
Ohio, along with most universities in the Mid-American Conference and across the country, does not sell beer at any of its athletic events.
Thomas Boeh, Ohio director of athletics, said the absence of alcohol in Ohio athletic venues is a matter of endorsing a friendly environment for spectators.
The college atmosphere is different from the professional atmosphere
he said. We feel we can maintain a collegiate sports atmosphere better without the distribution of alcohol in the arena.
Boeh said Ohio's choice against selling beer is not part of an attempt to shake a party-school reputation.
I don't think it's a reaction to that he said. It's just generally more of a college tradition.
No nationwide figures were available, but the number of MAC schools that sell beer supports Boeh's argument. Just two universities in the conference sell beer at sporting events. Kent State sells beer at football and basketball games, and Central Florida sells at games in its city-owned football stadium.
Dell Robinson, MAC associate commissioner for legislative and compliance services, said banning sales conference-wide has never been suggested.
It's an institutional issue he said. The games are held at the institutions' stadiums
and every institution has a different stance. We don't try to govern it as a conference. It hasn't ever been brought forward by a school.
The choice by schools that do sell beer at games highlights a difference in philosophy about that traditional college atmosphere. At Conference USA member Cincinnati, Tom Hathaway, Cincinnati assistant athletic director, said beer sales at football and men's basketball games is what Bearcat fans want.
The feedback we get is that it is purchased
he said. We do feel we're providing a service to our fans.
Other motivation also exists. Beer sales at games are a revenue source, Hathaway said.
Finances are definitely part of the decision
he said. The revenue is certainly substantial enough that it's paying for the additional costs involved.
Boeh, however, said Ohio believes that the value of the college tradition outweighs such benefits.
I don't doubt that there would be increased revenue
he said. But it's just something we've never entertained
never pursued. It's not worth pursuing.
Others against serving beer at college games also cite the risks of inserting alcohol into an already rowdy environment.
In 1996, a ban on beer sales at football games at the University of Colorado resulted in a significant drop in arrests, assaults, fan ejections and judicial referrals, according to a study published in the Journal of American College Health in September, 2001.
Knowing the risk involved, Hathaway said extra security is on duty at Cincinnati games with beer sales, and sales are limited to two per customer before being cut off early in the second half.
Anybody involved with game operations is going to be concerned with the behavior of fans
he said. But with preventative measures
we have not had any reason to question the sale.
At Kent State, similar precautions, such as I.D. bracelets and trained vendors also have helped prevent problems, said Pete Mahoney, Kent State associate athletic director.
Knowing that they (fans) are going to drink
we want to put controls on it
