The Edsel.
New Coke.
Selling beer at Mountaineer Field.
Which is the worst idea ever? Sounds like a good sports poll question for our website.
Yes, I understand West Virginia University Athletics Director Oliver Luck is looking to tap -pun intended - any source of revenue that will help him accomplish his goal of funding a first-class athletics program in Morgantown.
But this doesn't pass the, uh, smell test.
WVU should be discouraging the consumption of alcohol, not encouraging it. It should be promoting a family atmosphere, not turning Mountaineer Field into an open bar.
West Virginia fans recently were ranked by GQ as the third worst in America at any level, topped only by supporters of the Philadelphia Eagles and Philadelphia Phillies, who have a long-standing reputation for booing everything, including Santa Claus and the national anthem.
The reputation of WVU fans for drinking is well-deserved.
Pregame tailgating is out of control, even on university lots. The liquor flows freely.
On game days, the area surrounding Mountaineer Field is one giant tailgate party.
By the time the game starts, many Mountaineer fans are tanked up.
I don't know how many people have told me they quit going to games in Morgantown because they invariably would be seated close to a loud-mouthed and foul-mouthed drunk who would ruin their attempt to enjoy the day.
And if you want to bring your child to a game, best get him a set of earplugs or else he is going to increase his vocabulary with some words you never want to hear coming out of his or any other mouth.
So now WVU is going to allow those who already have had a few or a few too many to increase their level of intoxication once they are inside the stadium.
In an Associated Press story outlining the plan, Luck said WVU can control the consumption of alcohol "with responsible serving practices and proper vendor training.''
You want to run that one by me again?
Am I to believe the vendor who wins the bid to sell alcohol for profit is going to take the time and hire the staff to evaluate the sobriety of every fan standing in line wanting another beer?
I'm not drinking that Kool-Aid. (Hey, there's a concession idea.)
Luck did hit on one winning proposal. He is calling for the end to WVU's long-standing policy of allowing fans to leave and re-enter the stadium.
That policy has been used by those who want to leave the stadium at halftime and resume their tailgating in the nearby parking lots.
If nothing else, Luck's proposal has brought the alcohol issue into focus.
At least for those of us who aren't bleary-eyed.
Contact Dave Poe at dpoe@newsandsentinel.com
