The “Gridiron Bash” concert series that included Friday’s Kid Rock and Sara Evans performance in Tiger Stadium has been canceled, according to MSL Sports and Entertainment, creator and producer of the event. The concert was one of 16 scheduled nationwide in conjunction with universities’ spring football games. Concern for potential NCAA violations caused the cancellations. According to NCAA bylaws, collegiate athletes are prohibited from “promoting the sale of a commercial product” in conjunction with any fundraising activities. The Gridiron Bash’s Web site had an online shopping section and links to various sponsors, including tickets.com and facebook.com. LSU Athletic Director Skip Bertman said LSU was “very much worried that student athletes could be involved” with the concert. “What we were worried about was because of the lack of ticket sales, student athletes might be involved,” Bertman said Saturday at LSU’s game vs. Oklahoma State in the Sweet 16. “All of the student athletes were banished from the site. Nobody told us to do that; we were just being preventative.” Bertman said LSU instead promoted coach Les Miles, who volunteered to sing on stage with Evans during the concert. “I think some of the other sites, trying to sell tickets, the student athletes may have been involved in some way,” Bertman said. “I don’t mean they were going to sing and dance, but maybe, meet so-and-so at the front gates for autographs. I think the NCAA said the risk isn’t worth this because there wasn’t much reward here. We had sold 1,700 tickets, and most schools had sold less.” The Friday evening events, including pep rallies and entertainment, were designed to kick off the 2008 football season. The event revolved around a text-messaging fan competition with the winning school receiving $1 million for its general scholarship fund. Other performers nationwide included Alan Jackson, Taylor Swift, Maroon 5, Kelly Clarkson, The Goo Goo Dolls and 3 Doors Down. Refunds for tickets already purchased will be issued through LSU box offices and www.gridironbash.com. Any text votes that have been placed in association with the fan competition will not be billed.
MSL said it hopes to clear the event with the NCAA and reschedule the Gridiron Bash in the fall or next spring. Managing Editor Kyle Whitfield contributed to this report.
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