Des Moines Register
04-05-07
Gambling ads prompt letter to U of I
A lottery commercial that parodied the Iowa Fight Song and a hotel casino’s
video ad at Kinnick bring an admonishment.
By TOM WITOSKY
REGISTER STAFF WRITER
The University of Iowa's advertising relationship with an eastern Iowa casino and
Iowa Lottery promotion troubled the National Collegiate Athletic Association and
violated the athletic department's own regulations.
A review of documents obtained by The Des Moines Register shows that using
Carver-Hawkeye Arena as a backdrop for a commercial with a parody of the
Iowa Fight Song to market lottery ticket sales, as well as video advertising at
Kinnick Stadium for a hotel and casino in Riverside, led NCAA officials to
admonish U of I athletic officials about partnerships with gambling interests.
The university released copies of two letters from the NCAA to athletic director
Gary Barta - one dated Sept. 13, 2006, the other dated Feb. 23, 2007 - that
outlined concerns by college athletics' top governing group.
"I am aware of at least three public instances where businesses with gambling
interests have partnered with the Iowa athletics department within the past year,"
Rachel Newman Baker, NCAA director of agent, gambling and amateurism
activities, wrote in the February letter. "Our staff believes that although this
activity is not considered a violation of our gambling legislation, it should be
construed as similar to other activities that are not within our legislation but that
we discourage involvement in."
The U of I's Presidential Committee on Athletics is expected to debate today
whether athletic officials should end all sponsorship ties between Hawkeye
athletics and the gambling industry.
Gambling promotions or advertisements also are not permitted under policies
adopted by the Iowa Board in Control of Athletics - now the Presidential
Committee on Athletics (PCA).
Mark Abbott, associate athletic director, said the NCAA letters and the policy
regarding sponsorships will be reviewed by athletic department officials in the
coming weeks. He pointed out that Barta and other athletic officials have been
focused in recent weeks on hiring a new men's basketball coach.
U of I officials said any committee recommendations will be taken under
advisement, but final decisions rest with Barta and interim U of I President Gary
Fethke.
In February, Barta acknowledged he did not review a television commercial for
the Iowa Lottery promotion before it aired, though he accepted responsibility for
the situation.
The faculty athletic board's policy handbook mandates that the athletic
department "shall not enter into sponsorship agreements that provide for the
advertising and/or promotion of gambling, malt beverages, distilled liquor,
tobacco or other products inconsistent with the policies of the Department of
Athletics or the PCA."
"My guess is that no one has memorized the PCA policy manual," said Charles
Lynch, a professor of epidemiology and chairman of the faculty athletic
committee. "This is why we are going to talk about these issues and see if there
is a way to resolve it."
State records show the lottery spent more than $200,000 over the past three
years on promotions tied to Iowa athletics. The lottery also spent $100,000 on
promotions tied to Iowa State University athletic events, $7,500 on
promotions with Drake University athletics, and $5,000 with University of
Northern Iowa athletics.
The most recent NCAA letter was prompted after several U of I faculty members,
including Elizabeth Altmaier, the school's faculty athletic representative,
suggested school officials made a mistake in permitting athletic facilities and
trademarks to be used in the lottery promotion.
Debate about the advertising campaign, in which the lottery gave away a car
customized in Hawkeye colors and logos, escalated when a lawyer for Rosemary
Willson, widow of Iowa composer Meredith Willson, challenged the use of the
fight song melody in the commercial.
Rosemary Willson, who lives in California, still owns the copyright on the song,
and her lawyer, Tom Camp, said that she would not have approved the use of
her late husband's music in such a parody.
Baker wrote a similar letter last September after reports disclosed that university
athletic officials agreed to rent a skybox at Kinnick Stadium to Riverside Casino
and Golf Resort. As part of the agreement, Riverside advertised on the football
stadium's video board - though its connection to gambling was not mentioned.
As the university wrestles with its involvement with gambling and the lottery,
Iowans are embracing the industries. The state's 16 casinos at riverboats and
racetracks are on pace to exceed the record $1.15 billion that gamblers left
behind last year. Meanwhile, the lottery generated sales of $339.5 million that
resulted in profits of $81 million in 2006.
Reporter Tom Witosky can be reached at (515) 284-8522 or
twitosky@dmreg.com