Is U. a Rowdy Crowd?

A photographer at the Utah-TCU game told me last Saturday that security personnel had escorted a woman from the stadium who had decided to take off her shirt.

That was a good idea (the escort, not the shirt removal). I didn’t see the incident, but on 1280-The Zone, Monday, they said security removed her from her location without covering her with a coat or blanket. They just marched her out of the stadium in front of thousands.

If so, that’s bad form.

In the 1980s, I was at a Utah game where a streaker ran from the northwest corner of the end zone at Rice-Eccles to midfield and paused, then moved on before security finally surrounded her partway to the south end zone. But when they caught her, someone had the good sense to wrap a coat around her.

Why no one thought of that on Saturday, it’s a mystery to me.

I have a friend who had his teenage son at last week’s game. I don’t think he sits in the north end zone, but if he did, I’d be embarrassed for him. Football is usually considered a place for clean entertainment.

For years, Utah has battled a reputation as a place where the fans are too rowdy for families (see Max Hall, 2009). I’m not convinced that’s entirely true, though I do have friends who gave up their season tickets because they got tired of the boorish behavior of a few fans.

In fairness, I come down to the field each week near the end of the game, but I don’t see a lot of “Animal House” behavior. Maybe some obnoxious yelling, but that’s about it.

Still, last Saturday’s incident didn’t help assure parents that it’s a good place for kids.

It’s impossible to predict what every single person in a 45,000-seat stadium will do to get attention, but once it happens, it’s the security people’s job to clean it up quickly.

No doubt the stadium has all sorts of security measures in place in case of unruly behavior, fighting or threats. What it apparently doesn’t have is a blanket that guards could wrap around anyone who might decide to take off their clothing. That could save families embarrassment and minimize the shame to the exhibitionist.

Including a lifetime ban on anyone who violates the decency rules would help.

That should keep a lot of people from getting any bright ideas.

I’d like to hear from some Utah season ticket holders. Do you think Utah fans are worse than anywhere else?