ANN ARBOR—Below are statements from Sue Eklund, University of Michigan dean of students and associate vice president of student affairs, and Bill Bess, executive director of U-M’s Department of Public Safety, regarding the U-M and Ohio State game on Saturday (Nov. 18):

Sue Eklund:

” Our message to students was part of a series of communications on fan behavior that we have had over the past three years. We also addressed the behavior of U-M fans when rival MSU came to Ann Arbor earlier this year. All Big Ten schools, including OSU, are working on these issues so we can encourage the kind of positive sportsmanship that reflects well on our schools.

” This is a huge game, with high stakes, and an enormous amount of hype. It’s just good common sense to help our students understand how to behave appropriately and have a safe and enjoyable experience, given the hype surrounding this game.

” Fan behavior on college campuses has become a growing concern in recent years. Many university administrators across the country, including here at U-M, are struggling to find appropriate ways to help some fans strike the correct balance between enthusiasm and provocative behavior that can easily escalate. We also recognize that the large majority of college sports fans are appropriately enthusiastic and support their teams with vigor.

” We believe this will be a terrific game. We appreciate the efforts by the OSU administration and local law enforcement agencies to provide a welcoming environment for all fans. We expect that U-M and OSU fans will exhibit good sportsmanship and will enjoy a positive and memorable experience.”

Bill Bess:

” It is not uncommon for U-M or other major universities in the Big Ten and across the country to send officers with their teams, particularly for big rivalry games.

” U-M officers will be providing a presence for our team and will check in with our band, cheerleaders and alumni tailgate.

” Our role is to support our team and U-M groups with a uniform they can recognize, to answer questions and if necessary coordinate with local law enforcement to mitigate any problems before they escalate. We have been working collaboratively with the OSU campus, local and state law enforcement agencies.”