Central Michigan University Police are hoping mother nature and class schedules help subdue any riotous behavior at Wednesday night’s tailgating and football game against Ball State.

“I think the weather will hold that down, and the fact that it’s a game on a Wednesday night,” said CMU Police Chief Stan Dinius. “A Wednesday night game is tough for kids to get out of class and get down there too early. When it is on a weekend, they can start Friday night and go right through to Saturday night.”

There will be 25 to 30 officers, Dinius said, and about 35 private security personnel patrolling and working during pre-game festivities.

The weather is forecasted to be around 25 degrees Fahrenheit for the 7 p.m. kickoff, according to the Weather Channel.

Dinius said CMU Police have been working with CMU Public Relations and University President Michael Rao to encourage safety on game day.

“We’ve done some PR work on trying to hold the drinking down,” Dinius said. “We’ve done a couple of messages to the public by the president and through the PR department to try and get people to drink responsibly.”

Director of Media Relations Steve Smith said the actions of everyone at tailgating and during the game represent the university.

“The overall goal is just to create awareness among the fans that are attending the football games to be mindful of their actions,” Smith said.

Before next year, the university and the CMU Police Department will be discussing ways to keep excessive drinking at a minimum because they want everyone to enjoy themselves but be safe, Dinius said.

“We want people to have a good time and come to the game if that’s what they’re there for,” Dinius said. “Not necessarily to come there and drink their brains out in the parking lot.”

If CMU does beat the No. 14 ranked Cardinals, Dinius said, CMU Police are ready for any excesssive celebration that may occur on the field and after the game.

“It will help that there is class the next day, but if they win it is certainly a possibility there will be some big parties, and we will work with the other departments at addressing that,” he said.

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E-mail the author: Mike Wayland