INDIANAPOLIS – Two prominent higher-education organizations are collaborating with a responsible fan behavior coalition and the world's largest brewer to develop a "Safe Tailgating" project for college sports events, it was announced today.

The National Collegiate Athletic Association, the National Association of State Universities and Land-Grant Colleges (NASULGC), the TEAM Coalition and Anheuser-Busch will work together to develop this educational campaign, which is expected to be kicked off in time for the fall 2004 NCAA football season.

NCAA football game attendance is on the increase as more and more students, alumni and communities are finding it an enjoyable recreation experience. In the 2002 football season, more than 44.5 million fans attended NCAA football games - up by more than 4 million from the year before.

“This project will provide visible support for positive fan behavior and clearly state the expectations we have that fans continue to be able to enjoy exciting intercollegiate athletics contests in an environment safe for all fans,” said Ronald Stratten, the NCAA's vice president for education services. “This approach, which demonstrates that most fans behave in a responsible manner, incorporates a social norms strategy, which has been designated as a promising prevention strategy by the National Institutes of Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA).

"We all recognize the need to work together to promote responsibility and prevent alcohol abuse," said Stratten. "We've seen firsthand the value of partnership in education, and it's an important value to us. This project will reinforce responsible fan behavior and make our games more enjoyable for all present."

The safe tailgating project will re-engage the TEAM Coalition at the college level. The mission of TEAM (Techniques for Effective Alcohol Management) is to provide effective alcohol service training in sporting venues, and promote responsible alcohol consumption that enhances the entertainment experience while reducing alcohol-related instances both in facilities and on surrounding roadways.

In 2003, TEAM completed training programs at all the Major League Baseball facilities in the United States and launched a National Football League-wide promotion in support of designated driver programs.

By joining this effort, TEAM will expand their fan behavior materials to include a focus on the college sports audience. "The TEAM approach encompasses the full game-day experience to ensure fan safety," said Jill Pepper, executive director. "Providing TEAM messages that re-emphasize positive fan behavior regarding alcohol use is a natural fit for the collegiate environment, and allows us to extend our reach to reduce negative consequences and ensure a safe spectator experience, before, during and after the game."

John Kaestner, Anheuser-Busch's vice president for consumer affairs, agrees that reinforcing positive fan behavior creates an environment that reduces negative drinking behavior.

"This project is just one part of our comprehensive effort to make a difference and be part of the solution," Kaestner said. "It will communicate to all fans that responsible behavior, a message we have supported over the years, ensures a positive experience for family, friends, alumni and students alike."

Previously, Anheuser-Busch and NASULGC produced a television public service ad promoting responsible celebrations after sporting events, and the brewer has endowed the NCAA CHOICES grant program to support healthy campus environments that support personal responsibility and positive choices.

NASULGC has been in the forefront of educational leadership nationally for over a century. Founded in 1887, and composed of more than 200 member institutions, NASULGC is the nation's oldest higher education association.

"This partnership will once again demonstrate the success of working together to promote responsibility, and to do it in a positive, educational way," said Stephen J. MacCarthy, vice president for university relations at Penn State and a NASULGC board member. "We've learned time and again that this approach is what works, and we're looking forward to working on this project and seeing it implemented in 2004."