As if lopsided defeats and losing records weren’t enough punishment for Sacramento State football fans, the big-wigs running the show at the California State University system decided to add to their misery by eliminating the sale of alcohol at all CSU sporting events.

The days of washing away a 37-7 defeat at the hands of a rival school with an ice cold beer are over. Now patrons at football games will have to pray for a batch of tart lemonade to get their minds off the crushing loss.

What is a Hornet fan to do after a muffed punt or interception puts the game out of reach? “Hey, Bob, let’s head to the snack shack, I need an A&W and a snickers to clear my head.”

Success hasn’t exactly followed alcohol bans. The U.S. Government tried it, and the mafia thrived. Maybe the CSU ban will create a bootlegging ring at Sac State to help finance the RWEC.

The CSU system needs to get its head checked after this move. Not only will the money brought in by the beer booths be lost, but removing alcohol from the stadium will lead to excess partying in the parking lot. Whether it’s in or out of the stadium, college students will find a way to be drunk at football games.

Maybe the loss in revenue from beer sales is meant to give the CSU Board of Trustees an excuse to once again raise CSU fees next year.The decision still doesn’t make any sense.

You don’t see losing teams eliminating alcohol, you see them thanking the boys at Miller and Bud for keeping fans in the seats. Put up a sign that reads “Cheap Beer” and I guarantee it draws a bigger crowd than a sign that reads “Bad Football.”

Taking beer away from sport fans is like taking insulin from a diabetic. Beer is the fan’s lifeline. A Hornet fan knows during every game his blood alcohol level will probably be higher than his or her team’s scoring output, and this is what keeps him coming back to witness each demoralizing defeat.

Whether it’s drowning sorrows or celebrating victories, fans will be cut out.When the day comes that Sac State takes out that top-10 football powerhouse, what will party-animal college students scream as the clock winds down: “Break out the Martinelli’s boys, tonight we’re going all out.”

Josh Oates can be reached at [email protected]