High temperatures, early end to game led to fewer incidents at Michigan Stadium
University of Michigan police handled fewer arrests and ejections that usual during the football game on Saturday, and they say the severe weather was a major factor in that.
"It's been the bizarrest day,'' said Diane Brown, Department of Public Safety spokeswoman, after police twice had to evacuate spectators from the seating area and then cleared the stadium when the game was called in the third quarter, with Michigan leading Western Michigan University by a score of 34-10.
Brown said during the first half of the game, police were busy assisting Huron Valley Ambulance personnel with the "very large number'' of people seeking medical assistance for heat-related conditions. HVA also ended up calling Ann Arbor firefighters for additional help.
The heavy rain and lightning that led the game to be ended early caused few problems with fan behavior, even when fans were asked twice to leave the seating area before a decision was made not to continue play. "People were extraordinarily cooperative,'' she said.
Brown said by the time it was announced play would not resume, most fans had left the stadium and those who remained — mostly students — left quickly.
She said police did make three arrrests earlier in the game, two for minors in possession and one for resisting and obstructing an officer. Five other people received citations, one for possessing alcohol and the others for ID fraud or possessing someone else's ID.
In addition, 12 people were ejected from the stadium, most for having an invalid ID.
The game attendance was 110,506.
Comments
jcj
Sun, Sep 4, 2011 : 8:45 p.m.
Notre Dame Stadium Allows sealed water bottles University of Iowa Sealed plastic water bottles, including tinted bottles, will be permitted in Kinnick Stadium. Flavored water is not permitted. Spartan Stadium Allows one factory sealed 20-oz. bottled water per person Nebraska Allows sealed water bottles Illinois Allows sealed water bottles Penn State Does not allow bottled water to be brought in.
Col T
Sun, Sep 4, 2011 : 5:06 p.m.
Return to the policy of allowing patrons to enter the stadium with sealed bottled water. Let Absopure sell their product for whatever the market will bear, possibly one price inside the stadium and another on the perimeter ... however I should not be constrained from entering with my own unopened water bottle ... security is not compromised. Should a plot to harm patrons in the stadium exist it will most certainly not have bottled water as the catalyst for attack. C'mon U of M officials, operations management for athletic events, and security management ... as a Victors Club Member and longtime supporter ... put your collective heads together and adjust the policy for the many obvious affirmative reasons.
RJA
Sun, Sep 4, 2011 : 3:05 p.m.
It is a GOOD thing!! And then the WIN! Yay!
jcj
Sun, Sep 4, 2011 : 2:46 p.m.
Absolutely the right decision!
AA
Sun, Sep 4, 2011 : 1:35 p.m.
Better safe than sorry. Good call to cancel this game under the circumstances.