Quid Pro Quo?
24 hours after the high-quality victory over the Boilermakers, the subject du jour on the NDN boards has gone from what happened on the field Saturday to what happened off of it ... specifically, the ever-escalating unreasonable behavior being exhibited by the State of Indiana's Excise Police force before, during, and after the game in the parking lots surrounding the Stadium.
My journalistic partner, SEE, did his usual bang-up job summarizing the issues. The anecdotes shared so far are sobering, pun partially intended. Even more alarming is the seeming acquiescence of Notre Dame's administration towards the practice, even going so far as having the ND po-po start singing from the same hymnal.
Reasons for the new jack-booted philosophy have been tossed around, including the possibility Notre Dame is over-reacting to allegedly having been sued over the actions of a drunken fan at a football game. But there's another possibility I'd like to explore, and it's a familiar theme: money.
ND's single-minded pursuit of the 7-4-1 model is a continuation of their goal on having as many home games as possible. The purpose of 7-4-1 is to give NBC a night game to go up against ABC's juggernaut, which the network desperately wants and the CSC desperately doesn't. But to give the Peacock it's pound of flesh in return for the filthy lucre, we're now playing Washington State deep in the heart of Texas.
It's depressing and senseless. But it also makes me wonder if the greenbacks are beind the ISEP invasion as well.
Last season, we started hearing complaints from the municipalities in South Bend about how much all these home games were costing, particularly for overtime paid to the police in areas such as pre- and post-game traffic control. Granted, the games provide a big financial shot in the arm for the local economy, but not a lot of that goes into South Bend's coffers (or the state of Indiana's, for that matter). That money goes to the businesses, and until they pay taxes or fees or whatever, the city, county and state see none of it. So the $116,000 they spend today they won't necessarily see back quickly.
During all the Excise discussions, a number of folks familiar with how the state (and Excise) works have contended the practice is a cash cow for Indiana. The pre-trial diversion programs bring in around $500 for each person, not to mention the fines paid for tickets issued to underage or overserved consumers.
And that makes me wonder: Is the sudden avalanche of ISEP on and off campus a method of payback?
Think about it. Notre Dame does not want to screw around with special ticket taxes or other fees, and it certainly doesn't want to set the precedent of paying South Bend directly for some of these services. But at the same time, they need the locals to make sure the gridlock doesn't leave people sleeping in their cars, and it's only a matter of time before the push-back from both the city and state government (and applicable police forces) upset that apple cart.
The solution? Give the Excise Police free rein to write their bullshit summonses and haul otherwise law-abiding Notre Dame students and alumni to jail. The state can milk some dollars from those poor schlubs, while Notre Dame keeps its money and still gets the services it wants.
Everyone wins. Except us, of course. But nothing's new under the sun.
Edit: Two viewpoints were shared with me since I posted this, both of which I share without edit or commentary:
1) Consider the possibility ND is trying to "clean up tailgating" so they can have the night games that the fans and NBC want and we won't have to play "depressing games deep in the heart of Texas".
2) If ND isn't complicit in this, why is it you never see Excise cops in the Stadium lot? It's only in Joyce and Tower. I guess they don't want to run the risk of bumping into anyone connected to a really big check at ND. But who told them that's where the big money parties?
My journalistic partner, SEE, did his usual bang-up job summarizing the issues. The anecdotes shared so far are sobering, pun partially intended. Even more alarming is the seeming acquiescence of Notre Dame's administration towards the practice, even going so far as having the ND po-po start singing from the same hymnal.
Reasons for the new jack-booted philosophy have been tossed around, including the possibility Notre Dame is over-reacting to allegedly having been sued over the actions of a drunken fan at a football game. But there's another possibility I'd like to explore, and it's a familiar theme: money.
ND's single-minded pursuit of the 7-4-1 model is a continuation of their goal on having as many home games as possible. The purpose of 7-4-1 is to give NBC a night game to go up against ABC's juggernaut, which the network desperately wants and the CSC desperately doesn't. But to give the Peacock it's pound of flesh in return for the filthy lucre, we're now playing Washington State deep in the heart of Texas.
It's depressing and senseless. But it also makes me wonder if the greenbacks are beind the ISEP invasion as well.
