As the Cyclone football team prepares to take the field against Nebraska, spectators are planning their pre-game festivities, and law enforcement officials will be in full-force.

Rob Bowers, associate director of public safety at Iowa State, said approximately 30 ISU officers work the home football games, in addition to law enforcement provided by the Ames Police Department, the Iowa State Patrol and the Story County Sheriff’s office.

“The games have been running around 49,000 [fans]. This game is going to have around 51,000 people — give or take — at it, so from that perspective there isn’t that much difference between this game and the games we’ve already had this year,” he said.

Jim Robinson, Ames Police investigations commander, said the Ames Police Department generally has between 21 and 25 officers who work the home games. The officers help direct traffic as spectators pull in to the lots and patrol the stadium once the games begin.

“It can be a long, tiring day for our officers, especially the ones that have to go on shift and work a later shift after the game is over with,” he said.

In addition to the services provided by law enforcement, Mary Greeley Medical Center, ISU Athletics Office and Per Mar Security Services also help to coordinate game-day efforts.

Marilyn Polito, director of emergency services for Mary Greeley Medical Center, said game days utilize about 12 emergency medical technicians and paramedics to offer assistance to events that may require medical responses. Polito said they respond to alcohol-related cases through a holistic approach.

“We try to interview them and get an idea of how well they’re able to communicate with us and the duration and how much alcohol they’ve consumed,” she said. “We take vital signs and do a blood sugar [screening] on them immediately, so that gives us a better idea of their baseline health status.”

Polito said depending on the status of the individual, they may opt to take them to the medical center if further medical attention is needed.

Overall, Polito said she has seen a decrease in the number of emergency responses necessary at home games this season, although she wasn’t able to determine specifically what the percentage was.

Bowers said the use of the buddy system can be especially helpful if individuals feel the need to consume alcohol. Robinson said he agrees.

“You need to be careful and you need to be smart. If you’re underage, there’s a chance that you’re going to get picked up if you’re tailgating,” Robinson said. “It wouldn’t be a cheap date that day if you’re cited for possession of alcohol under the legal age.”

Sidebar info:

ISU home games by the numbers for the 2008 football season

South Dakota State: 46 total charges and arrests — 39 possession of alcohol under the legal age, 6 public intoxications, 1 drunk driving. Average age of arrest: 19.78 years

Kent State: 35 total charges and arrests — 28 possession of alcohol under the legal age, 6 public intoxications, 1 charge of harassment of a public official. Average age of arrest: 20 years

Kansas: 38 total charges and arrests — 29 possession of alcohol under the legal age, 6 public intoxications, 2 disorderly conduct charges and 1 charge and arrest for possession of drug paraphernalia. Average age of arrest: 20.17 years.

— Information provided by the ISU Police Department.