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Friday, May 19, 2006
Today’s Cocktail Party is a tame affair these days
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
On Nov. 10, 1984 your humble correspondent came very close to an untimely demise. Florida had just beaten Georgia in Jacksonville 27-0 to break a six-game losing streak to the Bulldogs. Gator fans stormed the field, tore down the goalpost and did a victory lap around the stadium. I was one false step from being impaled. The mayor of Jacksonville, as I recall, thought it was pretty cool and said he would gladly replace the goalpost. I also recall that he was a Gator.
A year later Georgia upset Florida when the Gators were No. 1. This time Georgia fans stormed the field, tearing up chunks of sod to take back to Athens. There were more cops because of what had happened the year before. It was an ugly scene.
After that officials at both schools huddled because they knew they had a problem. The World’s Largest Outdoor Cocktail Party had gotten out of control. A lot of changes were made.
The point I’m making is this. On the rowdy scale, today’s Georgia-Florida game is a tea party compared to the 1970s and 80s. And that’s a good thing. Back then you could walk on the field at the Gator Bowl and actually smell the bourbon wafting through the stands.
Today the game is played in a nice stadium named after a phone company. The seats are teal. You don’t get in without a full body search. The days of sneaking in a half pint of Jack Daniels by putting it in your date’s purse are pretty much over. (If you did it, I don’t want to know about it.)
But there are still problems as there will be any time that many people gather together and alcohol is involved.
Those problems, however, are not going to be solved by telling the TV guys that they can’t call it “The World’s Largest Outdoor Cocktail Party” anymore.
Georgia’s president, Dr. Michael Adams, wants the TV guys to knock off the “Cocktail Party” references in hopes of changing the culture of the event. I submit you can’t change the culture of the Georgia-Florida game. Here’s why.
College football is about tradition and I know a lot of people who embrace the “Cocktail Party” label but never drink anything stronger than bottled water when they are in Jacksonville. Like the “Red River Shootout” or the “Backyard Brawl,” the “Cocktail Party” is part of college football’s nomenclature. These traditions make college football the greatest game in the world.
The problems that led to the death of two students during the Georgia-Florida weekend are real and are tragic. But symbolism isn’t going to make those kids safe. Alcohol education and awareness on campus would be a good place to start. Taking a zero tolerance approach to public intoxication would help. And while you’re at it, get the Jacksonville people to get a handle on that Friday night mob scene at The Landing. A lot of problems start — or finish — there.
I applaud the motivation and I believe it is sincere. I just don’t think the frat boys — young and old alike — are going to drink one less beer because Tim Brando can’t say the words.
