A Message From Jamie Pollard 10/22/2024

[Tailg8er]

I know there are multiple stadiums across the country, no water bottles already.

How do they manage that with heat risks (particularly early in the season)? Surely can't expect everyone to stay adequately safe with only drinking fountains - they give out/only sell cups to drink out of? Suppose that might be slightly better, but not a lot.

 

[Tailg8er]

Would be curious to know if the folks in here saying it's "harmless fun" and that "the donors are just being Karens" would have the same stance if it was their old 8 year old kid getting hit in the back of the head from objects being thrown 30+ ft above them.

As the father of an 8 year old, if I didn't think she could handle the risk of a plastic bottle, I probably would choose to purchase seats other than the 2 sections right next to the students. There are also 2 big hills anyone can go to at anytime if they happen to be overly raucous like last week (which let's be honest, was worse than pretty much any other game in recent history with how exciting it ended).

 

[carvers4math]

I have heard "this stuff always happens", but from my seats in the SW corner this is the most stuff (bigger stuff, not airplane bottles) thrown I have ever seen by a long shot; lots of fun but it really can't continue. If Jamie is truly just shooting one across the bow, students better take it to heart or they might not like Jamie's next steps.

Were you the guy yelling “he can’t throw” about the UCF quarterback the entire game, as if Heacock could hear you from the rafters? If so, you were right but I’m not sure he got the message.

 

[Gorm]

I have not experienced anything that Pollard described in that letter. Maybe the C1-C2 folks are just nicer?

 

[ISUStrEngr]

I wonder if Pollard got complaints from the "fans" that sat around us. My friend that was with me is a passionate fan. He stands up between plays, but tries to be respectful of others and sits down as the next play starts. That didn't stop the lady behind us from tugging on his shirt and telling him to sit down because they can't see.

He likes to analyze what he sees happening and voice his recommendations to the coach or officials out loud. He's not overly obnoxious about it, but can sometimes get loud. Of course, that prompted the old guy next to him to say, "You know the coach can't hear you, right? I wish I couldn't"

These interactions totally took the wind out of his sails, and he sat down with his head in his hands for minute in exasperation. Then, other people around looked at that and started saying "he's drunk" to each other. Sure he had some beers before the game, we all did. He wasn't *********, but he had enough to lower his inhibitions and be an animated fan.

We have season tickets, but have not seen any of the people discussed above at the previous games. I chalk this experience up to being around people that normally don't attend games and are overly sensitive to their notion of what behavior is acceptable. I wouldn't be surprised if many complaints come from those fans.

 

[theshadow]

AD: Please wear [insert color here].
CF: **** you.

AD: Please stop throwing things.
CF: **** you.

AD: Please don't be dickheads to other fans.
CF: **** you.

 

[Agclone91]

As the father of an 8 year old, if I didn't think she could handle the risk of a plastic bottle, I probably would choose to purchase seats other than the 2 sections right next to the students. There are also 2 big hills anyone can go to at anytime if they happen to be overly raucous like last week (which let's be honest, was worse than pretty much any other game in recent history with how exciting it ended).

We've had the same seats since 2013 - Well before the students were moved there. I couldn't care less about the students yelling obscenities or just generally being belligerent. We'd get the occasional object into our section the past two years but this year has been the worst by a wide margin. For what it's worth, I'm not one that complained to the AD, but I'm not surprised that people did.

Saying that two entire sections should have to choose between moving seats or having objects thrown at them every game is certainly an interesting stance.

 

[cyclone13]

I can speak about the student section because I am there standing on the tarmac in front of it for every game. So let me address a couple of things I've seen in this thread...

1) Yes, shooter bottles are frequently thrown within the student section and from the section toward the field. They were thrown throughout the UCF game and have been at other games. They're usually small, plastic, and empty, which from my perspective makes them a nuisance more than a danger. But it remains true that they're not allowed in the stadium and can result in a penalty when thrown to the field.

2) Full or partially full water bottles, multiple of which were thrown beginning after the final touchdown and through the end of the game, are another level. I saw countless bottles thrown from the upper rows of the lower deck and, incredibly, from the upper deck. Some landed in the south end zone and, if the refs had chosen, could have been called for a penalty that would have helped UCF when they still had a chance to tie or win the game.

3) More importantly, some landed dangerously close to workers on the tarmac and sidelines, and some hit students who were in the lower parts of the section. When a full bottle from the upper deck lands on the concrete, it goes SPLAT and flattens out. Now imagine how much it must hurt when one of those full bottles hits someone on the head. I witnessed at least two students in the lower part of the section suffer this. One of them looked very shaken for several minutes afterward, though thankfully she seemed to have recovered later. I am sure many more were hit that I didn't witness.

But please...think about your fellow fans and the dedicated workers, coaches, and players on the field before you do something like throwing a full bottle of water from 100 feet up and making it a projectile.

THIS

We can have fun without risking the others' safety and the team's chance of winning.
JP can have CMC or Rocco to announce this - put it on the scoreboard - they can decide how to deliver it - from "pleading" or simply say "it's not cool, it can potentially harm your fellow fans or can cause us to lose money and games".

 

[Tailg8er]

We've had the same seats since 2013 - Well before the students were moved there. I couldn't care less about the students yelling obscenities or just generally being belligerent. We'd get the occasional object into our section the past two years but this year has been the worst by a wide margin. For what it's worth, I'm not one that complained to the AD, but I'm not surprised that people did.

Saying that two entire sections should have to choose between moving seats or having objects thrown at them every game is certainly an interesting stance.