Last season, we started hearing complaints from the municipalities in South Bend about how much all these home games were costing, particularly for overtime paid to the police in areas such as pre- and post-game traffic control. Granted, the games provide a big financial shot in the arm for the local economy, but not a lot of that goes into South Bend's coffers (or the state of Indiana's, for that matter). That money goes to the businesses, and until they pay taxes or fees or whatever, the city, county and state see none of it. So the $116,000 they spend today they won't necessarily see back quickly.
During all the Excise discussions, a number of folks familiar with how the state (and Excise) works have contended the practice is a cash cow for Indiana. The pre-trial diversion programs bring in around $500 for each person, not to mention the fines paid for tickets issued to underage or overserved consumers.
And that makes me wonder: Is the sudden avalanche of ISEP on and off campus a method of payback?
Think about it. Notre Dame does not want to screw around with special ticket taxes or other fees, and it certainly doesn't want to set the precedent of paying South Bend directly for some of these services. But at the same time, they need the locals to make sure the gridlock doesn't leave people sleeping in their cars, and it's only a matter of time before the push-back from both the city and state government (and applicable police forces) upset that apple cart.
The solution? Give the Excise Police free rein to write their bullshit summonses and haul otherwise law-abiding Notre Dame students and alumni to jail. The state can milk some dollars from those poor schlubs, while Notre Dame keeps its money and still gets the services it wants.
Everyone wins. Except us, of course. But nothing's new under the sun.
Edit: Two viewpoints were shared with me since I posted this, both of which I share without edit or commentary:
1) Consider the possibility ND is trying to "clean up tailgating" so they can have the night games that the fans and NBC want and we won't have to play "depressing games deep in the heart of Texas".
2) If ND isn't complicit in this, why is it you never see Excise cops in the Stadium lot? It's only in Joyce and Tower. I guess they don't want to run the risk of bumping into anyone connected to a really big check at ND. But who told them that's where the big money parties?
Labels: nd admin, nd athletics, south bend
posted by Mike Coffey at 8:37 PM
51 Comments:
NDSP, SBPD, ISP, ISEP: "We Harass and Collect."
My wife was taken from our seats prior to the SDS game and was told she exhibited drunken behavior. This was 10 minutes after she had sat down. We sit right in front of the student section so both of our daughters who are students got to watch this happen. She was going to be arrested but we were given the option to leave instead. Trust me no one is immune from this crack down and she does not ever want to sit in our seats again. We have given substantially to ND over the years but this episode may unfortunately end our charitable donations to a school that is so draconian.
I find it funny how everybody thinks the police are a burden to them. Follow the bleeping law and you'll have no problem. If you wanna drink and act like a fool stay at home. The ISP risks their lifes every single day and get paid squat to do it. Like to see any of you pansies do any of things they do. Show some respect, follow the law, and be thankful for the fine men and woman whose job is to serve and protect YOU every day.
It's an absolute joke, to say the least. Take a look at the crimes committed in the areas around campus - shootings, stabbings, break-ins, etc. But there's no money in stopping those. The tenets of Catholicism are simply not evident around here. I'd like to see you guys send this info in some emails to the University and local publications, including The Observer.
I am so glad this is finally being widely recognized as a serious problem at ND. More importantly, recognized by the older alumni who know the letter of the law and can organize effective action. In my time there ('03-'07) I saw the tailgating crackdown escalate each year. The pattern continues this year: heavy handed ticketing/arresting at tailgates plus a signature bust of a house party, usually early in the year.
This deserves every bit of the attention it's getting. As evidenced by the stories on the boards today, it's easy for even risk-averse students to rack up a couple frivolous charges. I won't even start on the Stadium Ushers...
Speaking as someone who was on head staff in a dorm last year, the crack down is a hassle to Hall Staffs too. Rectors or ARs have to get students out sometimes. Apparently, the late shift at South Bend PD is dragging their feet on releasing people. If you haven't hit the "sober" line by the time the third shift starts, you're stuck there until morning.
If ND administration is supporting the crack down, they're doing it with some push back from the lower levels of their staff.
It's silly to proffer that SB and the state do not profit from ND games. Taxes generated by visitors (sales, tourism-hotel) more than offset the increased need for services on game weekends.
It's probably equally silly to assume that the same authorities do not recognize the promotional value of football at ND to the sustained economic activity in the region year-round.
In many ways ND football is central to the economic engine in northern Indiana, and everybody knows it.
