To anyone that had something confiscated at the gate

So last night after entering the ticket gate with my father in law and 2 kids, some rent-a-cop noticed my pocket knife clipped to my shorts pocket. She said I couldn't have it. I told her that I didn't know, that it was just a small blade, and that I've had it at every home game in the past 8 years as I enter the same gate for my season tickets. She said it was a SEC rule. I told her I didn't want to lose the knife for sentimental reasons was there anywhere I could put it and get it after the game. At this point I told her I would just leave. She said there is no re-entry. During this conversation, a second female rent-a-cop came over and simply said I know where you can put it, took it from my hand, and deposited it in the big mailbox container of confiscated items. This ruined my idea of leaving the gate, buying a $5-10 ticket, and re-entering. After the game, I spoke to the same two cops. All I got was, good luck, sorry, go buy another knife, it's gone forever in a bitchy attitude. So I called LSUPD this am and was told they have nothing to do with it, and the athletic department "destroys" all those items...
So just wondering if anyone has had anything taken and successfully gotten it back?