UGA pulls football parking on wet intramural fields

<p>University of Georgia officials announced Friday that due to recent rain in Athens, the intramural fields will not be made available for football parking and tailgating for Saturday's home opener against Western Kentucky.</p><p>The university's new plan to use the fields caused a backlash from some students, who feared the fields would be damaged by trash and tire ruts.</p><p>The fields are normally used by students for softball, flag football and soccer.</p><p>Students sent letters and e-mails opposing the parking plan to President Michael Adams and two of his vice presidents, Rodney Bennett and George Stafford. Bennett, the vice president for student affairs, told students last week if there is heavy rain before a game, the fields will not be used.</p><p>The university announced Friday that additional free parking will be available in the East Campus area surrounding the Ramsey Center to make up for lost spaces that had been planned for the intramural fields off College Station Road.</p><p>As planned, recreational vehicles can still park on paved areas at the intramural complex.</p><p>Bus shuttles will run from two parking decks on East Campus near the Ramsey Center.</p><p>The parking at the intramural fields was part of new game-day rules for this season.</p><p>Most notably, no tailgating setups on campus will be allowed before 7 a.m. Saturday, and two new family friendly zones have been set up where no alcohol will be allowed.</p><p>___</p><p>On the Web:</p><p>HASH(0x1cda044)</p>

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