COLUMBIA — Except for two arrests, the tailgating scene at Reactor Field was much calmer for the Homecoming game than in previous game days, MU police Capt. Brian Weimer said.
Both arrests were made when police officers tried to break up what had become a big tailgate, Weimer said. The first came when someone threw a bottle at an officer mounted on horseback, and the second when another tailgater tampered with an officer's bicycle.
Weimer also said there was no problem stopping tailgate parties after the game and getting everyone to leave Reactor Field.
Weimer said there were no calls for peace disturbance at the popular tailgating spot Saturday as MU fans celebrated before and during the university's homecoming football game against Colorado. There was a "definite difference," Weimer said, from past tailgates atReactor Field.
The lot did not open until 2:30 p.m. Saturday, in a change meant to minimize the excessive drinking, fighting and underage drinking from past home games. The lot also closed an hour after the game finished.
To manage the lot, which holds 900 cars, MU police had four officers on bicycles and the Columbia Police Department had three mounted officers. Several Missouri State Highway Patrol troopers also helped with traffic flow.