Tailgating issue in House

The Youngstown State University athletic department and State Rep. Ken Carano (D-59th) are working to make sure the tradition of tailgating before Penguins football games is continued.
Carano has worked the past few months to get a bill in front of the House State Government Committee. He believes he has had success and momentum for his work is picking up quickly.
Strollo addresses House
Last Tuesday, YSU athletic director Ron Strollo testified in front of the House State Government Committee in favor of House Bill 422, which would create a special liquor permit for universities and professional athletic teams to allow fans to consume alcohol in closed-off portions of their properties.
Those areas would be surrounded by fences or some other barrier and have security personnel located at the entrance to ensure that people do not leave with open containers.
An F-7 liquor permit would allow consumption of alcohol on restricted areas of university or private property.
According to H.B. 422, there is no provision to permit the sale of alcohol on the premises, and does not require that universities apply for a permit if they prefer not to.
Strollo said Carano is working hard for Youngstown State fans who, have for years, enjoyed the tailgate rituals each fall without issue.
Since Stambaugh Stadium opened in 1982, tailgating has added a tremendous amount to the game day atmosphere, one of the best in Division I-AA.
But in November 2003, YSU's tailgating practices came under question for violating statewide open-container laws. For the Penguins' final home football game against Western Kentucky on Nov. 15, the university was given ordered by the Department of Public Safety but to prohibit alcohol in the tailgate lots.
Carano made proposal
Strollo contacted Carano who stepped to the forefront with the idea that schools, along with all professional sports teams in the state, could obtain permits that would not violate any open-container laws.
For now, the proposal has received opposition from some schools, including Ohio State and Kent State. However, Kent State sells beer in Dix Stadium and in the adjacent tailgate lots.
YSU police chief John Gocala, who has been on the force for 13 years, agrees that tailgating is a key part to the football experience.
"In the Mahoning Valley, tailgating is an opportunity for a special kind of camaraderie and unity," he told the committee. "The legislation ensures that tailgating activity is enclosed and with security personnel stationed at each exit to prevent the removal of open containers from the designated area."
Strollo said YSU's current tailgate policy was used as a model for the creation of H.B. 422.
Youngstown State is not asking the legislative body to change the law, just seeking the ability to purchase a permit.
In an attempt to prevent a similar situation in the future, Carano, the YSU athletic department, the Department of Public Safety, the Division of Liquor Control and other interested parties worked to come up this bill.
Nothing certain
Although Strollo cannot assure the passage of this proposed legislation he does expect, however, on having beer available in some form in the tailgate lots.
Carano and members of the YSU athletic department hope to have the issue reconciled by the start of summer.
The Penguins open the 2004 football season Sept. 2 when they play host to Slippery Rock at 7:30 p.m.
Tailgaters will also have to get used to a new starting time for most Saturday home games, as there will be three games at 6 p.m.
Those are against Florida International on Sept. 11, Liberty on Sept. 25 and Southern Illinois on Oct. 9.
XPete Mollica covers YSU athletics for The Vindicator. Write to him at & lt;a href=mailto:mollica@vindy.com & gt;mollica@vindy.com & lt;/a & gt;.