“We also recognize that there are a lot of people who come to town … but do not have tickets to go to the event,” Brown said. “We have a number of high rivalry games where (we) have an increased police presence.”

Kristen Scali, kinesiology junior and feature twirler for the Spartan Marching Band, said the police walk with the band when they march the streets.

“They are really good about keeping security on the band when we travel (to other schools),” Scali said.

Jon Carrothers, music education senior and trombone player in the Spartan Marching Band, said the police mostly are there to stop fans from running through the band’s parade or trying to do something physically harmful.

“Just the fact that there are police cars along there is helpful, (and it reduces the) desire to physically harm anyone in the band,” Carrothers said.

Carrothers said he heard about a incident a few years ago when a U-M fan threw a glass bottle at the band when it visited Ann Arbor.

Brown said she could not comment on any specific incidents.

Brown said more police officers will be there for Big Ten and high-profile games in particular. She said it is an NCAA rule that the home field’s university provide police presence for the team.

“I can (assure) you that there is a much more challenging issue at other institutions than there is here,” Brown said.

Michigan State Police spokeswoman Shanon Banner said U-M requests a police presence for all opposing teams.

Banner said the police for the band and football team is to help traffic flow rather than for safety.
Carrothers said U-M fans harass the band the most compared to other schools he has traveled to. But he said the band takes precautions before going into any situation where there will be harassing fans.

“(The band director is) very clear about keeping things inside, don’t retaliate, don’t go in there … with guns firing,” Carrothers said. “We will do our thing, but we can’t respond or react.”
Carrothers said if a fan will not stop harassing him, he says, “I’ll pray for you.”

Scali said she has experienced harassment at most opposing schools since she joined three years ago, and she heard about the bottle-throwing incident. She has learned to stay aware and not let it break her focus.

“When we march in the streets, we are so focused on what we are doing that I don’t recognize the people around me,” Scali said. “It’s just being aware of what’s around you (and) knowing what you’re going into.”

Carrothers said the fans at the game against Central Michigan this year were distracting.
“It was definitely a way to distract us and definitely pretty effective,” he said.

Brown said most of the fans behave properly, but there are some spectators who get out hand.
“Whether they are wearing green or maize and blue, (we expect everyone) to be respectful to the opposing team and band and each other,” Brown said.