Security at MDIA Games

[onpoint]

I would think that if the contest takes place on University property and involves a University sponsored organization, the Administration would have a great interest in ensuring the safety of the participants and spectators.
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It is still in the team's best interest to work with the officials to nip these things in the bud, but ultimately I see a significant amount of responsibility lying with the University as well.

Both of these are true. When you get parents who travel 2,000 miles to see their son play, get heckled for their religious beliefs, ask somone to be quiet, and then be told "F$^%$ You" it becomes a school issue. Especially if the game is being played in/on school sponsored facilities.

Most of the time, the school simply doesn't know what is going on. They should, but they don't.

The officials can only handle things that are happening on/near the field. Unless the fan brings a megaphone (Nice one, Tamu...I thought those were illegal per MDIA rules ) the refs have no way to assess what is going on in the stands 20 yards away. They have their hands full with the game itself.

another $0.02 from the peanut gallery...

DG

Why, whatever could you mean here, DG??

[Pinball]

Last year we had a few "unruly" fans at our home games due to some heavy alcohol consumption, but what do you expect from a college sporting event. It seems to be a trend for every sporting event for students to get incredibly drunk and go cheer on their favorite sport, but i do not see it as negative thing.
There is nothing better as an athlete to be getting heckled by some drunk fan then taking that D one and one and throwing one in the cage. Drunk unruly fans is one of the reasons college sports are so great. I actually encourage my friends to have a few cocktails/bring a few out the game because a bunch of guys/gals that are hammered screaming for your team even though they have no idea what is going on is a great feeling.

A way to keep them in check and make sure they do not offend kids or adults at the game is have a special student section. It also makes students feel special- like they belong there.

A negative side of fans being drunk that I have seen was last year in our game against St. Cloud. A fan carrying hot dogs and wearing an old lacrosse helmet ran out on the field and attempted to hand them to the refs. They politely declined, but the St. Cloud defense was then handed the dogs which they gladly took- but soon threw them on the ground. It was a small distraction to the game but no play was stopped and no fans were thrown out. Actually it wasn’t negative at all- it provided a fun memory for all involved. If security would of been there it woudl of been made a bigger deal that it actually was.

[Weberlax12]

we dont have a big problem with fans in northern Utah because most people think that we are some extreme butterfly catching group. ( yes some one ask if we were) but we do have fans that do know the game but they are usually good.

[TexOle]

Institute the Purple card system where fans are close to the field. If you are in a stadium then the student section idea is great. Also everyone has a cell phone so do not be afraid to call your campus security. If you are at a park and things get out of control call the police.

One of my least favorite situations with fans came when a fan threw some girls shoe on the field during a timeout. I joked with her to keep her shoes on her feet during the game, and informed that we needed to keep the field clear. The head master of this school told me that if I ever had any problems with language or anything else at their field he would be happy to take care of the issue. Well I made a call that he did not like and he started to use profanity. I just had him removed from the Coaches box.