2008 Woodie Awards
Big game makes big screen minus commercials
Issue date: 2/8/06 Section: News
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Staff Writer
Over 65,000 fans crowded Ford Field in Detroit, Mich. as another 90 million viewed Super Bowl XL on television. The Seattle Seahawks and the Pittsburugh Steelers faced off Feb. 5 for the most prestigious title in the game of football, the Super Bowl champions.
Many students left campus to watch the big game, while others went to Todd Dining Hall to watch the game on the big screen. Student Services hosted the event as they served wings along with other snacks.
"I thought it was neat that they hosted to the Super Bowl just for us to watch," said Katherine Barnette, freshman psychology.
Even though the game was aired on the big screen, not all the commercials made the final cut.
"We felt like if we could knock them [the alcohol-promoting commercials] out on the big screen that it was something that needed to be done," said Billy Watson, director of student services.
"We [tried to block] those commercials because we didn't feel they were appropriate to show," he said. "The beer commercials are a big part of the Super Bowl's advertising, and we would rather change them instead of some being offended."
Prior to this year, the Super Bowl was televised in Turner Chapel. "The Super Bowl was in the new cafeteria because it is easier to serve food; the dining hall staff provided us with wings, nachos, pretzels and popcorn," he said.
"Student services changed the channel for the commercials involving alcohol which I didn't really understand," said Barnette, "because they allowed ones with crude humor to play."
"We couldn't catch all the commercials, because you don't know what to expect," said Watson, "but with the beer commercials we knew what was coming."
"I talked with some people who watched the game at their church, where all the commercials were blocked and replaced with cartoons," said Watson. "That is something we may look into in the future."
Even though the commercials were block on the big screen, the smaller televisions in the back were not changed. "We could not block all of the screens, but we did change the channel on the big screen because we felt it was our responsibility since [Student Services] sponsored the event," said Watson.