Yeah, but.......I live on Long Island which has one of the finest public beaches in the country. After a lot of alchol related incidents, the state took the step of forbidding alcohol on the beaches. While this has served to eliminate the jerks who caused these measures, it has resulted in a mature father of a family not being able to drink a beer on the beach on a hot summer day.
So,,,,maybe we need to clean up the act ourselves. I never felt the need to be smashed to go in to see a game.
South Bend politics are extremely corrupt. There is a machine in place that is very entrenched. With the city crying about the tax caps imposed by Mitch Daniels, they are making cuts everywhere. This might be a place where they think they can make some of the money back.
Underage drinking on college campuses has led our country to spring break debaucery and girls gone wild.
The rule of law might be inconvenient for 18-20 year olds who want to drink themselves into a stupor prior to the game but part of what makes ND great is a culture of excellence.
Follow the law and stop whining.
Recently while waiting in line for the porto-potties with a solo cup in hand i was told that I had to pour out my beverage because ND was a "dry campus." I look around at everyone drinking and say you've got to be kidding me. The NDSP officer said he wasn't and I could pour it out or come with him...ridiculous.
When I was a student a few years ago, I managed to sneak my sibling into the student section with a borrowed ID. We enjoy the first half but a bathroom trip resulted in an usher checking the ID and I had to go explain. While technically not allowed, I explained that no one was causing any trouble and we'd appreciate it if they could cut us some slack. The usher called a ISP over who said that presenting an ID that wasn't you is a felony under the patriot act. I did not like my younger sibling being threatened in such a way, especially when I knew that a non-government issued ID does not apply and that the cop was full of it. I told him that what he said was wrong and that I did not appreciate it and demanded his name. At this point we were escorted from the stadium by two other officers. Needless to say my sibling went elsewhere when the time came to apply to colleges.
This is big money to local communities and it is happening everywhere. In Allendale, Michigan (Grand Valley State University) more than 400 M.I.P.'s were handed out the first weekend kids were on campus. If you were caught standing outside and beer was present you got a ticket. Even if you asked for a breath test and blew zero's you got a ticket. Cost of ticket without fighting it is $200 or you posted a $200 bond to fight it.Some were charged $300. I think that adds up to over $100,000. It's not enough that the kids stimulate the private economy. Now you have to allow the public part of the economy to shake you down as well.
Michigan N.D. Fan
I got ticketed in the Stadium lot last year, but I don't look like a high $$ donor. Does that make it fair? FYI... if you have beer in a cooler and someone who is <21 takes it out of your cooler without your knowledge or consent, they consider this contributing to minors. Be careful.
Andrew Kirk - I have yet to read a comment where someone is complaining about a drunk being hassled. You will find no greater support for the law enforcement community in general than on this site.
The problem is that the NDSP, SBPD, ISP and ISEP are going overboard at ND home games. The "police" are not putting their lives on the line here they are here to maintain the overall safety of the folks in attendance. THey are not supposed to be knocking down tailgaters with their horses or dragging people that are clearly NOT intoxicated to a holding area. This is ridiculous behavior by the police and well outside of the bounds of reasonable control.
In respnse to #2....Look harder, they are in the Stadium Lot as well.
Andrew et al - I don't think the regular readers of this blog are cop-hating delinquents, and that's the point. To point out that there are rowdies among the many harassed people is to throw out the baby with the bathwater.
In most cases, this Carrie Nation view of ND students is simply not accurate. As an alum who drank heartily underage and later served my country, I have still never heard a logical response to the cliche that one can serve his/her country "underage" and not have a beer.
Now send the cops over near St/ Louis street or towards the airport, and SB will be better served.
Does anyone have friends on the Purdue or IU campuses? I'd like to know what the situations are at those tailgating sites.
I am saddened by this news. Football Saturday's in ND are a carnival atmosphere. That is why College Football Fans love them. When I was a student at ND 1991 - 1995, we routinely tailgated with our Stadium Usher (my senior year his name was Bill). What has happened during the 13 years since my graduation? Why is everything at ND becoming sterilized? Bring the soul of the University back.
I have wondered the same thing as asked by Anon at 9:34. What about the other universities in Indiana? Is this happening at those locations (Purdue, IU, Indiana State, Butler, etc.)
