Police chief says students well-behaved

More than 2,000 alcohol-inspired basketball fans – most of them college students – flipped… More than 2,000 alcohol-inspired basketball fans – most of them college students – flipped cars, smashed vending machines and set fires in a $250,000 orgy of destruction.

Fortunately they were nowhere near Pittsburgh. The rioters were Michigan State fans; their team had just lost to Texas.

In Oakland, after Pitt’s loss to Marquette in Minneapolis, thousands of basketball fans with equally trumped blood-alcohol levels left parked cars alone, snack machines intact and caused minimal damage.

With postgame rioting more and more common on college campuses such as Michigan State, Penn State and Ohio State, Pitt police Chief Tim Delaney said Pitt kids should be commended for their behavior.

“This just proves what I’ve always said,” Delaney said. “We have good kids here.”

Twelve days earlier, when the Panthers came home from the Big East Tournament with the trophy, the conditions were ripe for rioting.

“We had a trifecta in effect that Saturday,” Delaney said, “St. Patrick’s Day, warm weather and of course the Big East Tournament victory.”

There were no problems. Delaney said he credits the students foremost but also cited a successful collaboration between city and Pitt police.

“It’s about having a presence,” he said.

Delaney instructs his officers to refrain from arresting students. He says students see the squad cars, as well as police on foot and riding bikes, and that that’s enough to keep the streets riot-free.

What could have led to a disaster fizzled out with the help of a fire engine and, according to Delaney, the students’ good sense.

“There’s always a few knuckleheads,” said Delaney about a group of impromptu arsonists that torched a pile of trash on Semple Street after the loss to Marquette. “But they couldn’t get the rest of the crowd to join in.”

Of course good behavior doesn’t mean Pitt students don’t know how to have fun. After the Big East victory, the streets of Oakland were packed, and Delaney admitted he was nervous to see so many people so intent on celebrating.

Delaney said there needs to be a mutual respect between celebrators and law enforcement for things to go smoothly. Delaney used a Joncaire Street party as an example.

Delaney said that, after a report of a disorderly party, a paddy wagon had stopped to investigate.

“The wagon slowed down, and the kids started shouting, ‘Let’s go Pitt! Let’s go Pitt,'” he said. “These kids were just having fun. They weren’t causing any problems.” The officer let off on the wagon’s breaks, waved and continued down the street.

“I think the students should be commended,” Delaney said.

There was only one arrest the night of the tournament loss. A student jumped on a car and was cited for disorderly conduct. The car he jumped on was an unmarked squad car.