Warning: Serious post.\u00a0 No pictures and few jokes.\u00a0 Read at your own peril.<\/p>\n
It has recently been brought to our attention through a number of sources, most notably the overzealous Rockingham Policeman who gave\u00a0commenter Uncle Ron, his wife, and myself, all graying mid-thirties marrieds developing a bit of a paunch, the full on going over for quietly enjoying an adult beverage (in a Solo Cup directly behind our parking spot by the way) prior to the Morehead St. game, that the administration has apparently decided to issue a fatwa on even responsible tailgating.\u00a0 For a guy who’s version of heaven is packed with lawn chairs and parlor games and who believes wholeheartedly that angels singing will sound like ice\u00a0rustlin’ in a Coleman Wheelie, this just WILL NOT STAND.<\/p>\n
Here’s the story, Dr. Linwood Rose remains President of the University, a position he has held since we were in school, when he replaced the legendary Ron Carrier.\u00a0 Dr. Rose has often been accused of being anti-fun on every level, but then again, who wouldn’t be after the ultimate tippler and supreme supporter of JMU’s country club lifestyle, Uncle Ron.\u00a0 He’s also been seen at times as particularly closed-minded about athletics, having presided over the firestorm of Title IX program shutdowns and never truly supporting the party atmosphere at many JMU games.\u00a0 That said, it’s become tough even for me to cling to this viewpoint when you look at the meteoric rise of the football program, the contacts awarded to the coaching staff, the almost impossible-to-believe magnificent stadium expansion, and most important of all, the absolute 180 on gameday atmosphere that’s taken place since the 2004 Nat’l Championship and the Dark Days when we attended JMU.\u00a0 Back then, you could casually stroll through even the Richmond game on your way to D-Hall just to check out the Band and Dukettes and hardly even notice there was a sporting contest going on.\u00a0 “Tailgating” consisted of me convincing four or five friends to show up at my place, grilling a few hot dogs, and then two of us actually walking to campus, frequently distracted by better options like watching grass grow on Hanson Field.<\/p>\n
Beginning with the run in ’04, the JMU gameday experience has completely transformed into my all-time favorite tailgating experience.\u00a0 The two most important factors in my, and by antedoctally most\u00a0other post-04 season ticket holders,\u00a0frequent returns to the ‘Burg and\u00a0renewed obsession with JMU Athletics are the play of the football team and the laid-back, idyllic tailgates.<\/p>\n
Bu apparently last year’s out-of-control SpringFest Riots and the resulting shitparade of bad publicity has turned the adminstration into a bunch of teetotaling temperance advocates straight from the Dean Wormer school of dick.<\/p>\n
Look, I’m going to give it time and see what happens, and to be honest, old man that I now am, I really don’t care if they’re cracking down on underage drinking in the student parking lots.\u00a0 But a distinction must be made between underage hooligans with no interest in the game and alumni (even young alumni) and friends who are making a significant investment (ticket costs, drive to the game, food and bev before and after, hotel room, sweatshirts, Hello Duke Dog books for the kids) in Harrisonburg and JMU Athletics by attending the events and would like to be treated as responsible ADULTS.<\/p>\n
Lastly, you CANNOT have it both ways.\u00a0 If you want 25K Strong in the stands at the monster new stadium and to entertain dreams of FBS football and the accompanying rise in school prestige, you have to allow your alumni and fans to enjoy themselves.\u00a0 NO one, not even Rob, who now that he brings his boys is often limited to a solitary cold one, is going to make that type of commitment to be treated like a criminal and have the letter of the law enforced at all costs instead of the spirit of friendship and goodwill I’ve found the JMU experiece to be full of the last few years!<\/p>\n