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Get-Tough Attitude Continues Against Rowdy USF Fans

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By ADAM EMERSON | The Tampa Tribune

Published: October 8, 2008

TAMPA - No more drunken behavior, offensive language or underage drinking at USF Bulls football games at Raymond James Stadium. That's what the Tampa Sports Authority and the University of South Florida said. And they meant it.

At the USF-Pittsburgh game last week, police arrested 48 people, mostly for alcohol-related offenses, such as underage drinking or disorderly conduct, said Barbara Casey, spokeswoman for the Tampa Sports Authority, which manages the stadium.

That's more than triple the number arrested at the USF-Kansas game on Sept. 12, which was bad enough to prompt the sports authority and the university to come up with ways to dampen profane and drunken behavior during Bulls games. Authorities ejected another 65 fans during the Oct. 2 game against Pittsburgh.

"We believe that each game will get better and that arrests will decline," said Andrea Davis, a Tampa police spokeswoman. "We want people to have fun, but the game has to be enjoyable for everyone."

The Sept. 12 game, where many Kansas fans complained of abusive treatment, led to a series of initiatives aimed at ridding the games of drunken behavior. Police sent eight more officers to the Pittsburgh game to enforce the new measures, which include:

Banning kegs

Turning away drunken fans at the gate

Ejecting profane fans

Requiring ID from all fans buying alcohol, not just those 30 and younger.

Reporter Adam Emerson can be reached at (813) 259-8285.

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