Fears of increased tailgate rowdiness subsided after Saturday’s game against the University of Georgia.
Fewer arrests were reported at Missouri’s first Southeastern Conference game than at last season’s first conference home game versus Iowa State University.
“Tailgating was no different than it was in the Big 12 and for other night games that we’ve seen in the past,” MU Police Department spokesman Brian Weimer said.
There were only seven incidents between noon and kickoff this past Saturday, compared to 10 incidents reported between noon and kickoff Sept. 1 against Southeastern Louisiana University, according to online MUPD records.
There were also 12 arrests for purchase or possession of intoxicants by a minor on Saturday, down from 14 the week before. Violations of liquor laws and driving while intoxicated made up at least half of the reported incidents on both Saturday and Sept. 1, according to MUPD records.
“(The biggest issue was) the exact same thing that it had been in previous years: alcohol and underage drinking,” Weimer said.
Issues at tailgates are the same as in previous years, especially when examining night games, Weimer said.
“(Night games are) a long day where people will have the opportunity to do a lot of drinking, so like I said, nothing has changed,” Weimer said.
To some students, many Missouri fans were focusing more on impressing their guests than causing trouble.
“I think that people were having a good time, but I don’t think that they were reckless,” senior Bridget Kelly said. “I think they were trying to show the Georgia fans that we could be in the SEC and that we could be just as good as them, so I don’t think that it was necessarily rowdy.”
Kelly said she thinks the changes in game day festivities are more mental than physical.
“I don’t think that the tailgating necessarily has changed,” Kelly said. “I think it’s more about the atmosphere being different in the SEC. Everyone is so pumped up about it, so I think it’s mostly just the same, but people’s attitudes have changed and people are more excited to be here.”
Kelly said she believes that some MU students are trying to step up their game when it comes to tailgating.
“You could tell just by walking through the tailgates this past weekend,” Kelly said. “People were flying flags. I think people are definitely trying to step it up.”
The police have had two weeks to see how fans have responded to the conference move. Weimer said the police haven’t seen anything that would cause them to change their strategies for this weekend’s night game against Arizona State University.
“We (will) continue to go out and enforce the laws that are in place,” said Weimer.
