Police vs. students sounds like a familiar rivalry, but this time the issue wasn't parking tickets or party noise.
They brought their game to the football field.
Residents of Brody and West Circle complexes joined MSU police officers Sunday at Duffy Daugherty Football Building to compete against each other in a friendly game of touch football.
The game was played as a fundraiser for the American Red Cross.
Lorrie Bates and David Isabell, both MSU police officers, began planning the inaugural game three weeks ago. They posted fliers in dorms and got in touch with a local chapter of the American Red Cross.
Events such as these are meant to help relationships between police and students around campus, Bates said.
"They can finally see us as people, not this idea students have of us arresting and harassing people," she said. "We just want to have fun and be part of the community."
Isabell agrees the game can help build stronger ties between police and students, and hopes the game can become an annual event.
"This helps build relationships with the students, which makes a stronger community," Isabell said. "They can see us as human, just hanging out and enjoying ourselves."
Although interaction between the two teams remained friendly, competition wasn't scarce. Players on both squads sprinted, guarded and fought for a victory.
"Everyone has bad perceptions of cops and I don't think that's fair," said student player and veterinary technology freshman Stevie Jones. "I don't think they're bad people — I just want to beat them."
Equipped with red and blue flags hanging from their waists, both teams huddled before each play, discussing strategies to defeat the opponents.
MSU police Sgt. Florene McGlothian-Taylor cheered from the sidelines, but she wasn't urging on the cops — she chose to support the students.
"The cops have a whole crew here — spouses, children, coworkers. Someone has to cheer for the students," McGlothian-Taylor said. "It's always good to get out and build an understanding and positive relationship between us and the students."
The cheering must have helped because the students began to dominate the game shortly after the police were up 14-0 at halftime.
Business sophomore Andrew Zoratti played in the game and said he gained a different perspective on campus police.
"I didn't know what to expect, but it was a lot of fun," he said. "The cops were all really nice people, and I would definitely do this again."
After the game was over, players from both teams hugged, laughed, shared high fives and met for pizza and soda.
The event raised more than $350 for the American Red Cross. The final score was 28-21, with the students emerging victorious.
