Bulldog crowd members sling beer on field; reactions vary

By Joshua D. Scroggin

A complaint was made at the Fresno-Oregon State football game Friday night that alleges a coach on the Oregon State sideline threw a cup into the stands and hit a fan sitting in the handicap section.

The incident allegedly took place after a controversial penalty was called on Fresno State following a blocked field goal in the fourth quarter.

After the penalty, fans in the student section booed, and cups of beer and half-empty plastic beer bottles rained down on players and coaches on Oregon State’s bench.

After the field goal, at least one Oregon State player retaliated and threw a bottle back into the stands. The complaint alleged a coach also threw a cup into the crowd.

The man who got hit by the cup did not want to give his name to The Collegian, but did make a formal report with an assistant usher at the stadium and told a Fresno police officer he wanted to press charges.

The officer said he took the man’s name and phone number.

The usher who took the complaint said the fan who was hit would be called back, and if he wanted to pursue the complaint, the university would take action.

Fans threw beer onto the field, which splashed on people, and immediately following that, Oregon State punter Carl Tobey was treated for a cut behind his ear.

Campus police said there were at least five incidences of public intoxication and three cases involving minors with alcohol. Offenders were taken to the Fresno County Jail, and the minors were cited to appear in court and set free, they said. But they could not immediately provide exact charges or incidents.

Even so, campus police gave fans a positive review for their behavior in the first home game.

“ For the first game, it was not that bad,” said detective Kevin Vu of the Fresno State police department. “It was peaceful overall.”

Although it seemed Fresno State fans registered the initial blow, they were not unprovoked. In the second quarter, Oregon State wide receiver James Newson threw ice in the direction of the stands, but the ice hit a collegian reporter and an event staff employee before it reached the seats.

Fresno State director of events Mike Rupcich said he was not aware of a report being filed against anyone from Oregon State, but will be updated on any reports taken during Friday’s game by today.

— Maurice Ndole contributed to this report.