No terror threat to UT game, but security adjustments made

DKR Stadium will feature more than two teams Thursday night.  There will be Longhorns and Red Raiders and another team that’s responsible for keeping game day safe in and outside of the stadium.

Set-up crews spent Wednesday morning preparing DKR Stadium for the thousands of football fans who will attend the Thursday night game. Kick off may be hours away, but the UT Police Department, according to Chief David Carter, is ready.

"There are no specific threats to this game or to the University of Texas, but as we all know across the nation we have to be prepared,” said Chief Carter.

The campus police force is on Tactical Alert Status. The activation actually began last month because of severe weather -- but was extended after the attacks in Paris.

"And basically what that does is all of our officers that may be working plain clothes assignments will be in uniform, they will still doing their everyday functions currently,” said Chief Carter.

A travel alert issued by the State Department Monday was not a game changer for the university - but Chief Carter admits there's been a few audibles to their game day security plan.

"What Paris does do for police departments is it reminds them to look and review their plans and procedures. It reminds them to rehearse to train, to study the tactics to see if they've evolved ... see what the main issues might be,” said Chief Carter.

The security measures, according to Carter,  will extend around the stadium in layers - well beyond the usual bag check at the gates. The plan includes expanding the police force, of about 70, to more than 200 with the assistance of other law enforcement agencies. Officers will also be posted in operational control rooms at police headquarters and in the stadium to monitor video feeds. Special tactical teams can also come into play if a situation develops. Carter told FOX7 several training exercises were recently held inside the stadium.

The security plan is not limited just to those wearing a badge, the fans in the stands will also be asked to play a role. Suspicious behavior can be reported by texting the number that’s posted on signs inside the stadium. Despite all the security measures John Moran may still punt on going to the game.

"Very concerned about the events that took place in Paris as well as other parts of the world and that certainly puts us more on edge and going to places with large numbers of people.”

Moran went on to say the deciding factor in whether or not they will be going to the game will be up to his wife. That would certainly be a different kind of game day decision - based entirely on a different type of prevent defense.