University of Colorado at Boulder officials are hoping measures taken to help improve fan behavior at CU football games over the past several years will continue to pay dividends when Baylor visits Folsom Field for the homecoming game Oct. 7.
Programs like Compete With Class, launched by the Big 12 in 2003 that promote sportsmanship and respect by fans and athletes, appear to be having an impact, said CU Athletic Director Mike Bohn. The CU Athletic Department also has been reaching out to supporters through targeted scoreboard messages, paid advertisements, emails to students, clothing and pizza giveaways, and programs for kids in the community, he said.
"CU students are the heartbeat of our program," said Bohn. "Compete With Class and other CU programs embody our desire to engage students and every other group we can to build a user-friendly environment for our constituents, increasing awareness and producing outstanding sportsmanship in a respectful climate."
Although fan ejections from Folsom Field by CU-Boulder police are up after the first two games this year -- there were 128 in 2006 compared to 108 in 2005 --overall fan behavior appears to be less rowdy than a year ago, said CU-Boulder Police Lt. Tim McGraw.
"Our impression through the first two games is that fan behavior has improved this year,'" McGraw said. "One reason there have been more fan ejections is that we have been able to pick offenders out more easily because 99 percent of the crowd has been well behaved."
McGraw credited programs like Compete With Class and the Power of One, a new student initiative devoted to stressing pride and responsibility, for helping improve fan behavior at games. "This message seems to resonate well with people," he said. "The fact that less than 100 people came to our attention at the Arizona State game out of a crowd of about 45,000 indicates we are seeing a very small percentage of offenders."
CU-Boulder sophomore Dustin Farivar, who is involved with the Power of One Program at CU-Boulder, said the initiative encourages students to work together. "It's about how we support each other as a community," he said. "At football games, for example, we are seeing students take a stand against negative fan behavior, and the idea is that it takes just one person and one action to promote positive change."
A recent campus podcast features a conversation between Chancellor G.P. "Bud" Peterson and CU head football coach Dan Hawkins that addresses the impact of the Compete With Class and Power of One programs, as well as issues like fan behavior and the reputation of CU-Boulder. The photo-enhanced podcast can be heard and watched at: .
"We're hoping with this Power of One campaign that people will stand up and do what's right and say what's right," said Hawkins.
Peterson said fan behavior can have an impact on CU-Boulder's standing around the country. "I think it's important for the fans to understand we have expectations of them, too, in terms of the way they act at games and the way they represent the university," he said. "It really is amazing how significant an impact the fans have on the national reputation of the university and how people view the university."
An email message from the three CU football team co-captains and three student government leaders sent. Sept. 14 to all CU-Boulder students urged enthusiastic but respectful fan behavior at games and appeared to be well received by the student body, according to Bohn.
Bohn said other athletic department efforts designed to create positive bonds with the community include the Ralphie's Kids Program, which is enabling more than 1,000 Colorado children to attend CU football games this fall free of charge.