Responsible behavior encouraged at the Rocky Mountain Showdown
When the Colorado Buffaloes take on the CSU Rams on Sunday in the Rocky Mountain Showdown at Invesco Field, a lot will be on the line: bragging rights between two great rivals, the Governor’s Cup, and most importantly, the safety, character and reputation of the two universities and their respective student bodies.
With a 5:30 p.m. kickoff in Denver, Sunday’s game will present a number of challenges to our fans. To address the logistical challenges, we are urging CU fans to take buses to the game or carpool with a designated driver to minimize the traffic and the game’s carbon footprint and to maximize safety. In addition, we are urging all our fans-particularly our student fans-to be safe, responsible and respectful ambassadors of CU before, during and after the game.
The stakes for succeeding here are high. At this time of year, and with the Democratic National Convention having just left town, all eyes will still be on Denver and the students of Boulder and Fort Collins.
Those eyes include those of your parents, who want to know that their young people are safe and sound and representing them in a way that will make them proud. They include those of local law enforcement, which will be out in full force on Sunday. The Denver Police Department has also obtained a grant to help identify intoxicated individuals, underage drinkers, and problem partiers, particularly those who are pre-gaming excessively.
Let’s add to those sets of eyes those of state lawmakers, many of whom make a point each year of attending the game in Denver, and taxpayers who support both CU and CSU. And finally, in our list of who will be watching us, let us add the news media, whose post-game stories can be either about the game or what happened off the field. We want to read the first story and not the second.
What we want all of these key observers to see is two engaged, spirited, excited groups of fans witnessing a friendly but intense rivalry on the field. What we don’t want them to see is fans competing to see who can be the most irresponsible, thereby endangering their own safety and that of other fans, and in the process sending the wrong message about our respective institutions.
On behalf of our university, our fans, our alumni and the leadership of CU, we want to encourage you to behave responsibly and to make your families, your alumni and your university proud. Support your team in a way that truly represents all that our great university stands for and remember the Colorado Creed, your commitment “to act with honor, integrity and accountability in your interactions with others; to respect the rights of others; and to contribute to the great good of the community.”
Support the Buffs with all you have, but demonstrate good sportsmanship and true Buff character. Travel safely and remember that while you are there, both before and after the game, you represent CU. Show people what being a CU fan is all about and Go Buffs!
Guest columnist G.P. “Bud” Peterson is the chancellor and guest columnist Mike Bohn is director of Intercollegiate Athletics at CU