Mike, you use this opportunity to voice your opinion about the 7-4-1 scheduling and NBC.
What is wrong with the concept of scheduling one game per season in high population areas which are also rich recruiting areas? San Antonio is an excellent choice. I believe we are scheduled to play Army in Chicao, with its alumni base, and the next year in Orlando.
You know I was at the ND v UM game and was in the Stadium lot. We had tons of people (all of age) drinking before the game. We also stuck around for 3 hours after the game and some guys were blaring music from a big system in the bed of their truck. People were literally dancing around to the music with beverages in hand. For some reason I don't recall seeing even one officer...the entire day. With all the stories on this board that has to be weird.
Anon, I have no issues with playing games in places like San Antonio or Orlando. I do think playing in Chicago is dumb because (a) it's only 90 miles from SB, and (b) Soldier Field holds less people than ND Stadium.
My issue is with the quality of teams we're playing and the stipulations under which those teams are played. If we want to play in Orlando, let's play Florida or FSU or Alabama or LSU. If we want to play in San Antonio, let's play Texas or A&M or LSU or Oklahoma or Oklahoma State.
The trouble is we can't play those teams because we want to control the tickets and the TV rights. So we end up playing body-bag games, of which we're already playing too many.
I think the reason the University is at least tacitly supporting the crackdown is that it's been working for a while to reduce the binge drinking on campus. This is the next step after getting rid of SYRs, banning liquor, etc. As often happens, the pendulum is swinging too much the other direction. Another issue is liability. Say a drunken spectator slips on the bench and injures himself or another. In this litigious society, is it not possible that he would sue the university? My guess is the ushers have been told to err on the side of caution to avoid injuries, and as a result they are over-reacting.
Andrew Kirk - your comment displays true ignorance as it pertains to the relationship between the ISP and the Notre Dame community.
I would be content -- actually, pleased -- if the ISP were heavy-handed in their pursuit of all types of crimes. I can take it a step further and say that I would be content -- but less pleased -- if the ISP were relatively lackadaisical in their pursuit of all types of crimes.
But, the issue is that the ISP is fervent in their pursuit of drinking violations (of which students are the primary perpetrators) and apathetic when it comes to other types of petty and violent crime (of which students are the primary victims). The ISP has no concern for students who are beaten, robbed, and shot. But if those students are underage and drunk, the ISP dispatches an absurdly disproportionate police force to handle those kids.
So, please, hold off on the inferences that the ISP is a noble, knight-in-shining-armor organization designed to protect me and my friends. Save that description for people and organizations that truly deserve it. The ISP, and their affiliates, do not.
As pointed out, the actions of the ISP are motivated by money and petty jealousy, not some sort of inherent altruism.
i have close family and friends that are on the sbpd, ndsp and isp. they are very respectable men that do a great job in keeping this city safe. just because they are good doesnt mean that there arent some power trippin fools givin people a hard time. i have seen it happen at notre dame and some of these excise officers are way out of line.
I have access to four tickets to every ND game and I haven't been to a game in over five years. After the university's mismanagement of the football program and now these ridiculous activities, I could care less about ND football.
I am going to 'Cuse this year. I will have 6-8 beers before the game and enjoy myself. If I get arrested for public drunkeness I will never go back to campus and never donate another dime.
I graduated from ND in '96. In mopre than one way, including the team on the field, this isn't the same place. I loved ND and had the best time of my life there, but stories like these really make me angry.
My suggestion is to hit them where it hurts, the pocket book.
If all this true, the Authorities and the University are truly taking liberties away from students and alumni by subjecting them to unfair and SS type tactics and in essence creating a police state on campus, the only option, and this is if these liberties are truly sacred to you and to those who will come after you, is to boycott.
It could be done a number of ways:
I’m just going to jot down some ideas to get some creative juices flowing…any number of demonstrations came be done
1. Do not purchase or drink any alcohol in the city of South Bend or on the campus of ND for an entire football weekend. This would include pubs and restaurants. In doing this make sure to document as much as possible, police presence and abuse, have students in the student section trip on the stairs coming and going intermittently , once one student is seized and taken away, then every student must follow to be taken away and will not return until all students are released. See if NBC films the entire student section leaving the stadium.
