Ejections, arrests and disciplinary referrals met many LSU and Alabama fans Saturday night.
The East Baton Rouge Sheriff’s Office, Louisiana State Police and LSUPD were out in full force citing students and fans for underage drinking, throwing objects in the stadium and disorderly conduct.
Alcohol beverage control issued 39 citations. One citation was to a juvenile, Major Bud Conners with EBRSO said. LSUPD also issued six disciplinary referrals at the student gate for alcohol, LSUPD Capt. Mark Shaw said.
Conners said, in his opinion, there was more alcohol at this game than he had ever seen. He attributed the amount of alcohol to the SEC game, the cold weather and the late game.
Natalie Ritter, an English sophomore, said she thinks people were excited because there had not been a home game in the last two weeks.
“They were possibly still celebrating last week’s victory,” Ritter said. “It is also the second to last home game, and they need to get as much partying in as they can.”
Authorities confiscated 50 to 100 flasks at Gate 5, Conners said. The police also found one soft flask, a shoulder sling IV-type bag with a spout that stays undetected.
“If you are found in the stadium with alcohol, you are ejected and ticket-taken,” Conners said. “Some fans drink until they reach the gate, some are arrested.”
Jarad Cola, a sociology senior, said he thinks the intoxication level is too high on game days.
“I don’t understand; Baton Rouge has an open container law, but when it comes to game day people can drink and throw things all over our campus,” Cola said.
Shaw said LSU is state property; therefore, the city’s open container law does not apply on stadium grounds.
In addition to alcohol citations, police arrested 42 people for throwing objects. Conners said authorities do not tolerate throwing objects.
“Cutting down on flasks and glass objects has decreased objects thrown,” Conners said.
Authorities also confiscated knives and one gun after searching incoming fans at the gates. Conners said authorities always have had more security, and they are just trying to be more efficient. He also said police will continue searching even though it is cumbersome and causes delays.
“If there is an incident in this country, I don’t want it to be at LSU,” Conners said.
A majority of the 54 Alabama arrests were for unlawful ticket scalping. Fans were charging $100 to $150 for tickets.
Conners contributes the high number of ticket scalpers to scalping being legal in Alabama.
Two LSU fans and two people from Mississippi also were arrested for scalping.