<p>[Yale</a> Daily News - Bladderball returns](<a href=“http://www.yaledailynews.com/news/university-news/2009/10/12/Bladderball-returns-1012/]Yale”>http://www.yaledailynews.com/news/university-news/2009/10/12/Bladderball-returns-1012/)</p>
<p>Check out the “play by play.”</p>
<p>Sadly, the bladderball never made it onto Old Campus. We were there for Family Weekend, and caught a brief glimpse of it through Phelps Gate.</p>
<p>Actually, to us it did look like it made it out into Old Campus, but then, as the report indicates, went back out the Gate. The scene reminded me of a combination of Pamplona and the Bacchae.</p>
<p>It never made it through the gate onto Old Campus. </p>
<p>I have to say, though, we stood on the sidewalk above Durfees from 4:05 until the final shreds were distributed, and it was a really happy sight to see. The pictures do pretty good justice to the overall mood. Silly, crazy, passionate kids having fun. The police were trying to keep traffic moving in front of us, but were completely non-confrontational with the kids. My impression was they were trying to keep cars from hitting them, and keep Elm Street traffic moving (not possible at times.)</p>
<p>I kept thinking, these kids need to blow off some steam in a positive way, and the police need to show they can tell the difference between something truly evil requiring their complete attention (the tragic loss of Annie Le last month), and kids having a good time in a relatively safe way. The kids were appropriate and so were the police. I saw one arrest: a student who carried an open beer onto Elm street, yards from an officer. Duhhhh.</p>
<p>I hope Yale and the local police look the other way if this returns next year…</p>
<p>i just looked up “bladderball” on wikipedia and i have to say; despite seeming to be fairly innocuous, it has caused quite a few incidents… hopefully yalies continue this tradition and lay waste to new haven :)</p>