2. Set up a command center on campus, and have scouting details through out campus to report police abuse inside and outside of the stadium, document the abuse preferably by video camera. For every abuse incurred by one student or alumni you must react. The whole student section leaves the stadium. The next abuse, the cheerleaders, the band, or the alumni leave the stadium, and then onto the student managers and up to and including the football team must leave the stadium.
3. Boycott a whole game, student and alumni, all unite from the football team on down, nobody enters ND stadium…make sure parents and alumni cancel all flights and hotel reservations…everything will come to a standstill.
You must make sure that your battle is not, to be able to drink alcohol to excess without consequence but it is to fight for the liberty of being able to police yourselves and to not have such a strong police state on your campus. Site other instances from which liberties were discarded without due or fair process. In essence the students and the alumni are ND, sure there is the ND spirit and the Subway Alumni but the campus would be hollow without those who sweat blood within its walls through out the decades.
Above all the exercise must be preformed with dignity, every confrontation must be carried out with the tone of, “yes father, no father” “yes officer, no officer” If you do not respect them, then you cannot demand their respect. If successful, then the real work begins, to police yourselves, I’m going to leave that to the students they seem like a bright bunch of people.
You may also want to take a long look at getting the Patriot Act taken off the books; it is this legislation that gives so much unwarranted power to the agencies who presently want to control you.
Leo T
I am a stadium usher. If I see a patron who stumbles or acts intoxicated, I take them to public safety. The most common excuse is "I'm not drunk. I woke up a little sick this morning and I'm not feeling so well". I take them to public saftey to be tested. Only once in 5 years has an 'ill' patron actually been ill. I gave that student a heartfelt apology and that was that. We don't get brownie points for walking people out of the stadium. We are doing only what the University has asked us to do. Visit the public safety office during a game day. Be sure not to slip on the vomit from all the 'ill' patrons.
Anonymous Usher,
Thanks for providing a different perspective.
Seems to me that if people drink to excess, become intoxicated, and are busted for it, they have no one to blame but themselves. When responsible people obey the laws regarding tailgating, open containers and consumption, they should not be subject to harrassment.
Being able to get drunk at a Notre Dame football game isn't a civil right, and enforcement of the law isn't the creation of a police state. Even if the enforcement is selective or unfair, if one doesn't violate the law, one has nothing to worry about.
Anonymous Usher, in 5 years no one has ever slipped just because they slipped? In all but one instance it's justification for hauling them off? Pardon me if I say BS.
We won't even go into the selective enforcement of rules, where visitors are treated with kid gloves while ND fans are not given the same luxury. I, along with countless others, have observed it; thankfully I've never been a victim of it. Either toss everyone out who's exhibiting a certain sort of behavior or no one. The standard should be the same around the stadium.
And thanks for confirming that the University is behind all of this.
Most of you posters do not have a clue and are posting non-sense just because you can. ND wants to promote a "family friendly" environment. A place to bring the family, have a couple beers, eat good food, while the kids toss a football around. Where families and friends can have a good time. How many here have witnessed large groups of obnoxious, drunk, obscene partiers throwing beer cans and trash at opposing fans? How bout drunks passed out with vomit hanging from their mouths? Maybe at Ohio State, Michigan (big house) or other venues but you do not see this type of behavior at ND. Why? Because of the Officers working the tailgates. I guarantee no one has seen ISEP just shut down tailgates for no reason. There are over 90,000 people on campus on a home game Saturday. The Police had about 30 arrests total and wrote maybe 20 tickets. That is 50 people targeted out of lets say 70,000 to 80,000 people. So where is this "rampant" Police abuse? And the tickets were for minors consuming or being in possession of alcohol.
Yeah, it's not always people behaving badly. A cop grabbed my 14 year old son last year at a tailgate when I was standing right next to him. He accused him of grabbing a beer out of the cooler and taking a sip of it, which absolutely did not happen. I was standing next to him the whole time and there is no way I would have ever let that happen. I pride myself on being vigilant with my four children esp. when it comes to abiding by the law. My son simply leaned over to say something in my 22 year old daughter's ear, while SHE was holding a beer in HER hand. Before I could turn my head this cop had my son by the arm. You know, some parents and kids do abide by the law. It was an insult to me. My 19 year old has still yet to take a drink. I wonder if any of you police can say the same about your 19 year olds. I echo the sentiments of so many. Why don't you spend time trying to prevent the real crimes like the off -campus students' houses getting robbed during the football games or while they are in class. Or, even worse crimes than that. Let good parents do their own parenting.
