AJC > Blog > Archives > 2006 > October > 25
Wednesday, October 25, 2006
Sober up, and pass the slogans
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Back in the day when Enemy Watch was a college matriculator, the popular political slogan regarding The Reagan Republic was that it was “Morning In America.”
A decidedly apolitical Enemy Watch thought it was because the drinking age was 18, and being four hours away from home and semi-independent for the first time, there were no parents to detect the after-effects of partaking in Orange Blossom Special Night at the just off-campus watering hole.
Indeed, these were simpler times, before there was as much media and therapeutic hand-wringing over “binge drinking” as there is actual excessive imbibing by the student set today.
The phrase didn’t exist then, but now, in The Republic of Fear, with adulthood being deferred to 21, you can’t even tune into cable news while downing a couple brews in the privacy of your own home without it being bellowed in your ears.
So what’s the solution to a very serious matter? Euphemize it, of course.
The latest target of the sloganeering storm troops is the college football game formerly known as The World’s Largest Outdoor Cocktail Party. Florida-Georgia has always been about more than a game and a rivalry. It’s been about the celebration of it.
Some folks have celebrated a bit too much, to be sure, and there have been some tragic, deadly events the last two years. But is this reason enough to force the TV networks to sanitize any mention of the fact that drinking, sometimes heavy drinking, does go on, and for the most part without incident?
Certainly the student press in Athens has a jaded view of such absurdity, fabulously concocting this moniker: “The World’s Largest Non-Alcoholic University-Sanctioned Family-Fun Event and Bowl (No admittance without passing alcohol awareness test).”
And some of the grown-ups feel the same way: “Presidents Clamp Down On Cocktail Party Phrase.”
Well, university presidents ARE politicians, who traffic in empty, meaningless slogans. Similar re-wording efforts are going on regarding that Little Cocktail Party in Baghdad, too.
The obsession here is what to call something, rather than what to do about it.
Georgia coach Mark Richt can’t paper over his team’s cracks with words. One Sunshine State scribe asks: Are these “the toughest times in Richt’s six seasons in Athens?”
Surely the depth — and speed — of the Gators all over the field has been a very sobering matter for Bulldog Nation to ponder.
In that same account, Gators coach Urban Meyer is hinting that true frosh QB phenom Tim Tebow might play a bigger role on Saturday.
“I think we’ll evaluate Tim as we keep going this week,” Meyer said.
Downstate, the Miami Hurricanes are busy in Throwback Mode, still reeling from brawls and damn near losing to Duke. For their visit to Georgia Tech on Saturday, they may bring along a bad boy banished for something other than brawling.
Jeez, why don’t they just hop off the plane at Hartsfield in commando camouflage threads, like Jimmy Johnson’s lads did one year for the Fiesta Bowl? Wearing sunglasses. At night.
As for the game against the Yellow Jackets, the Canes will try to stop C.J., coming off a career-first no catches against Clemson.
Tech fans are still recovering from their post-Death Valley hangovers. On The Hive, the big question this week is:
Miami or UGA? 1) Who do you fear more right now? and 2) Which do you want more?
