Quick Slants — Kinnick beer sales not happening

ROSEMONT, Ill. - The University of Iowa has some sketchy moments with alcohol in recent years. And so almost before the question was asked, Iowa athletics director Gary Barta made it clear that no public alcohol sales are coming to Kinnick Stadium.

'I'm anticipating no changes,” Barta said Wednesday from the Big Ten spring meetings. 'It's not on my to-do list this summer.”

The alcohol sales at college football stadiums has become a topic on the national level. LSU and Texas are considering beers sales. In the Big Ten, it's not on the agenda.

Minnesota is the lone school that allows sale of alcohol to the public in its football stadium. Iowa, Wisconsin, Purdue and Illinois sell alcohol in premium seating areas. Barta said the topic wasn't discussed during meetings this week.

Iowa has allowed alcohol sales in luxury seating since 2006. Barta said the rationale behind sales in premium areas is that it's a smaller and more controlled environment that's easy to manage.

Iowa doesn't allow alcohol advertising at Kinnick or Carver-Hawkeye Arena. Beyond Minnesota, there seems to be no push for public alcohol sales among Big Ten schools.

'I believe that would fall upon deaf ears on our campus,” Wisconsin athletics director Barry Alvarez said. 'We're not permitted to even advertise beer. I wouldn't even broach that subject.”

No buyer's remorse on Rutgers

Since Rutgers joined the Big Ten in 2012, the school has had a rash of unfortunate headlines. The New Jersey school has had to fire basketball coach Mike Rice for bullying caught on film, the football team has dealt with bullying allegations and athletics director Julie Hermann has made several controversial statements, including the school standing by her hiring after the Star-Ledger (N.J.) revealed she was abusive to volleyball players she coached at Tennessee in 1996.

Just last month, N.J. state Sen. Richard Codey called for her dismissal. Last spring, Moody's Investor Service downgraded the university's bond rating, saying it had concerns about the impact of the school's with the University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey. Moody's also cited 'external scrutiny and criticism” in regard to Rutgers athletics, though it also wrote that it did not expect that to last.

Wednesday, Big Ten Commissioner Jim Delany said he has no 'buyer's remorse” with Rutgers. He also said the B1G doesn't involve itself in personnel matters of its member institutions.

'No buyer's remorse, at all,” Delany said. 'When I go to Jersey or New York, I go to support, not to judge. They have boards of trustees, they have administrators and they're fully capable of handling personnel matters. The Big Ten typically doesn't get involved in personnel matters at the athletic director, coach or presidential level.”

Rutgers administration has faced heavy criticism in the past year. Hermann declined several requests to speak with reporters this week.

'When I come [travels to visit Rutgers], I come to support and enhance the integration of Rutgers, but not to make any particular judgments on personnel decisions,” Delany said.

And that was the party line with Rutgers from Big Ten athletic directors.

'There was a long, thought-out strategy and process as to whether or not we added schools to the Big Ten,” Barta said. 'It's always been about what feels right as far as like institutions as far as academically, athletically. What's going to get us our greatest breadth in terms of the country ... We feel good about the three institutions we invited (including Nebraska), because we created those parameters a long time ago and for the long haul.”

Iowa waits for night kickoff

For the second consecutive season, Iowa football was passed over for a night kickoff. It made sense after the 2012 season, when the Hawkeyes finished 4-8. This year? Barta isn't grinding his teeth over it.

'Having a night game or two is definitely of interest,” Barta said. 'We weren't awarded one last year and we don't have one this year. We'll play when we're asked to play and we'll welcome a night game when it comes along.”

Does Barta see night games as a read on his school's status?

'Status isn't what worries me,” he said. 'It's fun, fan-friendly ... At the end of the day, we'd love to have one or two night games a year. We don't have one this year, but it's not going to affect how we go into the season. We're excited.”

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