Well , I came from Radium Springs New Mexico, to see Purdue & ND play.. I have a lot of respect for Purdue..At first I thought they would beat ND...I saw their Choo - Choo train going down Dixie Highway ... To Purdue, football means something. My hat is off to them ! OK... The Boilermakers can handle their drinks...Luckily for the ones I observed, we were close to the entrance gate on Douglas RD...Perhaps they could have arrested us, as we consumed a bottle of Beringer (a company in Ingelheim Germany) Brother's : pinot gregio, we purchased in Michigan City, IN. (a very good place to stay for ND games)
Jack u. CHRISTA
Hey, I admired the Purdue Boilermakers near the Douglas Rd. entrance..on the main road to schuttle bus stop #2 . They were gentlemen, by any definition of the word. They invitwed ND fans to join them ! !
Ushers have such a mickey mouse complex of trying to feel important it is sad. How about they realize that drinking beer before a college football game is commonplace, and stop trying to be moral crusaders. It's a football game, not church out there.
I saw a question from a poster asking about other schools and tailgating. I'm a long-time ND fan but I have always lived in the Southeast - where tailgating is taken to the extreme. I've been to many games at major schools in the Southeast and I've witnessed and participated in huge tailgating parties with music, lots of drinking and more. Never once have I seen anything even remotely close to what I am reading about here. I've been priveledged to travel to South Bend for one game in the past and really enjoyed the experience of tailgating up there - similar to "down here" but a bit less intense for the most part. I've been toying with the idea of taking my son up in the near future to a game in South Bend, but I'm going to pass based on these accounts. I enjoy a beer or two before a game, but it's not worth ruining a great experience.
To the Anonymous stadium usher: Many of us witnessed a security superviser take a hit for ol' Notre Dame. He was helping some pedestrians cross the street when a very elderly man(who should not be driving anywhere, let alone on Holy Cross Dr before a football game). There was no police report made and who knows how many others he mowed down in the lot before he parked.
Meanwhile they harassed students of legal age and arrested some who were clearly not drunk! Students were then denied access to lawyers or parents. Note: I am clearly closer in age to the old man who ran over the security man and I am all for removing disorderly people from the stadium.
A lawyer should look into the ages of the people arrested. We saw middle-aged people who were drunk & stumbling escorted from the stadium while students were locked up.
Who should we complain to? Give us the e-mail address of the person who would handle this and I'm sure a lot of us would fill their inbox with complaints. This was posted by another anonymous, but it makes sense. PLEASE GIVE US 3 EMAIL ADDRESSES TO USE!
As the line to the schuttle bus was like a ? ½ mile long, we walked back to the parking lot. An usher carring his white cap wearing a black suit, & his hair as pure as snow, as he passed us by, asked us , "Did you really have a good time?" YESSSSSSSSSSSSSSS !! I answered..
An English poet wrote: "To err is human, to forgive is divine."
PS: What about designated drivers?
Don't bother with emails. They get deleted unread.
Send physical letters to people detailing your thoughts. Some possible recipients:
Fr. John Jenkins, CSC
President, University of Notre Dame
400 Main Building
Notre Dame, IN 46556
Mr. John Affleck-Graves
EVP, University of Notre Dame
400 Main Building
Notre Dame, IN 46556
Mr. Jack Swarbrick
Director of Athletics, University of Notre Dame
C113 Joyce Center
Notre Dame, IN 46556
Send the letters return receipt, meaning someone at ND will have to sign for them and you'll get a postcard confirming your letter was delivered.
Dear Usher. This week an usher, like you, apprehended my 26 year old double domer daughter for being exuberant and high fiving in the concourse a few minutes after the start of the game and turned her over to the NDPD for "processing". Voluntarily, he proved her sobriety by blowing a .04 but the cops were still processing her out of the stadium on a "trespassing" violation. Only through the personal intervention of, ready for this, Bill Kirk was she allowed to go to her seat (thank you, Bill). So now you know of two instances.
