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http://www.dailycamera.com/news/2007/nov/21/officers-bracing-for-cu-nu-game-problems/
Officers bracing for CU-NU game problems
Coach Hawkins vows to forfeit if fans act up
By Vanessa Miller (Contact)
Wednesday, November 21, 2007
The University of Colorado Buffaloes have been squaring off against the Nebraska Cornhuskers after Thanksgiving for years, but a new set of circumstances this season has CU officials and police wondering what they'll see in the stands for the rivalry game Friday.
This is the first time since CU started giving students the whole Thanksgiving week off that the game will be in Boulder. The 10 a.m. start time also is earlier than normal. And then there's the cold weather forecasters are predicting.
"This will have a new dynamic for us," said CU police Cmdr. Tim McGraw. "This set of factors has never presented itself to us before."
Typically, when the University of Nebraska brings its footballers to town, the stands are packed, and it's "one of the busier games," McGraw said. During some of the more heated contests in both Boulder and Lincoln, fan angst has led onlookers to spit on players, toss projectiles and spar with each other.
But CU officials said they aren't even sure how many people will show up to this week's game, which is one of the biggest rivalries of the season.
"We'll have to wait and see what the impact is," McGraw said.
Two years ago, at the teams' last meeting in Boulder, authorities cleared two student sections for the first time in Folsom Field history after frustrated fans started pitching items onto the field. Nebraska pounded CU 30-3 in that game.
This year's match-up promises more-competitive play and brings bowl-game consequences, with each team sitting on a 5-6 record. But McGraw said he doesn't expect a repeat of the 2005 fan behavior — if, for no other reason, because the weather is expected to be freezing.
"We ordered 20-degree temperatures at kick-off, and 38 for a high," McGraw said. "That will keep people bundled up, with their hands in their pockets."
Added police and security officers have patrolled past Nebraska games at Folsom Field, but McGraw said this week's game will be staffed like any other this season. About 70 officers will be working the event, not including ushers.
"Having the 10 a.m. kick-off will make things easier on us," he said. "So many of our issues are alcohol-related, and they'll have less time to tailgate."
CU sports information director Dave Plati said he thinks the early start time could have more of an effect on crowd turnout than fan behavior. Because many students went home for the week, coming back the morning after Thanksgiving — "with all that turkey in their system" — might be tough, Plati said.
Plati said if fans do act out, head coach Dan Hawkins has vowed to pull his team off the field.
"He'll forfeit the game," Plati said. "He won't stand for that behavior."
Officers bracing for CU-NU game problems
Coach Hawkins vows to forfeit if fans act up
By Vanessa Miller (Contact)
Wednesday, November 21, 2007
The University of Colorado Buffaloes have been squaring off against the Nebraska Cornhuskers after Thanksgiving for years, but a new set of circumstances this season has CU officials and police wondering what they'll see in the stands for the rivalry game Friday.
This is the first time since CU started giving students the whole Thanksgiving week off that the game will be in Boulder. The 10 a.m. start time also is earlier than normal. And then there's the cold weather forecasters are predicting.
"This will have a new dynamic for us," said CU police Cmdr. Tim McGraw. "This set of factors has never presented itself to us before."
Typically, when the University of Nebraska brings its footballers to town, the stands are packed, and it's "one of the busier games," McGraw said. During some of the more heated contests in both Boulder and Lincoln, fan angst has led onlookers to spit on players, toss projectiles and spar with each other.
But CU officials said they aren't even sure how many people will show up to this week's game, which is one of the biggest rivalries of the season.
"We'll have to wait and see what the impact is," McGraw said.
Two years ago, at the teams' last meeting in Boulder, authorities cleared two student sections for the first time in Folsom Field history after frustrated fans started pitching items onto the field. Nebraska pounded CU 30-3 in that game.
This year's match-up promises more-competitive play and brings bowl-game consequences, with each team sitting on a 5-6 record. But McGraw said he doesn't expect a repeat of the 2005 fan behavior — if, for no other reason, because the weather is expected to be freezing.
"We ordered 20-degree temperatures at kick-off, and 38 for a high," McGraw said. "That will keep people bundled up, with their hands in their pockets."
Added police and security officers have patrolled past Nebraska games at Folsom Field, but McGraw said this week's game will be staffed like any other this season. About 70 officers will be working the event, not including ushers.
"Having the 10 a.m. kick-off will make things easier on us," he said. "So many of our issues are alcohol-related, and they'll have less time to tailgate."
CU sports information director Dave Plati said he thinks the early start time could have more of an effect on crowd turnout than fan behavior. Because many students went home for the week, coming back the morning after Thanksgiving — "with all that turkey in their system" — might be tough, Plati said.
Plati said if fans do act out, head coach Dan Hawkins has vowed to pull his team off the field.
"He'll forfeit the game," Plati said. "He won't stand for that behavior."
