Question for Liberty fans. Why the State Trooper?

[ngineer]

I was watching a ball game at the gym the other day and saw the ol' state trooper "body guards" for Nick Saban jogging along with him. It reminded me that when Liberty visited Lehigh the other week, they, too, had a state trooper loping along behind the coach and who then remained on the sideline the entire game, though near the bench toward the south endzone. I thought it curious at the time, but then forgot about it until I saw the images described above.

How many other FCS schools do this? Why? Some kind of 'image' that "our coach" needs protection from thousands of autograph seekers?! Moreover, Liberty isn't even a state university, so why are the taxpayers of Virginia paying for a state trooper to accompany a private school's football team and coach to a game in bucolic Lehigh Valley, PA, where I don't think there has ever been an assassination attempt on anyone..let alone a football coach. Is this supposed to conjure an image that the program is 'big time' like Alabama, Auburn, Florida State and the other southern bastions of football craziness? Could some one explain this?xconfusedxxconfusedx

[StorminASU]

I know there is a Boone policemen assigned to JM that even travels to away games with him. I don't think it's that rare, pretty standard practice for most schools I believe. It would be AWESOME to get paid to go around watching football.

[PantherRob82]

Some kind of 'image' that "our coach" needs protection from thousands of autograph seekers?! Moreover, Liberty isn't even a state university, so why are the taxpayers of Virginia paying for a state trooper to accompany a private school's football team and coach to a game in bucolic Lehigh Valley, PA, where I don't think there has ever been an assassination attempt on anyone..let alone a football coach.

You must be unfamiliar with the concept of "off duty" officers. :) Anyone can "rent" an off duty police officer for the right price. Nothing to do with taxpayers.

[chattanoogamocs]

Chattanooga has two CPD officers on road trips (they shadow the coach at all times). They also drive a marked police car that stays with the charter buses on all road trip.

I always assumed pretty much all schools do this. In this day and age, you never know what some drunken moron my do after a game, particularly if their team just lost. I also assume, particularly at public schools, if the big state schools get them, then they would also have to provide them for smaller state schools too (if they request them). IIRC, one of the two officers for Chattanooga is an alum...and one that used to do it was the husband of our SWA.

When I was at Boone, it was interesting to watch while Huesman and Moore shook hands, because the law enforcement officers for each team also went up and quickly shook hand and said a word to each other.

I believe our men's basketball coach also had a "tail" during parts of the season...though I think it might be to protect him from UTC fans. :)

[DFW HOYA]

In SEC schools, the trooper on the field is meant as a sign of security and also of honor. (You don't see this in Oklahoma or Texas, however, so I'm not sure if it will change at Texas A&M anytime soon.)

It's also a state school thing. I wouldn't expect to see a trooper at Davidson, for example.

[Tribe4SF]

W&M Police Officer always travels with the team, and is on the sideline at every game. The officer for Liberty may also be a campus cop, and simply wearing a trooper like uniform.

[gasoutherneagle]

Coach Monken has a Georgia State Trooper escort at away games. Not sure about home... never really noticed. I'll look out for it Saturday. I do know that the captain of the Statesboro GSP post is an alumnus and the troopers assigned to the detail are also.

[walliver]

I always thought it was more for prestige than security.

There may be some legitimate benefit when playing teams whose fans swarm the field after games; but, to be honest, how is one state trooper going to stop a crowd of 10,000 fans storming the field?

Mike Ayers has a black belt and doesn't need a trooper.xnodx

[Bogus Megapardus]

I know there's a uniformed police officer who just sort of hangs out and watches the game at Lafayette, but he certainly knows better than to get within 20 yards of Frank Tavani, especially if he gets some fire in the belly. I guess it's just a reminder to everyone not to engage in open displays of idiocy. It makes sense if you're going to have 8-10,000 people gathered in one place, many of whom likely have been drinking. As far as the whole look-at-me-with-the officer-jogging-behind thing, that would be ridiculed and parodied on the Lafayette Board so hysterically that they'd think twice about it, I'm sure.

