Clampdown on excessive tailgating causes spike in arrests

University of Iowa officials say off-campus patrols by campus police are causing a spike that led to twice as many arrests in 2010.

 A clampdown on excessive tailgating on home football Saturdays is also a factor.

UI police doubled the number of arrests in 2010 compared to 2009, or from 955 to 1,970, according to an Iowa state Board of Regents report. The number of charges is up from 1,229 to 2,395 and incidents are up from 2,344 to 3,003.

Similar statistics at University of Northern Iowa and Iowa State University are nearly identical from 2009 to 2010.

“When our officers are into the downtown area they are dealing with whatever comes about,” UI Vice President for Business and Operations Doug True said.

True noted that UI students only account for about one-third of charges, and there has been a 42 percent reduction in alcohol emergencies, such as alcohol-related emergency room visits and contact to students’ families.

True said he believes by next year the surge will stabilize.

http://www.press-citizen.com/article/20110323/NEWS01/110323004/UI-police-patrols-lead-to-spike-in-arrests

Monday Morning Wakeup Call: Michigan 2

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Ohio State's Brutus Attacked

If you didn't get a chance to see the latest mascot fight, the above video is must watch. It features Ohio University's Rufus Bobcat viciously going after Brutus Buckeye in front of over 105,000 fans.

"It was actually my whole plan to tackle Brutus when I tried out to be mascot," said Brandon Hanning, formerly known as Ohio University's Rufus Bobcat. "I tried out about a year ago, and the whole reason I tried out was so I could come up here to Ohio State and tackle Brutus."

The 19-year-old Hanning is now banned from further affiliation with the school's athletics department. Actually, he's not even a student there anymore; he now attends nearby Hocking College.

Classic!

Monday Morning Wake Up Call: Michigan State

Michigan State bolted into The AP college football poll after its gripping victory against Notre Dame, with it’s very brash call in OT.

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TailgateWiki: Keeping Tailgaters Informed

With all the “wiki’s” popping up online, you knew it was only a matter of time before there was one developed on our favorite subject: tailgating. Introducing TailgateWiki.com! It was developed loosely on the concept of Wikipedia, where everyone is an expert on something. The thousands of tailgaters that flock to stadiums all across the country are experts when it comes to their local stadium, tailgating rules, traditions, and hidden hints that only those that tailgate regularly know.

TailgateWiki.com is a place to share that information to not only “pay it forward” for your fellow hometown tailgaters, but for visiting fans alike. Wouldn’t it be nice to be able to follow your team on the road, and still tailgate like you were at your home stadium? Rather than spending hours of research trying to find the right information on when gates open, if you could use charcoal, or what items are banned in the parking lot, you now have a one-stop-shop, where all that information is stored. TailgateWiki.com was started a few months ago, and some team pages are chock full of great information and insider tips. Check out a sample tailgate at the Chargers Tailgate Page.

You even can earn achievement badges based on your activity and how many pages you update. So get over to TailgateWiki.com, and start adding what you know.

7 Days 'Til College Football Kicks Off

That's right! Only 7 days left until college football kicks off again! Nothing like a "biggest hits" vid to get everyone back into the swing of things.

Imagi-Motive Newest Tailgating Toys

Check out the two newest tailgating machines that our friends at Imagi-Motive have put out. The first one is the SMU Tailgating Trailer, which converts into a full bar and grill equipped with flat screens and all. The second is a Northwestern Tailgating Trailer that features two side-by-side flat screen TV's and full surround sound.

SMU Tailgating Trailer

Northwestern Tailgating Trailer

Monday Morning Wake Up Call: Michigan

Kristy Bojazi loves the fact that Michigan just beat the "Golden Domers," and is ranked (AP #25) at 2-0.

Monday Morning Wake Up Call: Wisconsin

Just for today, we declare ourselves Wisconsin fans. What a beautiful site, and we are only 24 days away from the kickoff of the College Football Season!

Monday Morning Wake Up Call: Indiana

There is something about this image that just pulls out a tiny tear, and I think I know what it is. Only 30 more days until college football (and college football tailgating) makes its grand return!