Keg bans, tailgating reductions and a bolstered police presence on game day resulted in three and a half times as many arrests during the USF-Pittsburgh game than during the USF-Kansas game.
There were 48 arrests total, compared to the two people arrested at USF’s season opener against Tennessee-Martin, University and stadium officials said.
The sobering truth? The majority of these arrests (35) involved underage drinking, Tampa Sports Authority (TSA) Director of Operations Mickey Farrell said.
“It doesn’t surprise me all that much,” Dean of Students Kevin Banks said. “With more eyes in the parking lot, more people are going to be reported.”
Amid articles, blogs and message board posts denouncing USF football fans as unruly and ill-mannered following the Kansas game, the University and TSA — the company that manages Raymond James Stadium — decided to tighten restrictions during football games, particularly those regarding alcohol.
As a result, eight additional officers were split into teams to patrol the area, all looking for evidence of overly intoxicated people, kegs smuggled into the stadium and underage drinking.
More patrolling, more arrests
In addition to the arrests, the game had 65 ejections, 20 of which occurred before the fans even made it into the stadium. For the most part, these fans were ejected for being intoxicated, Farrell said. No kegs or other large bottles of alcohol were confiscated.
USF isn’t alone in banning kegs and limiting tailgating times — the University of Miami, which also plays in a professional stadium, has the same policies.
Division of Alcoholic Beverages and Tobacco members also helped increase the number of eyes patrolling the parking lots, showing up as soon as the lots opened rather than two hours before the game, as in the past. This practice should continue for the rest of the season, Farrell said.
Though the 113 arrests and ejections are a significant climb from the 76 people arrested and ejected from the Kansas game, which spurred TSA and the University’s actions, Farrell said he hopes the number will decrease over time as students get used to this patrolling system and learn that they can’t get away with being drunk and disorderly on the stadium’s property.
TSA spokeswoman Barbara Casey said arresting and ejecting more people in violation of the law, as well as those in violation of TSA and University guidelines, would create a better night for the majority of the fans in attendance.
“We want everybody to have a good experience at the game, and in order to do that, you have to look at all angle,” she said. “If what you’re doing is interfering with someone else’s enjoyment of the experience, that’s not fair to them.”
Along with the additional officers, Banks said cards distributed by Respect-a-Bull volunteers could have played a role in the increased arrests and ejections. Each card was printed with special phone and text message numbers so fans could report any instance of poor conduct — such as fighting, cursing or throwing objects at others — to the authorities.
Banks said he was unsure whether any of these calls resulted in the ejection or arrest of a fan.
For the Homecoming game against Syracuse, Banks said he hopes to have more Respect-a-Bull volunteers on hand and more people looking out for inappropriate behavior.
Students largely not to blame
Though adolescents make up a large portion of the arrests, Banks and Farrell said most of those arrested aren’t USF students. Instead, they tend to be recent alumni or young Bulls fans, he said.
“Even at the Kansas game, I think there was something like 20 students involved within 76 arrests and ejections,” he said. “I don’t know how many are involved with this game, though.”
Officers typically try to report whether a person arrested or ejected is a student. All students are then referred to the Office of Student Rights and Responsibilities, which then verifies the offender’s affiliation with the University and determines whether an appointment is necessary to discuss the occurrence, said Maria Zale, interim director of the Office of Student Rights and Responsibilities.
“We hold this meeting to hear the student’s side of the story, and from there determine if the student has violated the student code of conduct,” she said.
Each arrest and ejection is handled on a case-by-case basis, and meetings to address student infractions from the Kansas game are ongoing. As for the Pittsburgh game, USF officials are in the process of verifying whether the offenders were students.
“These arrests have increased our caseload, I’ll tell you that,” Banks said.
Policies going too far?
Some students are concerned that TSA and the University are taking these rules too far, however.
“It’s making a football game feel more like going to church,” business major Cassius Upton said.
