Responsible Fans at the 2017 NCAA FCS Championship

01/07/2017

TEAM Coalition traveled to Frisco, TX for the 2017 NCAA Division I Football Championship on January 6, 2017 to reward fans who made the Responsibility Has Its Rewards pledge to:

• Always Buckle Up – Every Trip, Every Time
• Never Drive Drunk
• Always Have a Designated Driver
• Never Provide Alcohol to Anyone Under 21

Fans from all over the country gathered at Toyota Stadium in Frisco, TX to watch the Youngstown State University Penguins take on the James Madison University Dukes. JMU won the title by jumping out to a quick lead and keeping their foot on the gas for the majority of the game. Hundreds of fans from both schools made the responsibility pledge while enjoying the pre-game festivities at Tailgate Town before the big game.

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NCAA and TEAM Coalition partnered to promote responsible drinking at Toyota Stadium in Frisco, TX, encouraging fans to never drive drunk if they were over 21 or to buckle up – every trip, every time – if they were under 21.

The TEAM Coalition effort to contribute to a safe and exciting fan experience benefits us all – the fans, players and sports leagues alike. TEAM recognizes that most fans come out to enjoy the thrill of the competition, and that irresponsible alcohol use can detract from that experience. By engaging us all in this effort, and rewarding positive fan behavior, TEAM scores!

Mary Wilfert, Associate Director of Education Outreach, National Collegiate Athletic Association
NCAA
For more information, see NCAA.org.
TEAM Coalition
TEAM Coalition is an alliance of professional and collegiate sports, entertainment facilities, concessionaires, stadium service providers, the beer industry, distillers, broadcasters, traffic safety experts and others working together to promote responsible drinking and positive fan behavior at sports and entertainment facilities. TEAM Coalition members and supporters include National Collegiate Athletic Association, Major League Baseball, Major League Soccer, NASCAR, National Basketball Association, National Football League, National Hockey League, Americrown, Aramark, Delaware North Sportservice, Legends, Spectra, Beer Institute, National Beer Wholesalers Association, Anheuser-Busch Companies, Constellation Brands, HEINEKEN USA, MillerCoors, Brown-Forman, Live Nation, National Association of Broadcasters, Contemporary Services Corporation, International Association of Venue Managers, Stadium Managers Association and the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. For more information visit www.TEAMCoalition.org or www.FansDontLetFansDriveDrunk.org.
US DOT / NHTSA 2015 NATIONAL DATA:

• In 2015, 10,265 people were killed as a result of alcohol-related (BAC > 0.08) car crashes, an increase of 3.2% from the 9,943 fatalities in 2014.

• Many, if not most of those lives would have been saved if people did not drive when they were impaired by alcohol or if they used sober, designated drivers or if they simply wore their seat belts.

• Statistics and research clearly show that 21-34 year old males are the demographic most likely to be involved in an automobile crash.