Thirty-three police officers patrolled the parking lot at Hughes Stadium at Sacramento City College during the Causeway Classic Saturday, making sure that tailgaters did not have alcohol or start barbecue fires.

Lt. Bruce Naliboff, of UC Davis Police, said that the rules were in place in an attempt to control alcohol-related fights and to uphold the ban on drinking in public in the city of Sacramento. He also said that this year?s Classic was being treated as a UC Davis home game where alcohol is prohibited.

The decision to not allow barbecuing was made to prevent charcoal from being left in the parking lot, said Captain Mike Corkery of the UC Davis police.

“We wanted to set the tone early on that drinking would not be tolerated,” Corkery said. Corkery added that the increased presence of the police was due to the need to enforce this year?s rules and to be ready for the size of the potential crowd at Hughes Stadium.

“They [the police] have circled us several times,” said Phil Peterson, a tailgater at the Classic.

Peterson said that he did not agree with this year?s rules but was willing to abide by them. Corkery said that the spectators were made aware of the rules ahead of time through notices with the advance ticket sales and pre-game advertising.

He also said that the tailgaters had been cooperative with the police officers. He added that a late-arriving crowd and wet conditions discouraged excess tailgating, which aided the police in enforcing the rules.

“The biggest problem is that I don?t have a view of the game,” Corkery said, 10 minutes before kickoff.

Police were on hand from UC Davis, Sacramento State and Sacramento City College.