LSU football fans are known for being among the most passionate in college football, but most community officials say University students aren’t rowdier than other fans in the Southeastern Conference.
Students at the University are not a major problem on game day, according to Sgt. Blake Tabor, LSUPD spokesman.
“We do have some games that are wilder than others, but generally speaking our students are pretty well behaved,” Tabor said.
Tabor said the biggest problems LSUPD encounters with students during a typical game day are alcohol related, including minors in possession, students attempting to sneak alcohol into the stadium and students being too inebriated to enter the game.
The more popular games — like Saturday’s looming showdown with Alabama — often produce more problems.
But Tabor said police aren’t anticipating any problems this weekend, partially because the game is scheduled for 2:30 p.m.
Tabor said LSUPD won’t bring extra officers for Saturday’s big game.
“Whenever it’s a daytime game, we tend to see less problems,” Tabor said, adding that students probably don’t have enough time to get intoxicated.
With the Alabama game comes a larger crowd, so officers will be looking out for certain activities, Tabor said.
“We’re always on our toes and ready for big games like Alabama. If you look at our schedule, it’s by far the biggest game we’ve had at home this year,” he said. “Obviously, with these bigger games, there are things we are more aware of.”
Tabor said officers will be looking out specifically for ticket scalpers and underage drinkers because of the size of the game.
Arrests for MIPs vary from game to game, Tabor said, but the more popular games often have the higher numbers.
The Mississippi State game had the largest number of MIPs issued so far this season with 20 people arrested, both students and non-students, Tabor said. There were 16 for the West Virginia game, six for the Tennessee game and 15 for the McNeese State game.
Tabor said undercover officers are also located inside the stadium to look for alcohol.
“We try our best to stop everyone at the gates, but unfortunately we can’t catch everyone,” he said.
An LSU cheerleader was struck in the head with an empty whiskey bottle Oct. 2 during the Tennessee game, resulting in her having to get stitches, according to Pauline Zernott, LSU spirit coordinator and cheerleading coach.
“People were excited that we had won, so they started throwing cups and bottles,” she said. “It was like a rain shower of things coming down.”
But Zernott said the incident was not a common occurrence.
“They haven’t had a game like that in years,” she said. “There was a lot of emotion involved, and they just got careless and started throwing whatever was in their hands.”
Zernott said LSU fans compare well to other schools’ fans, but they do stand out in their involvement.
“The one way our fans really stand out is how they participate with each of the downs,” she said. “You really don’t see that around other schools. Overall, we really have great fans, and they play a major role in pumping up our team.”
Misused ID cards and student intoxication are the biggest problems the Office of Student Advocacy and Accountability sees, according to Jennie Stewart, assistant director.
Stewart said first-time offenses can result in something as simple as a reflection essay, while serious repeat offenders may be asked to leave the University.
The most common problems inside the stadium are arguments among fans and disturbing the peace by public intoxication, according to Casey Rayborn Hicks, East Baton Rouge Sheriff’s Office spokeswoman.
But Hicks said LSU fans aren’t an abnormally rowdy bunch.
“LSU fans are no more rowdy than fans in any other venue,” Hicks said. “They are just more passionate.”
 
____
Contact Sarah Eddington at [email protected]