Bottles of beer, thousands of rowdy fans and “Tiger baiting” are all part of the University’s football gameday tradition.
With all the commotion, game days are some of the busiest days of the year for Baton Rouge authorities.
More than 300 police officers patrol campus every time the Tigers invade Death Valley, said Capt. Cory Lalonde, LSU Police Department spokesman. Crowd control is LSUPD’s main task, but officers from the Baton Rouge Police Department, the Sheriff’s office, Louisiana State Troopers and other Louisiana authorities help with the daunting task.
“The No. 1 goal is to make campus safe on game days,” Lalonde said.
Whether the Tigers win or lose, he said the department considers a successful game to be one without a large number of calls and reports.
Any LSUPD officer not on patrol is required to work the games, putting in about 16 hours each time, he said.
Many officers ride bicycles to better navigate the campus area when game day traffic takes over Baton Rouge. Lalonde said this makes it easier for officers to respond quickly to calls because they can avoid motor vehicle traffic.
“Traffic is the biggest and most common issue,” he said.
The large number of tailgates also lends to an increase in vehicle burglaries, Lalonde said.
In addition, officers deal with an increase in public disturbances because of alcohol’s popularity at tailgates, he said.
Such a large volume of people mixed with alcohol consumption means an increase in fights and altercations, Lalonde said.
LSUPD officers have better knowledge of campus, so stadium security is often left to Sheriff’s officers and Louisiana Office of Alcohol and Tobacco Control authorities, he said. The stadium is thoroughly checked by officers before every game.
Emergency Medical Service personnel are also on the scene throughout the day to assist with heat and alcohol-related health emergencies, which are common at games.
“There’s a fine line between enjoyment and things getting out of control,” Lalonde said.
Adrienne Wood, history freshman, said her experience after many years of tailgating is that police are “around too much” and “obnoxious.”
“They’re a buzz kill, and they’re always breaking up tailgating spots,” she said.
While they may take some things too seriously, law enforcement is necessary at games, said Taylor Ledet, nutrition sophomore.
Ledet said she’s witnessed officers pop fans’ balloons for seemingly no reason, but their goal is to keep people safe.
“They’re necessary because some people get too drunk,” said Keene Miller, electrical engineering freshman.
 
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Contact Brian Sibille at [email protected]