Drinking has been a part of the sporting culture as long as sports have existed.
The drinking also has been the downfall of many a person during sporting events.
This past weekend, an undercover policeman at the University of Central Florida was shot and killed by Orlando police. The officer shot, Mario Jenkins, was working with university police, in his late 20s and had been working at UCF for only a few years.
He was breaking up a student tailgate when he encountered resistance and fired three shots into the air in order to break it up. Orlando police saw the man with a gun and fired at him, killing him and injuring another bystander in the process as well.
First of all, the two sides should have been working together. That way, there wouldn't be any confusion and something horrible like this may not have happened. Apparently, the Orlando police had not been briefed about the situation.
Second, have tailgates become that bad that officers need guns to break them up and cite underage drinkers?
One suggestion is that if undercover officers need guns, why don't they just carry a radio and some pepper spray? If numbers are overwhelming, call in for backup and take care of the problem, without the potential for anyone getting seriously injured or, worse, killed.
Granted, I haven't been too many tailgates at other schools, so I don't see many that get out of hand. Sure you have your overly intoxicated individuals who shouldn't be allowed to consume anymore alcohol, but for the most part, people tend to know their limits.
Students are in school for four years. I don't think there is a necessity to tone down the fun at 9 a.m. After all, in four years, we are going to be the ones sitting on top of our cars watching the students with the four-person beer bong -- a most impressive sight I might add.
Even with throngs of drunken fans (let's remember here it's not just students), tailgates are relatively safe places. Burgers and beer remind me of football, friends and mingling with alumni. Not authorities breaking up a few drunk and rowdy fans by drawing guns. More people could be rounded up for underage drinking on any given weekend night at campuses across the nation.
The coin has two sides, though. Be smart, know that officers are walking around and may ask to check your ID.
Don't be an idiot and start a fight at a tailgate (the apparent cause of the incident last Saturday).
UCF may now ban alcohol at future games, played at the Citrus Bowl, and may also curb tailgating practices.
This is an unfortunate circumstance for the thousands upon thousands of fans who tailgate. Tailgating is one the great things about college football atmosphere.
Dying wish
Charlie Weis made a deal with a 10-year-old boy. The boy, Montana Mazurkiewicz, had brain tumor and was a die-hard Fighting Irish fan. Weis met the boy in his home Thursday. He told Mazurkiewicz he would let him call the first play of the game. He called "pass right."
The boy died Friday morning before the Irish played their game Saturday. The Irish got the ball on their own 1-yard line and, according to an article by the Associated Press, quarterback Brady Quinn asked, "What are we going to do?"
"We have no choice," Weis said. "We're throwing it to the right."
Weis really had no choice. He promised. Result ... 13-yard gain. Good call Montana.
Game of the week
No. 3 Virginia Tech vs. West Virginia.
Both teams come into the game undefeated. Tech is coming off of a big win over Georgia Tech, while West Virginia squeaked by East Carolina. WVU is ready for Beamer Ball while Tech is primed for a letdown after a big win.
West Virginia 17, Virginia Tech 13.
