Sport Psychology Institute Northwest

Tragedy from USC

In continuing news from a tragic story in college football, ESPN and the AP reported on February 5th that USC kicker Mario Danelo had a blood-alcohol level of .23 when he plunged off an over-100 foot cliff in early January. Nearly three times California's legal limit for driving, a BAC of .23 would cause significant intoxication. Several USC players have stated since the incident that they believed Danelo did not commit suicide.
Amid the swirling controversy regarding substance abuse in all sports, the incident brings college abuse to the forefront. 2002 research by the Higher Education Center reported that college athletes actually exhibit much higher rates of alcohol use than non-athlete college students - 57 percent of male athletes reported heavy alcohol use, as compared to 49 percent of male non-athletes; 48 percent of female athletes used alcohol heavily, versus 40 percent of non-athletes. Heavy alcohol use was defined in the study as 5 or more drinks in a row for men and 4 for women; the time period in which the use occurred was two weeks prior to the study.
It is apparent that alcohol use is relatively common among collegiate athletes - to what level does this affect their performance? It seems unlikely that alcohol use had nothing to do with Danelo's death, given his high BAC. For those college athletes who compete professionally, are they being primed to live a high-profile, hard partying professional life? Keep checking with SPINw as further research investigates the subject. As in most things, responsible alcohol use in moderation is most likely the best way to go.

Read the ESPN/AP story here.

Read the Higher Ed Center report here.