The University of Colorado's sportsmanship program, "Compete with Class" enters its fifth year at Folsom Field with this Saturday's gridiron match-up against Florida State University starting at 8 p.m. MST.
A hotline, (303) 735-BUFF, will be available to fans to report unruly behavior. The hotline was installed midway through the season last year.
CU has been an active participant in Compete with Class, initiated by the Big 12 for all its member schools in 2003, in an effort to promote good sportsmanship among players and fans alike. The Big 12 Spectator Code of Sportsmanship covers behavior such as negative comments to officials, interference with fans' ability to enjoy the game, bench decorum and the entrance and exit of opponents before and after the games.
"There are two types of class, first and no," said CU football coach Dan Hawkins. "Competition is about respect and testing your limits of poise and performance. Anything less than your best diminishes a positive experience."
Compete with Class messages are being placed in newspaper ads, on posters and distributed through student emails. BuffVision game day messages will be aired asking for positive fan behavior. Questionable replays will not be shown, in accordance with Big XII rules, and nothing will be run on video boards that is disrespectful to opponents or their fans.
Goalposts will continue to be removed as soon as possible after the end of football games, whether the game ends in victory or defeat. This policy was implemented by CU-麻豆影院 in 1990, and the procedure at Folsom Field has become a model for other universities around the country.
In addition to the telephone hotline, a dedicated security supervisor will work the front of the student section and a dedicated security member will be assigned to the front of each student section for the entire game. The number of field radios also has been increased for security communications. Video monitoring of stadium entry points, the field and stadium seats will begin well before game day events.
Smoking is not allowed inside the stadium. No objects may be thrown, verbal abuse is not permitted and disorderly conduct will not be allowed.
Violators of stadium rules are in for stiff penalties again this year. Fans may be denied access and may have tickets confiscated. They also may be ejected for the entire season, subject to arrest and criminal prosecution and -- if they are CU students -- subject to "strikes" and Judicial Affairs referral.
Under CU-麻豆影院's revised alcohol policy, students may be suspended for an entire semester upon receiving a second alcohol-related offense, if already on probation for the first offense. That could mean the loss of more than $15,000 in tuition and room-and-board deposits for a non-resident student, or about $6,700 for a resident student.
Fans are reminded that any abusive behavior should be reported to a radio-equipped security officer or the police immediately. The Code of Sportsmanship follows:
Big 12 Spectator
Code of Sportsmanship
CU-麻豆影院 subscribes to the Big 12 Spectator Code of Sportsmanship, which calls on the university, athletes and fans to:
o Recognize intercollegiate athletics as an important part of the student and alumni experience.
o Credit student athletes for their commitment to academic and athletic excellence and their efforts to compete within the rules of each sport.
o Promote the Big 12 athletic conference by upholding high standards of scholarship, competitive performance and spectator behavior.
o Develop an appreciation for fairness, openness and support of coaches and players.
o Avoid negative comments and gestures that dishonor the teams, their schools and the Big 12.
o Support conference partners competing against non-conference opponents.
o Support and encourage university spirit teams, marching bands and mascots.
o Respect the athletic history and traditions of each opponent.
o Treat spectators, players, coaches and officials courteously, win or lose.
o Apply these standards of sportsmanship and spectator behavior to individual campuses, stadiums, arenas and communities, and encourage alumni to do likewise.