COLUMBUS, Ohio (AP) - Police fired tear gas and wooden pellets to break up rioting by college football fans who set fire to cars, threw bottles and burned furniture in the streets early Sunday in celebration of Ohio State University's victory over rival Michigan.
AP Photo
In the minutes after the Buckeyes' 14-9 victory, which sealed a 13-0 season for the team and a trip to the Fiesta Bowl, fans swarmed the field and threw chunks of turf at state troopers who used pepper spray to try to prevent them from pulling down the goal posts.
At least a dozen fires were later set near the Columbus campus. Police said 45 people were arrested for disorderly conduct and alcohol violations.
Football celebrations got out of hand in South Carolina, California, North Carolina and Washington, as well.
At Washington State University, fans pelted visiting players from the winning University of Washington team with bottles, plastic souvenirs and other debris.
"I feared for my life," Washington athletic director Barbara Hedges said following the dramatic 29-26 triple-overtime win, which was decided by a referee's call that went against Washington State. None of the players was hurt.
_ In Clemson, S.C., a 67-year-old sheriff's officer and a female fan were injured when fans rushed the field and tore down a goal post following the Clemson Tigers' 27-20 win over South Carolina. Fans piled on top of Officer James Booth, was hospitalized in stable condition. Details on the woman's condition weren't immediately available, but officials said her injuries were not life-threatening.
_ In Raleigh, N.C., one person's leg was broken and two people suffered knee injuries on the field when fans tore down goal posts following North Carolina State's 17-7 victory over No. 14 Florida State.
_ In Berkeley, Calif., hundreds of University of California fans overwhelmed security guards and tore down the goal posts following the Golden Bears' 30-7 over rival Stanford. Some of the fans were taken away in handcuffs.
Ohio State fans at first high-fived the players after the Buckeye victory, but as more fans rushed the field, they began throwing clumps of sod at the officers and taking chunks of the turf some said they planned to sell on the Internet.
The crowds grew more rowdy after nightfall.
Police spokeswoman Sherry Mercurio said drivers reported their cars were pelted with debris, and a number of cars were set on fire. Officers used wooden pellets known as "knee-knockers" to disperse one crowd of several hundred people and arrested 45 people, she said.
"Your team has gone 13-0 and you should be darn proud of that fact," Mercurio said. "Instead, you take attention away from that and bring the spotlight on the fact that you can't control yourself if your team wins."