Upton said he spent part of the Kansas game in a holding cell after police officers caught him throwing a paper airplane and that he was removed from the game without warning.
“We have a policy against throwing objects of any kind,” Casey said. “A paper plane may seem innocent enough, but if it goes on the field it can be a distraction, and that’s the reason we’re all here, to see the game.”
Many universities, such as the University of Florida and the University of Central Florida, have similar policies. Though USF fans may have seen people throwing paper airplanes during the North Carolina State University away game, NCSU Police Capt. Jon Barnwell said North Carolina state statutes prohibit such an action, and that any fan caught doing so was arrested.
Overall, Casey said she hasn’t heard of many complaints from USF fans regarding the new policies.
“After spending 17 years here, people let you know when there’s a problem,” she said.
Arrests at Bulls football games skyrocket
Published: Wednesday, October 8, 2008
Updated: Wednesday, October 8, 2008
 "Photo: ORACLE PHOTO/MIKE WILSON")
ORACLE PHOTO/MIKE WILSON
12 comments
Donald J. Hayward
@LDSWell, I'm sorry that you don't believe the stories. I have no reason to lie; I'm simply stating what I observed and what I think should be done about it. Perhaps the area that you sit in (probably the same every year, since you are a season ticket holder) is better behaved. And while I concede your right to stay anonymous, I do find it interesting that you do not give your name.
IamNOTjoe
I was also ejected for throwing a paper airplane. It went three rows and was not even pointed on the end. Ridiculous. While there are many wasted fans at the game who need to be put in check, the police state atmosphere surrounding the game BLOWS.
USF Alum
I'm happy with the new policy, as anyone would be if a drunk girl next to you urinated on her seat and it got on you. And While I think its important to have an intimidating environment, that doesn't mean fans of the opposite team should be verbally (or physically) harassed.
Eric S. - Class of '95
As a Proud USF Alumni, it is embarrassing to hear from many different sources about the poor, unspotsmanlike conduct of the USF fans. I live in Atlanta now and word of the USF fans conduct is known throughout the Country. I can tell you that when we visited Auburn last year, the Auburn fans treated the USF fans with class and friendliness - even after we won. The poor conduct of the USF fans just shows the rest of the college football country, that we are still rookies. That we haven't earned the right to be Div 1 BCS football fans. Let's all grow up and learn to be good hosts to the other teams fans. When we visit other schools, let's be gracious as well. Otherwise, we will gain the reputation that "The other U" (U of Miami) has. And I don't think any of us want that. Let's prove that not only has our team climbed to the top of football - but so have the USF fans.Go BULLS!!!
Jerry
I think that if the TSA is at all concerned with ending a lot of the rowdy behavior, they will do as Donald suggested in his post below, and simply ban alcohol sales at the game. Most are getting their fill during the tailgating parties anyhow...so I don't see that too many people would be disappointed at having to pay ridiculous prices in the stadium, anyhow. That means thay can get a good buzz going pre-game, and then as the game goes on, they're not continuing to waste themselves into a drunken oblivion.Hell, I don't even drink...and I'm paying $6.75 for a darn Coke in that stadium...I can only imagine what an economic setback a beer is in that place!!! Why would you want to pay that anyhow? Fill up during the tailgate for a much better price (you probably get a 6 pack for what you pay for a single beer at the game). You'll be in better shape for the game, and your wallet will not feel as light as a result!
LDS
Funny that i have been a season ticket holder for years and have been to every Bulls home game (and quite a few away games), and I have never seen this type of behavior on a scale that is beyond what you see anywhere else. Mr. Hayward, it's funny that I see emails such as this all of the time but never actually see this happening at ANY of the games. And for some reason, it always has to do w/ some drunk swinging on either 1. an elderly person, 2. a 5 year old girl, or 3. a guy with his 2 kids right there. Either our fans enjoy picking on the young and elderly more than most fanbases, or I am calling BS on most of the complaints that I have seen. The tailgating rules that have been put into place are punishing the 99.9% of fans that tailgate reponsibly. Put more enforcement out there and allow people to tailgate as we have in the past. The atmosphere for the Pitt game was garbage and nowhere close to where it was for the WVU and Kansas games. Hope you are happy with your kneejerk reaction USF.
