The Sentinel

Issue date: 11/16/08 Section: News

In September I decided to make the trip out to Los Angeles and watch the Buckeyes take on the Trojans in what was supposed to be the biggest game of the year. I had a funny feeling that it would turn out like every big game we have played recently, so I made sure to make a true vacation out of it. Truth be told, it was a great decision on my part. I met tons of Buckeye fans who came solely for the game, taking the red eye out after work on Friday and taking the red eye back Saturday night. Truly bad decision on their part. Talk about depressed, they had just dropped $500.00 on airfare and $500.00 on a ticket and ended up hung-over and sick after witnessing a beat down that was just flat out embarrassing. But, they were also pleasantly surprised by the way USC handled a crucial part of the college football experience, drinking.

Imagine this for a second; you and your friends, on game day, are relaxing on the Oval, grilling out, with a bottle of Grey Goose and a 6 pack. 100 feet away is President Gordon Gee's tailgate party. Harmony is at hand. Who am I kidding? Ignore everything I just said, because the heaven that I just laid out would get you sent to jail on OSU's campus faster than a domestic violence call on O.J. Simpson (damn those USC alumni). I'm sure you can understand my shock, when walking across USC's campus hours before game time, at the sight of fans doing something so evil that it's hard for me to even talk about it.

I saw people who had, in their own possession, OPEN CONTAINERS. Lord, right in the middle of South Central Los Angeles the most badass police force in the country, the same LAPD who TV shows are made after and start the occasional race riot, were standing down. I was so confused; could USC really have no problem with these out of control 'sinners' relaxing at picnics and participating in drunken frisbee throwing? Coming from the Nazi-like atmosphere the Columbus police enforce towards drinking here at Ohio State, I was seriously at a loss for words. I wondered aloud, how in L.A., a relatively more dangerous place than Columbus, could drinking be allowed? Then like an idiot contestant on Deal or No Deal, I quickly discerned the real reason behind this illogical situation: money.

Maybe it's just me, but I have a real problem with a 65 year old alumnus of our university being treated like a criminal, just because they choose to enjoy a refreshing Goose Island Honkers Ale (best beer ever) while tailgating. Many of these same alumni for years have supported Ohio State by purchasing season tickets, giving donations and sending their precious, darling, and malleable children here. How are they paid back by OSU? It goes a little something like this:

"Please forget about the tens of thousands of dollars you've already given us, that's in the past. Here in the present if you want to drink a beer you must come inside this little fence which we operate and pay us 5 dollars for a 12 ounce draft. If you decide not to follow this rule, that's your choice, but we must warn you the Columbus police, whose main priority just like ours is safety, will come give you a citation. Then we bet next time you'll think before not giving us your money…uh did we say money? We actually meant next time you'll think before being such a dangerous menace to society, just like those out of control folks at USC. Boy, their football teams sucks too."

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