The NDSP is HORRIBLE, two years ago I made it to an ND game and of course didn't have tickets because they are so hard to get, except if you make a sign and walk around looking for a couple tickets to get into the game, yet i was constantly hassled by the NDSP, told to leave the campus, all i wanted was a ticket to see the team i've cheered for since birth. GIVE ME A BREAK, those wannabe cops drive me up the wall. something needs to be done. I'm not scalping, nor selling the ticket if i'm lucky enough to get one, I just want to watch a notre dame football game. IS THAT TOO MUCH TO ASK???
I have been to many sporting events in my life, some that were bigger than an ND game, and I have never seen a group of police and ushers abuse their power as much as When I went to Notre Dame. I am from California and have been to huge events in Oakland, San Francisco and Los Angeles multiple times. At those events there was a huge police presence but they were there as observers to make sure no one was starting any trouble, they were fulfilling their role as "protectors of the peace". I was appaled when an underage student who was with his parents and grandparents was arrested for having a few drinks (and by no means was intoxicated) with his family. Sure its against the law but come on, he was not starting any problems and those police officers had just ruined what could have been a nice family moment. They then proceeded to our tailgate and started checking everyone who looked a little younder's id. After confirming that everyone who was drinking was over 21. they then checked my 17 year old nephew's id and gave him a breathalizer test. By this time we were all extremely angry that we were being harassed in such a way, when the test came up o.oo we asked for the officers' names they dismissed us and moved on.
I never thought in my wildest dreams that The police forces of Indiana would be worst than the LAPD. They have way overstepped there boundries as "protectors of the peace".
As for the ushers they were very rude and unhelpful. They lashed out at us when we tried to enter the wrong gate by mistake, instead of calmly explaining to us where to go.
I will never go to another Notre Dame game or purchase anything with a Notre Dame logo on it again until these problems are resolved.
I'm with the police on this one. Cleaning up the trash is always a good policy.
To Anonymous (post 9/29/2008 10:34:00 AM)
First of all, as the owner of that truck and host of that tailgate you spoke of at the ND vs UM game (and host of that tailgate every home game), I hope you enjoyed yourself, and thanks for the compliment on the music and general atmosphere I provided.
You may not have seen any police that particular day, but believe me they are there. They are never out after the game, however they are in droves in the Stadium lot prior to the game. My younger brother was actually arrested this past week for falsifying information when they questioned him for having a drink in his hand. He told them he was 21, however found out he was 20. The funny thing is though when they breathalized him he blew an ASTRONOMICAL 0.00, yet was still arrested and held at the county jail for 10 hours while clearly intoxicated people were released. My roommate was also arrested for public intoxication this past weekend while at my tailgate in the stadium lot. so just because you did not see them does not mean they don't exist
Kirk,
Are you for real? Risk their lives every day? Most cops I know were either toublemakes or the kids in school who couldn't earn any respect. So they go out and try to get it with a badge and gun. Pathetic bullies. Risk their lives. Ha!
the thing thats funny is all this whining is going to get you babies absolutely nothing. grow up, act like adults, and deal with it. you guys remind me of all the morons who want pot legalized. bunch of freaking babies who think if "they all get together then their collective voice will get heard" your all wasting your time. how bout talking about something worth while....football
We are acting like adults. Adults see a wrong and do their level best to right it.
That's the kind of adult ND taught us to be.
Yeah Kirk, and calling people names is really mature. Grow up.
I'm going to the game Saturday and I am really wondering if I should have the one bloody mary my Dad and I purchase at the Morris Inn a couple hours previous to the game. Sure I know the Morris Inn doesn't make the strongest drink, but I'd rather not get thrown in the drunk tank when I'm cheering on a big third down defensive stand and I'm told to sit down. I'm afraid the .01 I might blow might be the end for me.
"Follow the bleeping law and you'll have no problem. If you wanna drink and act like a fool stay at home. The ISP risks their lifes every single day and get paid squat to do it."
This may be true about the state police and city police. However the excise police hardly put themselves in harms way. Being an of age college student myself, I have seen too many friends get busted for underage consumption of alcohol. Only on one occasion was one of them acting up and attracting attention to themselves. The other situations involved a small congregation outside of a football stadium and an officer walked up and asked if we had any beer. Assuming he was a fellow tailgater I said yes and immediately we were all carded and my friends were ticketed. I personally believe the sole purpose of this is to bring in money for the state and is far from "protect and serve."
Post a Comment
Links to this post:
Create a Link
<< Home