Monday, September 9, 2013

Part of the problem

Yesterday's Lincoln Journal Star contained a couple front page stories about the challenges the Lincoln Police Department faces in dealing with game day Saturdays, when over 91,000 fans fill Memorial Stadium, and an uncountable throng converges on the downtown and campus area--whether they are actually attending the game or not. It's been a few years since the last news feature on this topic, and it reminded me that I have missed my own annual blog post about football Saturdays. No matter, it's pretty much the same as in previous years.

I'll be getting a slightly different perspective next week. I'll be attending the Nebraska v. UCLA game as a fan, courtesy of my son-in-law. Look for me attempting to make a left turn across three lanes of traffic, or wandering down the sidewalk with my head buried in my smartphone. It will be the first opportunity I've had in a few years to be part of the problem.

4 comments:

Anonymous said...

Remember, we deal with every day common encounters during home game day. What used to frustrate, now amuses. I still am impressed that the number of alcohol users are in far greater number than when I was a teen. I must say though, all the drivers I have saw to this time have been pretty darn good. The traffic flow is remarkably efficient in getting the flow going. Here is a question. What emergency plan is in place in the event of something we do not talk about. It scares me that things in Syria are getting kind of hot. Comments? How is information sharing from one agency to the other improved and such.

Anonymous said...

Watch this highlight clip and you'll see a few UCLA players to watch on Saturday.

Anonymous said...

Spot on! I have only been to one game and this was exactly the issue(and I was on a city bus even!). I have worked dowtown in my college years and people act pretty stupidly on game days. Common sense isn't common, especially in a bottle or on a phone. A world in it's own x 91,000 people. Yeah, that. LPD does a great job IMO, and the fans should be thankful.

Clean said...

I don't know how it's done now, but "back in the day," I think we did a pretty good job of getting the fans out of town. 10th and 14th streets two lanes northbound from campus, and Don Smith calling for 9th Street "all green" southbound. And during the game, 120 or so officers in the stands keeping things under control. I think I missed two games in 17 years, but at least I got to assign myself to the press box the last ten or so.