Bill M.
Drunken, violent, vulgar behavior is an embarrassment to the whole university. Giving the other team a hard time is part of the fun but there are lines of bad behavior that should never be crossed. Ban fans that violate the rules of behavior and the law from USF events FOR LIFE!
USF Bull Fan
I agree that alcohol should not be sold in Raymond James. Unfortunately, TSA makes good money off of alcohol sales (not USF by the way) so they are not going to discontinue the sale of alcohol, unless someone is seriously injured at a game and it is a direct result of alcohol sold at RayJay. My last game as a student, some drunk guy (I have no idea if he was a student or just a visitor) went to high five another drunk friend of his, completely missed, and whacked my neck. When I approached a police officer, the guy had run off, and the officers didn't seem too interested in doing anything. Alcohol in RayJay does not provide a family friendly or "Respect-A-Bull" environment to enjoy the games. When we score touchdowns, people jump up on chairs and cheer. But they are still holding their cup of beer, causing it to spill on everyone around them. When we're trying to enjoy the game, some people can't hold their alcohol and begin to puke in the stands, causing everyone to be disgusted and distracted from the game.Alcohol is NOT a part of college football. One drunken student tried to tell me one game that it was. I would've engaged, but he wasn't worth it. The reason for tailgating is because many if not all football stadiums owned by colleges prohibit the sale of alcohol. Get drunk in the parking lots and use the game to sober up. That way the environment inside of the stadium is a pleasant one for everyone.If something isn't done fast, USF is going to have a great football team with the worst fan reputation in the country. We are already mean fans. Why do you think Athletics had to implement the Respect-a-Bull program? (Anyone remember Homecoming last year? Water bottles went flying everywhere onto the field--from the student section.) It wasn't because we were booing the opposing teams, it was because we are mean and angry and vulgar fans. Alcohol is the problem. Get rid of it and the problem is solved.Take note Doug Woolard. Because the only way you're going to get rid of alcohol sales at USF games is if you champion an on-campus stadium...
JB Hunkamunka
This is to be expected. New rules + people not wanting to change = lots of arrests. This will calm down by the end of the season, if not sooner.I, for one, am happy with the new rules. GO BULLS!
Mike Garry
When all the people who complain of the policies are the ones getting arrested or booted out, it seems to me that the rules andn enforcement are working - GOOD JOB
sugarwallace
WELL college students party and the fact is that when they do people we get arrested ; therefore , they should try to control their drinking at tailgate parties.
Donald Hayward
I think that putting someone in a holding cell for throwing a paper airplane is ridiculous (in fact, I ridicule it now!), but I do have a major suggestion for improving the atmosphere of the games. Follow the example of many other universities and ban alcohol at the games outright. I attended my first USF football game last Thursday, and I have to say that I was sorely disappointed. Not by the performance of the team (win some, lose some) but by the performance of the fans. Toward the beginning of the game, all was well and good: friendly conversation, fans cheering for their teams. By the end of the game, however, the fans around me (all drinking) had become obnoxious apes. One USF fan nearby nearly swung on an old lady who was a Pittsburg fan (tried, but was too drunk), over a silly remark she made. Several other fans had to restrain him to keep him from becoming violent.When exiting the stadium, I witnessed a drunk fan try to walk right through a police officer into a restricted area. The police officer body checked him and set him on his way, and the fan didn't even notice. He was hardly able to stand.I am not a prohibitionist, nor do I believe that drinking is necessarily wrong, even underage. However, I believe that at USF football games, the atmosphere would be much more enjoyable if alcohol were not sold in the stands. In fact, I do not plan to attend another game unless this policy is put in place.
