College officials across the country are working to correct the growing problem of fan misbehavior associated with college sports.

The massive riot at Ohio State University in the fall of 2002 prompted the National Collegiate Athletics Association to call a summit to discuss how to control fan misconduct. More than 100 university administrators, athletic officials and members of the media met for two days in February in Dallas to discuss how to stop disorder after big games.

Officials said when students tear down goal posts, throw things in the stands and, in extreme cases, start riots, they disrupt the spirit of athletic events. The summit officials indicated that if these problems are not addressed soon, there is a potential for major consequences at college games.

Andy Geiger, Ohio State University Athletic Director, is working with law enforcement personnel to increase the enforcement of public and underage drinking laws at the games. He blames a disrespectful culture and rude behavior in the crowds for the absence of sportsmanship.

“We have a lot of work to do,” Geiger said. “There will be a lot of effort to develop the best practices and to try to adopt some standards, at least for game management and crowd control.”

Ohio State has already put together a task force for studying issues of fan misbehavior. Behavioral scientists will try to get to the root causes and see what can be done to correct these problems.

Skip Bertman, Lousiana State University Athletics Director, said excessive alcohol abuse is the main cause for misbehavior, but there is nothing really concrete that stirs up a crowd at a game.

“It’s really emotional, like you have to kind of be there and the game has to go a certain way … sometimes just officiating,” Bertman said.

LSU recently implemented a program of the “three E’s:” education, engineering and enforcement. The main problem at LSU sporting events is not riots, but storming the field and destroying the goal posts. Officials are telling fans to stay off the field and are working on a project to build a goal post that would collapse before fans could climb up it. A new law might even make it illegal to tear goal posts down.

Glen Miller, university police lieutenant at the University of Wisconsin, said athletic events at UW are usually kept under control. Miller said riots and other misconduct are not a big problem because people know what the rules are and are respectful of each other.

“We’re pretty fortunate here,” Miller said. “Our fans are pretty respectful of each other and the facilities.”

However, university police work closely with the athletic department prior to each game. Miller said they are very well organized and do everything they can to make sure things go well.

NCAA summit organizers sent memorandums and summaries of the discussion to institutions throughout the association, and the National Association of Collegiate Directors of Athletics is planning a follow-up session at its annual meeting for summer 2003.