Saturday’s record-setting Tommie-Johnnie crowd of 12,483 fans at O’Shaughnessy Stadium brought high energy but also created challenges for St. Thomas Public Safety and the St. Paul Police Department. By game’s end, one DWI arrest was made, and officers responded to 11 intoxicated people.

The arrest occurred after a St. Thomas student rear-ended a St. John’s student’s vehicle on Cretin Avenue, according to Michael Barrett, Public Safety associate director. Additionally, Barrett reported that two students who were extremely intoxicated were taken directly to local hospitals, and Public Safety responded to several large off-campus parties and minor injuries.

The entire Public Safety staff and nine St. Paul Police officers managed the crowd.

Barrett acknowledged that fans enjoyed the high-energy game, and many in attendance were respectful. However, he also stressed the rowdy behavior of some St. Thomas students who threw beer cans around campus and disrespected the school, saying this year’s crowd was worse than previous years.

“We were a lot busier this year,” Barrett said. “The general theme was complete disrespect by Tommies.”

Junior Tyrel Bleifus wore full body paint to make the letter “E” in “Tommies.” He said that while it was hotter and more packed than last year, the crowd was wild at the start of the game.

“There might be a few ruffians, and I’m expecting about five people to get thrown out today. That’s my prediction,” Bleifus said. “Other than that, I think we’ll have a good time today.”

At halftime, St. Thomas President Julie Sullivan said she wished St. Thomas had more points on the board, but she was excited to see the crowd’s enthusiasm.

“It is a fabulous crowd,” Sullivan said. “I love seeing so many people here. I love the energy. It’s a great rivalry, and everyone is into the game, so it couldn’t be better from a crowd perspective.”

Sullivan also said she hopes the crowd doesn’t get out of hand.

“I haven’t seen that yet, and I’m hoping we won’t, but we’ll wait and see,” she said. “I know that St. John’s and St. Thomas go to a lot of lengths to talk to their students and let them know they’re role models.”

While relaxing indoors during halftime, Bob Schmainda, a St. John’s running back alumnus from the 1960s, said he was happy to see the rivalry carry on for so many years.

“It’s almost the same – just a lot bigger,” Schmainda said. “Around 10,000 people – unbelievable. It looks like a rowdy crowd but well under control.”

At game’s end, senior Erin Sheehan thought the crowd had good energy compared to previous years and wasn’t too disrespectful, but she was still disappointed to lose.

“It sucks,” Sheehan said. “That’s two years in a row. It’s just going to suck real bad, but we’ll probably party the same.”

As dejected St. Thomas fans walked off the field at the close of the fourth quarter, freshman Will Beardmore was looking to the future.

“It’s definitely going to give us a lot more motivation to get back in there and take it back,” Beardmore said. “From what I’ve heard, we’re the better team, or we should be, and we just need to get back in there and take it back.”

Simeon Lancaster can be reached at lanc4637@stthomas.edu.