Football student section to be moved?

The WAC is considering legislation that could lead to the relocation of the student section

By Zack Walton

The Western Athletic Conference is considering legislation that would ban student sections from being located behind visiting benches at football games, Fresno State Athletic Director Scott Johnson said.

The legislation—if passed—could ultimately lead to the relocation of the student section, which is currently located directly behind the visitors’ bench.

Fresno State football coach Pat Hill said he prefers the student section in its current location but if there is a change in the rules, something will have to be done.

“ I support the students,” Hill said. “In a worst-case scenario, we would have to move the student section. I want the students to be together and have a good time.”

Senior associate director of the WAC Jeff Hurd said discussion about student sections being allowed behind visiting team’s benches has been continuing on and off for the past 12 months and that it is unlikely the rule change would take place before next season.

“ This is not a burning issue,” Hurd said. “But it is definitely an issue we are looking at. It is possible—but not likely—that it will affect this season. There are several other issues—such as television contracts, membership, bowl appearances and scheduling—that need to be addressed.”

Hurd said it is not just the WAC conference, but all conferences are looking at fan behavior.

“ There is an issue of sportsmanship overall at the NCAA,” Hurd said. “It is up to the individual conferences to try to promote their own safe atmospheres for fans, players and coaches.”

Last February, the NCAA sponsored a summit on sportsmanship and fan behavior to examine issues related to fan violence at collegiate sporting events.

According to Johnson, the NCAA has put out sportsmanship guidelines—on fighting and alcohol abuse—saying things need to be changed.

Past incidents that have been reported about the student section at Fresno State have included fighting and objects being thrown from the stands.

In 2002, it was reported that a screwdriver was thrown from the stands—past Hawaii coach June Jones’ head—and landed on the field.

Then against Oregon State in 2003, reports said that several objects, including beer bottles, were thrown from the stands toward the Beavers’ sideline.

Although there were still reports of problems last year, assistant athletic director John Kriebs said there were fewer problems last season in the student section than in the two previous years.

Kriebs added that since the attacks of Sept. 11, security has been added for football games at Bulldog Stadium and the student section has a large effect on security at home football games.

“ The main way the student section has affected security is by forcing us to relocate guards to the student section from other areas of the stadium,” Kriebs said. “For example, many times we have to move guards into the stadium from the parking lot.”

No specific numbers were available at time of publishing, but Kriebs said the added guards have meant a significantly higher amount of money spent on security.

Hill said that he still gets many complaints about the student section from other fans in the stadium.

“ I have received lots of e-mails, letters and calls from season-ticket holders complaining about the actions of the student section,” Hill said. “[Sitting near the student section] makes it hard for fans to bring their kids to games because it is not a family atmosphere.”

If it becomes mandated that student sections are not allowed behind visiting team’s benches, Hill said he would switch sidelines before having to move the student section. However, if that did not solve all of the problems, then other actions would have to be taken.

When he arrived in 1997, Hill moved the Bulldogs to the west sideline because he said he felt there was an added athletic advantage in having his coaches up in the boxes looking across the stadium at visiting teams.

Hill, who has talked about stadium expansion for years, said more seats are needed in the stadium. He said in order to generate more revenue and add seats, the students are needed but problems still occur concerning the student section.

“ In a perfect world we would leave the students—and we would have a bigger stadium—but this is not a perfect world,” Hill said.