Same old scapegoat

Last February, many of the top people in college sports gathered for the Sportsmanship and Fan Behavioral Summit to discuss an all-too-common occurrence -- rioting among college students.\nThe discussions were long and the results unsurprising. In the end, the NCAA pointed the finger at the usual suspect -- alcohol.\nIt should come as no surprise, really. "Get them to stop drinking" seems to be every college-level administrator's answer to student problems these days.\nUnfortunately, the solutions suggested by the NCAA are simply not feasible. Among them is having institutions and conferences engage in stronger enforcement of open container laws and refrain from airing commercials during games that promote excessive alcohol consumption.\nOf course, the NCAA has yet to take any action toward enacting its suggestions, but how can it? Its jurisdiction ends at the edge of the playing field.\nBy taking a hard stand against a serious, yet unsolvable problem, the NCAA looks proactive, claiming the moral high ground without actually lifting a finger. \nBut why take up this cause? Why is the NCAA focusing on student drinking when a major scandal is uncovered in Division I college programs almost every month?\nIt should have been finding ways of keeping money and gifts out of players' hands. Then maybe Maurice Clarett would have earned that Heisman Trophy he's always wanted. Of course, that's just wishful thinking. NCAA hardly acknowledges its own problems, so it might as well tell other people how to solve theirs.\nOh, and let's not forget the murder charges surrounding the men's basketball team at Baylor. \nEven the University of Hawaii's men's volleyball team has been stripped of its national title.\nKeep 'em looking the other way. Thanks, Myles.\nNot only has the NCAA stepped out-of-bounds in formulating solutions to problems which fall outside of its jurisdiction, the organization has neither taken any action to see that those suggestions are met nor has it officially set any sanctions on fan behavior.\nImposing and lazy. Is there a pattern here? Let's go for "hypocritical," too.\nIU professor of English and American studies Murray Sperber, longtime critic and accomplished author on the subject of college sports, clearly saw a double standard in the SFBC report. \n"The report discusses the connection between student drinking and misbehavior, but the NCAA does not discourage beer companies from sponsoring college sports events on TV networks," he said. "Indeed, the NCAA would not receive its $6 billion for March Madness if the beer money were removed."\nNo. Alcohol alone cannot be the problem. \nThe simple fact is students believe it is their responsibility to engage in tumultuous behavior at their schools' sporting events. Because, as the report itself admits, "for many fans, it has become tradition to exhibit poor sportsmanship," breaking the pattern of disorderly conduct will first require a change in what behaviors are viewed as acceptable. The answer is infinitely more complex than limiting student access to alcoholic beverages.