WIth partying in the closed streets, beer flowing and women flashing, some could have mistaken Marshall Street for Bourbon Street on Saturday night.

But with falling snow, people hanging from trees and telephone poles, police in riot gear and fires burning in the middle of the road, it was clear that the celebration was far from that in New Orleans.

More than 50 police officers patrolled Marshall Street and South Crouse Avenue, which were closed to traffic, as thousands of students took to the streets. Crowds lined storefronts, from Konrad’s to J. Michael’s, to celebrate Syracuse’s win over Texas in the national semifinal game of the Final Four. And by most accounts, the scene on M-Street tonight will not be much different.

Although the Syracuse Police department will not release any specific details or numbers of officers they plan to use, students can be sure that if they run wild, officers will be there to greet them, said Syracuse Police spokesman Sgt. Tom Connellan.

‘I don’t want to speculate on the reaction, but we will be prepared whatever it is,’ Connellan said.

Much as it was Saturday, the ‘order of the night is everyone’s safety,’ Deputy Chief Bill Hanna said.

That night, officers charged 16 people with disorderly conduct and one person with an open container violation, Connellan said. Of the 16 charged with disorderly conduct, two were additionally charged with resisting arrest and two others were charged with possession of marijuana, he said.

Police charged Josh Verni, Stephan Jakubowics, Sean Keegan, Kevin Martin, Christopher Leo, Jacob Dizorio, Connor Treffiletti, Sachin Gadh, Michael Ronan and Eugene Barzizza with disorderly conduct, according to police reports. Timothy Cullipher of Baldwinsville was charged with disorderly conduct. Jason Lent, a resident of Mattydale, was charged with disorderly conduct and possession of marijuana, as was Sean McCann of Syracuse, the report stated. Officers charged Syracuse students Daniel Pulito and Robert Kessner with disorderly conduct and resisting arrest, the report added.

Gadh, a senior political science and newspaper major, thought police presence provoked some of the students.

‘You needed the police there, but it seems like they incited the riot,’ Gadh said. ‘I got hit by a nightstick three times. But, overall, as long as no one got hurt, I would call it a success.’

Another student who faces charges, senior illustration major Jakubowics, understands why he was charged. He was being obnoxious and waving his shirt in the face of officers when he was charged.

‘I guess I was a little too rowdy and got caught up in the excitement of the game,’ he said.

SU hopes to save itself from many negative headlines and video that often accompany losers and the winners of championship games trashing their respective communities.

‘We don’t want a very positive thing like the Final Four to turn into a negative for anyone,’ SU spokesman Kevin Morrow said.

Like the university, those at Maggie’s Tavern are hoping students will celebrate responsibly. Maggie’s did not have any problems Saturday night but will have increased security regardless, said Chris Raslan, Maggie’s general manager.

‘We always have extra security when there are any events that require it,’ he said.

Raslan commended the police for their proactive measures, including the requirement that beer be sold in plastic cups instead of glass bottles and maintaining a safe number of patrons in the bars.

‘I would urge students not to break street signs or destroy personal property, but to be proud and celebrate because there is no need for violence and rebellion,’ Raslan said.

One reason officers were prepared for that violence was because of the activities on Marshall Street during previous years. In 1987 and 1996, the last two SU Final Four dates, students poured onto of the streets. Evan Salama, a senior acting major, said that ever since he was a freshman, he has heard about those previous times on M-Street and had to experience it for himself this time around. Though the first of many fires burned in the background, Salama thought students were being respectful toward one another and wished no ill will on the street that night.

But some did put the safety of themselves and others in danger by lighting fires in the streets, hanging from trees and light poles and, eventually, throwing glass bottles at police officers. These actions led to officers clearing the streets at about 12:45 a.m. Sunday without any incident.

‘We dispersed the crowd because people began throwing branches and bottles at officers,’ Connellan said. ‘We are there so people can celebrate appropriately.’

Many of those people who ended up celebrating on M-Street began their evening watching the game in the Carrier Dome. More than 4,800 people were in the Dome watching the Orangemen take on the Longhorns on large screens set up, Morrow said.

The 4,800 people in the Dome, although a far cry from the tens of thousands who cheer for SU during home games, was a 1,300 increase from when SU last made the Final Four and showed the game on big screens in the Dome.

‘It was a combination of people wanting to come to the Dome to be with thousands of other fans and the fact that many throughout the region were without power, and we provided access to a television,’ Morrow said.

SU will increase the number of yellow-coat Dome security and increase Public Safety patrols on campus Monday to keep things under control and prevent any potential problems, Morrow said.

Although the Dome on Saturday may have been loud, a different dome across the country was filled with the same excitement and the actual game itself. But freshman computer graphics major John Meglino would have rather been in the Dome on Saturday night and likely tonight.

‘It was better than New Orleans,’ Meglino said. ‘Definitely.’

Staff writer Jean Stevens contributed to this story.

Published on April 6, 2003 at 12:00 pm