Photo by Joshua Lawton

University of Colorado tight ends Joe Sanders, left, and Riar Geer run onto the practice field Thursday afternoon in preparation for the Florida State game that kicks off Saturday night. The second Buff Stampede of the season will start at 7 p.m. today in front of the Boulder County Courthouse.

On Saturday night, the University of Colorado Buffaloes host their first home football game of the season. Here's a quick look at the rules — both on and off the field — that come with a game that brings tens of thousands of reveling fans to town for the 8 p.m. contest against Florida State University.

Off the field

Avoid Broadway and be ready for lots of people out on the streets.

Boulder police spokeswoman Julie Brooks said people who do drive should keep an eye out for more — possibly tottering — pedestrians heading out to the game or to bars.

"We would never advise anybody not to go out," Brooks said. "The reality of it is that there's going to be a lot of people at this game, and there's going to be the usual traffic congestion. We'd just ask people to be patient with other people and to be understanding of the numbers of people who are going to be out."

Be ready for revelers and, police say, celebrate responsibly. Brooks said extra officers are already out onthe streets in response to the return of students to CU. She said police aren't specifically preparing for mayhem — but said they'll be ready if it happens.

"We try not to believe there's going to be riots," Brooks said. "We try to be prepared, as we always are. ... If we do happen to beat Florida State, we hope we can show them we have responsible community members and people who know how to behave, and can act like we've won before."

'Batten down the hatches' if you live on University Hill. That's the advice offered by Jane Stoyva of the University Hill Neighborhood Association. She said neighbors adjacent to the campus are preparing for a rough Saturday night. Home football games — particularly night games — tend to bring loud noise, drunken students, and, on a few occasions, riots.

"You might say that Hill residents suffer with football post-traumatic stress disorder," Stoyva said. "Some leave town for the event. All seem to batten down the hatches and prepare for a night of interrupted sleep."

On the field

Leave your beer and missiles at home.

CU police say they'll strictly enforce a ban on alcohol and throwable items — including marshmallows and whole fruit — to keep them from ending up on the field. CU will have 80 officers at the game, plus 330 private security guards inspecting packs and keeping an eye on the crowd.

Fans are allowed only one non-disposable container up to 2 liters in size, or one factory-sealed, 1-liter bottle of water.

Officials say they'll take a zero-tolerance stance toward fans who break those rules.

"Violations of banned substances and materials, or disruptive and unruly behavior, could result in fans being booted from the game," Joe Roy, CU's police chief, said in a news release.

Call for help with hooligans. CU has set up a special hot line — 303-735-BUFF — for fans to call to report unruly behavior.