The opposing team’s sense of pride isn’t the only thing facing trouble on game days in Tiger Stadium.
Over the course of the 2013 football season, University students and other home game attendees stood amidst 21 criminal acts. Among these crimes were six thefts, four batteries, three damages to property, two vehicular burglaries, two violent drug arrests and one rape, all of which the University could see happening again, LSUPD spokesperson Capt. Cory Lalonde said.
“As on any other day at LSU, theft is the number one crime on game day, and the reason for this and this influx of crime is because there are so many people on campus,” Lalonde said.
Lalonde said more crime incidents are to be expected when the rivalry is bigger.
“On days like these, you anticipate more crimes and more instances,” Lalonde said. “…It doesn’t mean they’ll always happen, though.”
For instance, when LSU played the University of Florida Oct. 12, 2013, 12 crime reports were made. For the game against Texas A&M, LSUPD filed 17 reports.
Business freshman Lauren Williams believes crime is prevalent on game days because of substance abuse. During high school, she said she would visit the University on game days and, on several occasions, saw people get into trouble for not being in their “right minds.”
“Everyone becomes so caught up in the ‘hype,’” Williams said. “Crime is expected to happen here for that reason—everyone is in the spirit and more comfortable in their own territory.”
Construction management sophomore Cody Gerald said it’s not just the University’s fans who seem to cause the trouble.
“It’s random people—opponents, too—involving themselves with game day crime,” Gerald said.
Williams and Gerald agreed they like the atmosphere on game day regardless of the crime.
“I don’t feel at risk,” Gerald said. “Crime here is not out of hand and LSUPD, I think, is doing enough.”
Lalonde said approximately 400 officers work on game day. He said this includes officers from other agencies like Baton Rouge Police Deptartment, Louisiana State Police, the constable and, of course, LSUPD.
“If I had to give any advice to other freshmen who will be experiencing their first game this weekend, it would be act responsibly and avoid the troublemakers,” Williams said.
Gerald agreed the key to staying safe on game day is being “low-key.”
“You have to hang out with the right crowd,” Gerald said. “Just be ready for the environment and don’t take what anyone says to heart, but most importantly just have a good time.”