Yeah that's not my stance, that's you putting words in my mouth. I said MY CHOICE, IF I thought my kid couldn't handle it, would be to move. I didn't say anybody else should HAVE to move or get bottles thrown at them.

I also don't think it's near as bad as you're making it out to be. Do I believe things have been thrown out of the student section most if not every game this year? Sure. Do I think EVERYONE in those sections have had something thrown AT them (even one time) this year? Hell no. 95+% of people have not had anything come close to them outside the student section. You're making it seem like it's a constant barrage that's just peppering everyone inside 2 entire sections - that's not at all the case lol...

To be clear, I don't advocate for fans throwing anything at games. It's wrong. But let's not act like they're sitting there with sniper rifles taking mobs of people out FFS.

 

[KnappShack]

Can we throw "toys" like they did at Buffalo Bills games?

Let's spice this **** up

 

[cyclone13]

Can we throw "toys" like they did at Buffalo Bills games?

Let's spice this **** up

I rather see our fans throw teddy bears and donate them to the children's hospital(s) (could be the one in IC). I know that this is not an original idea, but definitely better than "the wave" at Kinnick

 

[LeaningCy]

AD: Please wear [insert color here].
CF: **** you.

AD: Please stop throwing things.
CF: **** you.

AD: Please don't be dickheads to other fans.
CF: **** you.

This is certainly one way to interpret the thread and the amazing white out we had just 2 weeks ago.

 

[Dgilbertson]

THIS

We can have fun without risking the others' safety and the team's chance of winning.
JP can have CMC or Rocco to announce this - put it on the scoreboard - they can decide how to deliver it - from "pleading" or simply say "it's not cool, it can potentially harm your fellow fans or can cause us to lose money and games".

FWIW, the way Sark handled things impressed me. He earned some respect from me.

 

[Bader]

THIS

We can have fun without risking the others' safety and the team's chance of winning.
JP can have CMC or Rocco to announce this - put it on the scoreboard - they can decide how to deliver it - from "pleading" or simply say "it's not cool, it can potentially harm your fellow fans or can cause us to lose money and games".

I think the return of Alvin Bowen, Compliance Linebacker solves all of this

 

[qwerty]

​

​ Dear Cyclone Fans, Thank you for making Jack Trice Stadium loud and energetic. We are grateful for everyone’s support in creating an electric home field advantage for our No. 10 Cyclones. However, we need your help in making the environment in the stadium and parking lots even better. During the past several games, we have unfortunately experienced a significant increase in rude, arrogant, and belligerent behavior by some of our fans. This behavior is typically the result of individuals being intoxicated and has resulted in ugly confrontations between fellow fans leading to physical altercations in several situations, and very unpleasant fan experiences in almost all cases. Although we plan to add additional security measures, we are also asking each of you to help better monitor the behavior of your fellow fans. Do not let a friend, guest, or a fellow fan ruin the game experience for everyone. If we all work together, we can eliminate this problem before it becomes a more serious issue. In addition, we are also sharing a copy of a letter we sent our student ticket holders. If you have a child, grandchild or friend that attends the football games in the student section, please discuss the attached letter with them. We must address this important issue before someone is seriously injured. Our football program is having a historic year. All eyes are on us nationally. It is a great opportunity to highlight our institution, fans, and football program. If we work together, we can best represent our institution in a manner that will make everyone proud. Thank you for your understanding and assistance.

​

​ Jamie Pollard Director of Athletic

Pardon me, Do you have any Grey Poupon?

 

[drlove]

I've posted this before, but I attend a couple CU games each year and there are a lot of people who can't handle it. I don't think I've been to a game where there wasn't a fight, and sometimes between their own fans.

One time this punk kid was leaving the stadium and picking fights with every person he passed down the row. He got to the end and this old cowboy stood up and knocked him about five rows down. It was awesome.

A few notes on CU that I've experienced in the 30+ years of being a season ticket holder.
1. yes they have some idiots and a fight or two has happened, but I truly believe it was way worse before they cut off beer sales decades ago. During the cooling off period, people would show up hammered, or smuggle in their own. When they brought back beer sales, things didn't get worse IMO. I would contend it got better. maybe it coincided with the legalization of edibles.
2. they stopped allowing re-entry, and people have stayed in the stadium and bought beers in the stadium. I've not heard any complaints from the people I know.

Just my experience.

 

[KnappShack]

A few notes on CU that I've experienced in the 30+ years of being a season ticket holder.
1. yes they have some idiots and a fight or two has happened, but I truly believe it was way worse before they cut off beer sales decades ago. During the cooling off period, people would show up hammered, or smuggle in their own. When they brought back beer sales, things didn't get worse IMO. I would contend it got better. maybe it coincided with the legalization of edibles.
2. they stopped allowing re-entry, and people have stayed in the stadium and bought beers in the stadium. I've not heard any complaints from the people I know.

Just my experience.

Legalize weed at JTS!!!

 

[NickTheGreat]

I sit in the lower level of Jack and tailgate in the paved lots between it and Hilton. I saw nothing of the sort. It must be all you filthy plebs causing the issues. Have some self respect!

 

[Erik4Cy]

Maybe the C1-C2 folks are just nicer?

C1-C2 has been my favorite tailgating spot for quite awhile now. It is ironic that I park by Hilton for football and Jack Trice for basketball...that says something about our awesome fanbase (when they're not throwing sh*t in JTS!)

Legalize weed at JTS!!!

It's beyond time.

 

[Klubber]

Ha! Ha! I was at the streaker game. It was C-O-L-D that day!

Yep it was. Which is probably why the cheerleaders were so horrified!