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Next month's Gridiron Bash at UT cancelled
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New York-based MSL Sports and Entertainment announced the cancellation of Gridiron Bash events at all 16 participating schools, including one set for April 18 at the University of Tennessee.
The event, scheduled for the night before UT's Orange and White Game, was to feature a concert by Montgomery Gentry and Taylor Swift inside Neyland Stadium along with a pep rally involving the UT band, cheerleaders and football team. Tickets were $43.
The cancellation comes after some schools raised questions about whether the participation of football players in a pep rally at the concerts would constitute a violation of NCAA rules prohibiting special benefits for student-athletes. Several of the 16 schools had already informed organizers that their student-athletes would not be allowed to participate because of those concerns.
Without that presence, MSL Sports and Entertainment decided to cancel the spring events and instead attempt to reschedule sometime this fall. Additional events are being planned for Spring 2009, but no new dates have been set.
"Lack of participation by the football team would be detrimental to the fiber and essence of what this event is all about," Shawn Garrity, president of MSL Sports and Entertainment, said in a press release. "The issue over player participation has caused confusion among the schools during this critical window of time in which they had left to properly promote the event."
The Gridiron Bash involved similar concerts, pep rallies and fan activities coinciding with spring football games at 16 schools across the country.
Along with Tennessee, Alabama, Kentucky, LSU, South Carolina, Arizona State, Iowa, Penn State, Texas A&M, Army, West Virginia, Colorado, Kansas State, Maryland, Rutgers and Utah were also scheduled to host the events.
In addition, the Gridiron Bash promised to award $1 million to the school with the highest combination of attendance and votes via Internet and text messages. A total of $1.75 million would have been distributed to scholarship funds at the top three schools.
Refunds for those who have already purchased tickets will be issued through university ticket offices and gridironbash.com.
© 2008, Knoxville News Sentinel Co.
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Posted by Hotllama2 on March 29, 2008 at 9:03 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Since when does a pep rally constitute a breach of NCAA rules? Sounded like it could have been a lot of fun for both players and fans alike. Way to go guys.
Posted by cwayne17 on March 29, 2008 at 9:15 p.m. (Suggest removal)
This is just another example of how completely stupid some of these NCAA rules and regulations are. This was going to be a really fun and unique event. I guess that the NCAA was getting no dough for the event and threatened to punish all the schools that were going to be participating in it. I agree with Hotllama2 in saying how does this constitute a breach of rules? IT'S A PEP RALLY!!!!!1 Way to go NCAA! You screwed something else up AGAIN!!
Posted by GreerVol22 on March 29, 2008 at 9:18 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Hot, its the $43 bucks that is the question. If they allow the athletes in for free then that is a perceived benefit not available to the general student body. Now if all students were allowed in free with ID then it would be a no brainer. I doubt they planned for 100,000 tickets to be sold...so why would you not want as many student in there as possible?
Sounds like the marketing "wiz" that put this shindig together graduated from BAMA.
Posted by juicetke on March 29, 2008 at 9:35 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Man! I was really looking forward to this. NOT!!!
Posted by IPOrange on March 29, 2008 at 9:53 p.m. (Suggest removal)
If I read this right, the cancellations came about as a result of several of the schools questioning whether or not it would be an NCAA violation. Well............ would it or not?
Why not let the NCAA make a determination before cancelling the events? JUST ASK! Dang, it don't seem to be that hard to figure that one out.
Posted by TurboFan on March 29, 2008 at 9:58 p.m. (Suggest removal)
The way the NCAA works, they would make a determination sometime in May......2009.
Posted by IPOrange on March 29, 2008 at 10:02 p.m. (Suggest removal)
You may have a point, WD40. Kinda like some committees I've had the displeasure to work with.
Posted by et_vol_fan on March 30, 2008 at 1:10 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Taylor Swift couldn't carry a tune in a bucket anyway. Pretty to look at but not much talent.
Posted by Gigavol on March 30, 2008 at 1:42 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Think Dave Landeo and his Rockytop band can fill in?
Posted by pdhuff on March 30, 2008 at 6:12 a.m. (Suggest removal)
PT Barnum would have not let this happen. The show would have went on!
Posted by ggcolyer on March 30, 2008 at 7:53 a.m. (Suggest removal)
The NCAA, I feel it is time for the fans to elect members of the NCAA. Elected members and coaches could make it a Goverening inity and not a ruling body. Eighty percent of the members have not played the game, and they are not Howard Cosells.
Posted by THE_VOL on March 30, 2008 at 9:50 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Is there some way they can cancel that spring scrimmage too???? Watchin' THAT could be more painful than listening to Taylor Swift!
Posted by bigbabe on March 30, 2008 at 1:12 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Are we going to have a fan day this year before the orange
&white game?
Posted by pearlific on March 30, 2008 at 1:54 p.m. (Suggest removal)
how bout the dance team playin touch football? i m ight pay the $43.
Posted by rabidvolfan on March 30, 2008 at 8:02 p.m. (Suggest removal)
I'm just really upset at our baseball team. They had a chance to win 2 out of 3 against Auburn on the road and choked. They blew a 3-1 lead late in the game. They gave up 3 unearned runs in the 8th & 9th innings. How come this new coach doesn't know how to play defense?
Posted by volmattna on March 31, 2008 at 12:06 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Hey juicetke nobody wanted you there anyway! would have been a pretty cool event
Posted by BillVol on March 31, 2008 at 2:38 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Maybe lack of ticket sales had something to do with it? Nobody cares if the football team would be there or not. In fact, I didn't know any Vols were scheduled for the event. Not that I was going to this joke of an event anyhow.
Posted by FlushTheJohn on March 31, 2008 at 10:26 a.m. (Suggest removal)
This was going to be lame. Who are these singers anyway? I'd rather hear the POTSL or just some local band. Heck all I really care about is the football!
Posted by juicetke on March 31, 2008 at 11:39 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Obviously Volmattna would have been one of the few suckers to shell out $43 per person to this lame event. At least you could have gotten a good seat.
Bring in the Velcro Pygmies. Now we're getting somewhere.
Posted by pdhuff on March 31, 2008 at 9:40 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Dang! I bet Gen Fritter was comped to this along with his posse.
Posted by 4ss on April 3, 2008 at 12:54 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Gigavol - that would be cool. Landeo is great! Maybe he could get Drivin' Blind to open for him...another good local band.
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