Ejections spiked at the seniors' last home football game Saturday, as police forced 48 people to leave the stadium for intoxication or alcohol-related offenses, officials said.
"Unfortunately, a number of people - more than in past games - drank alcohol to the point of intoxication and were either not admitted to the stadium or ejected from the stadium. Some were arrested," said Phil Johnson, associate director of Notre Dame Security/Police. "These people let alcohol and intoxication get in the way of their safety and their fun - and it prevented them from enjoying a great football game."
Though the number of ejections is the highest this season, it is far less than the 181 ejections police made at last year's final home football game.
Johnson said that since this was the last game of the season, officers were particularly concerned about the "safety of those whose celebration of the day included consumption of alcohol."
Twenty-eight arrest tickets were issued to adults for violations of liquor laws, Johnson said. Ten people were also denied entry to the stadium for intoxication and were released to "a responsible adult."
Three people were arrested at the stadium for public intoxication, Johnson said.
Despite the noticeable increase in the amount of marshmallows thrown in the student section at halftime, Johnson did not say if any of the arrests or citations were marshmallow-related.
Outside the stadium, police made six custodial arrests, three for public intoxication, one for liquor law violation and two for liquor law violation, false informing and possession of false identification. All offenders who were arrested were transported to St. Joseph County jail, Johnson said.
Two men were also arrested for criminal trespass and for re-selling football tickets on campus, "having previously being issued warnings," Johnson said.
One man was arrested for public intoxication following a fight. Police are still investigating the matter, Johnson said.
"The matter will be referred to the Prosecutor's Office for review," he said.
In addition, two people were issued trespass warnings after disregarding "officers' requests to stop drinking alcohol during the game in the parking lot," Johnson said.
NDSP was assisted outside the stadium by Indiana State Excise Police, South Bend Police and St. Joseph County Police.
"Police and security staff patrol parking lots to help promote a family friendly game day environment and to enforce Indiana laws regarding alcohol," Johnson said. "This is not an undercover operation."
