Those looking for another ISU Police hat are in luck again this year.

During the last three football seasons, ISU Police have implemented tailgating campaigns in order to keep good rapport with tailgaters.

“It’s a red and white hat, sort of ‘Cat in the Hat’-like,” said patrol officer Emily Stauffer.

Stauffer said this year ISU Police will be targeting more groups than individuals, to make sure tailgating groups are being responsible.

All tailgating parties that ISU Police reach will designate a tailgate host. All hosts will receive a ticket that will allow them to pick up an ISU nylon backpack filled with various Cyclone apparel.

ISU Police Cmdr. Gene Deisinger said the grab bag will include: an ISU hat, an ISU T-shirt with the slogan, ‘The cops were all up in my grill,’ a sticker, a cardinal-and-gold bracelet, sunscreen and literature on some tailgating rules. Tailgate hosts will be able to pick up their grab bags at the ISU Police booth in the northwest corner of Lot G2.

Stauffer said approximately 200 tailgating bags will be handed out at each game.

“We’ll have party response teams to help party hosts have fun and safe parties,” Deisinger said.

Most of the party response teams will be located in lots G2 and G3, commonly known as the student tailgating lots.

Deisinger said they’ve heard in the past that police target students at tailgating parties.

“The criticism is fair, but we’re not focused on students, we’re focused on behavior,” Deisinger said.

Deisinger said those who are tailgating in support of the Cyclones aren’t usually the ones who cause trouble; it’s usually those who use it as an excuse to party and not to cheer on the Cyclones.

Deisinger said at an average football game there are usually one to three custodial arrests and 20 to 30 citations for underage alcohol consumption.

The tailgate response teams will focus on early contact with tailgating groups, before any problems arise. They hope this early contact will serve as a positive interaction and set clear expectations on how the tailgating hosts should self-govern their tailgate.

Stauffer said each tailgate response team will be made up of one ISU Police officer and one volunteer.

“Any time you have that many people gathered to cheer on the Cyclones, the environment is going to be exciting,” Deisinger said.