[spdram]

Unless they have their authority extended, what authority do they have outside of their own jurisdiction? I would suspect no more than a private citizen. More show than anything else.

[aceinthehole]

At CCSU (and other state universities, including UConn), the campus police are Connecticut State Troopers, so they always provide some security on the field and at home athletics events.

However, at CCSU I know they do not travel with the team for any away games. Way too expensive and uncessary.

[Libertine]

I can answer the original question. First, that's not a state trooper so there's no taxpayer $ involved. That was most likely Colonel Richard Hinkley, Chief of the Liberty University Police Department. Either he or another member of the LUPD travels with the football team to all away games to shadow the head coach. This has been the case ever since an incident took place during a game at William & Mary in 2005 -- not involving any W&M personnel or fans that I am aware of -- that ended up having to be handled by strength coaches and bystanders. Admittedly, the risk of "assassination" for an FCS head coach is low but the officer is there more for safety and to prevent trouble rather than to take a bullet.

[Franks Tanks]

I know there's a uniformed police officer who just sort of hangs out and watches the game at Lafayette, but he certainly knows better than to get within 20 yards of Frank Tavani, especially if he gets some fire in the belly. I guess it's just a reminder to everyone not to engage in open displays of idiocy. It makes sense if you're going to have 8-10,000 people gathered in one place, many of whom likely have been drinking. As far as the whole look-at-me-with-the officer-jogging-behind thing, that would be ridiculed and parodied on the Lafayette Board so hysterically that they'd think twice about it, I'm sure.

Lafayette public safety officer Barry gets Frank duty. He is about 6' 8" and 340 lbs so he is perfect for the task.

[Bogus Megapardus]

Lafayette public safety officer Barry gets Frank duty. He is about 6' 8" and 340 lbs so he is perfect for the task.

I suppose when you have fans who are disturbed enough to portray him as a Cretaceous dinosaur, you have to be prepared for a few things.

[ElonFirefighter]

Admittedly, the risk of "assassination" for an FCS head coach is low but the officer is there more for safety and to prevent trouble rather than to take a bullet.

Im sure there were a few elon fans that contimplated it during the 2 year hamilton era

[Redhawk2010]

I talked to a state trooper who was traveling with Tennessee State a couple of years ago. That is part of his assignment; to travel with the team where-ever they go. He said in Tennessee the state does pay for it; the schools just have to ask. He had been doing it for several years. I've also seen EKU with state troopers before and two years ago when Jacksonville State came to Cape they had Alabama state troopers with them.

It was funny because when JSU came, their state troopers pulled into a one-way street going the wrong way as they were pulling up to the stadium. A SEMO campus cop put his lights on and pulled in behind them ;)

[unigriff]

In SEC schools, the trooper on the field is meant as a sign of security and also of honor. (You don't see this in Oklahoma or Texas, however, so I'm not sure if it will change at Texas A&M anytime soon.)

It's also a state school thing. I wouldn't expect to see a trooper at Davidson, for example.

What Texas or Oklahoma school you been watching. I've NEVER NOT seen an officer with them, sometimes two.

[molly]

The 1:50 mark of this video (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=blzftASduNc&feature=player_embedded) of the end of the Va Tech/Miami game last Saturday is the moment all of these security guards are waiting for.

[Side Judge]

I believe Delaware has contracted out Keeler's security detail to CSC...

[Go...gate]

No bodyguards at Colgate or Princeton. Greg Schiano has them at Rutgers. I don't think Joe Paterno has them.

[Bogus Megapardus]

No bodyguards at Colgate or Princeton. Greg Schiano has them at Rutgers. I don't think Joe Paterno has them.

Schiano needs them. I hear that the "Rutgers 1000" crew has declared a jihad on him.

[Go...gate]

Schiano needs them. I hear that the "Rutgers 1000" crew has declared a jihad on him.

They did. They expressly WANT Rutgers in the Patriot League.

[veinup]

common practice at Montana as well. home or away, coach has a cop.