September 14, 2007
SHUCKS! Iowa officials can corn contest
In the wake of the recent top traditions in college football post, I have to admit that I was not aware that Iowa prepares for Iowa State by hosting a corn-on-the-cob eating contest.
And now it's cancelled?! Oh no you didn't....
U of I Vice President for Student Services Philip Jones canceled a corn-on-the-cob eating contest scheduled for today as part of the "Beat State Week" celebration leading up to the Iowa-Iowa State football game because the corn contest "encourages gluttony," he said."I don't know that anyone can say that's a healthy concept," Jones said of the event planned by the U of I Alumni Association.
Jones asked his staff to veto eating contests to support new health-conscious initiatives on campus, he said. The corn-on-the-cob contest is not the first to hit the compost pile; a hot dog eating contest planned by the residence halls was also trashed.
Shaun Fraise, an organizer of the Sweet Corn Festival in West Point, Ia., said she doesn't think a corn-eating contest promotes gluttony.
"It's basically for pure entertainment, that's why we do it," she said.
The Alumni Association will still provide free corn on the cob today.
Ummm... WTF, Iowa? I knew Big 10 schools were zany, but.... A corn eating contest?
Seriously?! This is how you "prepare" for your in-state rivals? I understand that it is -- after all -- the great state of Iowa... ((ahem))... but this has to be the absolute worst college football tradition ever.
Why not have a shoe-tying contest? Or a coloring book festival?
Corn eating to prepare for Iowa State... that's just messed up.
Comments:
Tom Blogical
posted on September 14, 2007 10:05 AM — 24.95.77.153 — link — abuse?
said:
Has anybody told Mr. Jones that corn is all fiber, and the next contest after eating all the corn is...well everybody can figure out the rest.
Zac said:
posted on September 14, 2007 11:08 PM — 64.12.116.136 — link — abuse?
OK, Mr. Jones, why not just put the kobotz to anything fun? Since we're at it, what did you have in mind to replace it, a Spelling Contest?
Try this on for size. Howz-a-bout a corn shucking contest? After the winner has been announced, you take the newly shucked corn over to the nearest food bank and feed some people who can use and appreciate it. Voila!!! A new tradition is spawned from the old one. Of course, that would put a smile on some faces, and we wouldn't want that now would we.
(I just love these idiots in high places who have no imagination. BTW, how much do you weigh, oh great VP who would speak for all things healthy?!?)
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gatorhippy
said:
posted on September 14, 2007 9:34 AM — 70.121.185.56 — link — abuse?Coloring book festival?!?!?!!?
Where???