Football fans getting out of hand

Drunken collegiate rooters sometimes like to think they are part of a vital postgame ritual

Athletic directors are hoping that this week’s performance by their schools doesn’t top what happened last week at Ohio State and Washington State, as well as at other campuses throughout the country.

It’s not the heroics by their respective football teams that have college officials concerned, but the histrionics of their fans. Postgame celebrations have gone from tearing down goal posts to other, more dangerous activities.

Following a 14-9 victory against Michigan that secured a 12-0 record and a spot in the Bowl Championship Series national title game for the Buckeyes, fans burned cars and set at least a dozen fires in Columbus, Ohio.

Washington State fans took their frustrations out after a controversial call led to visiting Washington winning 29-26 in triple overtime. The Huskies were pelted with bottles as they were leaving the field in Pullman, Wash.

The incidents in Columbus and Pullman were among a spate of several that took place on what has been called ‘Rivalry Saturday.’ As a result, administrators are bracing for another round of explosive celebrations.

“I think this is the worst I’ve ever seen, just in terms of wanton, random destruction and selfish, mindless behavior,” Ohio State athletic director Andy Geiger said earlier this week.

Geiger, whose 32 years as a Division I athletic director included a stint at Maryland, said that most of the rowdy postgame celebrations have little to do with football and more to do with excessive drinking.

“Binge drinking on campuses has become epidemic,” said Geiger. “There are kids here who are now full of remorse, but at the time they were absolutely blasted. We have to plead with parents and others to help prepare their children for life after being at home.”

Many agree with Geiger, but Daniel Wann, a professor of psychology at Murray State (Ky.) University, believes the problem stems from drunken fans who suddenly feel they are part of a postgame ritual.

Just as their team was successful in outplaying the competition, Wann said that fans think they have to outdo their counterparts at other schools.

“You feel an enormous pressure to act in an anti-social way,” said Wann, who has written more than 100 articles as well as a book, “Sports Fans: The Psychology and Social Impact of Spectators.”

Tom Younce, director of public safety at North Carolina State, saw a potentially dangerous situation unfold last week at Carter-Finley Stadium in Raleigh, N.C., in the aftermath of the Wolfpack’s 17-7 upset of Florida State.

But unlike two years ago after a nationally televised victory against Georgia Tech, when fans carried goal posts into the parking lot and shattered car windows, security at the stadium prevented a repeat performance.

Pepper spray was used to keep fans away from the goal posts and 21 arrests were made, most of them for disorderly conduct. There were three injuries, including a broken leg.

One suggestion might be for news operations such as ESPN not to show footage of the postgame celebrations.

“It seems that our young people like to get in front of a camera and do stupid things,” said Younce.