Ohio State University – November 23, 2002
How it Started:
It was what is known as the greatest rivalry in college sports: The Ohio State vs Michigan football game. Fans spent the day waking up in the morning for 'Kegs and Eggs', and continued tailgating until game time. There was much media hype of the event, as the game meant a lot. There was a huge crowd in attendance, with many Ohio State fans sporting vulgar anti-Michigan T-shirts. Ohio State ended up defeating arch-rival Michigan 14-9, clinching a berth into the National Championship game, and giving Ohio State a perfect 13-0 record on the year. Fans rushed the field after game, a few getting broken legs in the process.
After the game...
Every house on campus was throwing parties that spilled over into the streets. It was just a matter of time before things got out of hand.
A car tried driving through mobs of people on the street and made the mistake of honking his horn. In a matter of seconds the windshield was smashed in with a rock and the passengers were pulled out of the car and beat. The people in the car ran away as the crowd rocked the car back and forth until the vehicle rolled over.
Chaos ensued from there....
One car after another was being flipped over all down the street. Cars were set ablaze, then furniture. Police then hit the streets with riot gear. Dozens of tear gas canisters were fired into the crowd, scattering thousands of rioters in each direction.
The Aftermath:
The crowd of over 5,000 managed to start 107 fires, damage 20 cars, and produce massive amounts of trash on the streets of Columbus. 70 arrests were made with charges ranging from underage drinking to public indecency to resisting arrest.
Many say the cause of the celebratory riot was the excessive drinking that many fans took part in. Because of the all-day drinking binge, there were many “falling down” drunks.
That night in Columbus was a war zone: people were flipping cars over and lighting them on fire, uprooting trees and ripping doors off of houses to fuel the fires, and tear gas was being dispersed everywhere while the crowd was being shot at with rubber bullets.