The rules regarding storming the field and/or court

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RememberMurray

RememberMurray

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I see Gopher fans stormed the court after the basketball team beat #22 Indiana last night.

I'm very concerned.

I had heard that some of our local media personalities were quite offended by Gopher football fans storming the field after Fleck's team beat #25 Nebraska.

So I'm wondering: will these arbiters of good taste be equally upset over last night's unbecoming display of maroon and gold enthusiasm?

I hope the joyous basketball fans won't be called on the carpet by the local media.
 



While I think it gets to be a bit overkill at times and maybe takes away from it being "special", I think the reactions sometimes are ridiculous. Like when someone says they're embarrassed. Really? If college kids think it's fun and worth doing, then why do other people care so much?
 

I actually think they should promote it for football and redesign the student end of the field to safely allow it.
  • Higher Ranked Opponent
  • Rivalry Game
  • Create a playlist
  • Stay to the East end of the 50
  • Players can shake hands on West end of the 50 and visitors exit
  • Lead the Nation in Safe Celebration
#BestCOACHPLAYERSTUDENTrelationsip
 


I believe that between the 2021 Wisconsin win and the 2024 USC win, there were no field/court stormings. The fact that we got three in the span of a month and a half is probably mostly a coincidence that we should enjoy while we’re winning games worthy of the students having that level of excitement. Also, I don’t see what’s unjustifiable about storming vs IU even if they are a bit overrated.
 

I'll admit sometimes it feels unnecessary. Against No. 25 Nebraska seems a little bit much. However, I think it has a lot of correlation with the related catharsis of a win.

Rushing the field on a night of beating the Badgers at home after a couple tough losses and celebrate with the axe? It's cathartic for the fans to rush the field.

Same with the win last night against Indiana. I think considering how the basketball program has been the last couple of years, it was warranted.
 

Be nice to get to a point where beating Nebraska isn't field-storming worthy.

It's just another expected win.

That said, we're not there, so have at it.
 




Maybe the U should appoint someone to set hard and fast rules regarding when it is okay to have joyous displays of fan enthusiasm.

Are U of M students having too much fun cheering for Gopher sports teams?
 


I've been a Gopher fan for over 40 years and never once have I worried that people were getting overly excited about Gopher Football.

I've definitely showed up for our half full stadium and our stadium full of the other team's fans. Bar watches with 4 people and Gopher alumni events in places like Chicago that far lag other schools.

Maybe a few field storms and memorable Gopher experiences will help turn the long term tide.
 

IceBoxGopher said:
I'll admit sometimes it feels unnecessary. Against No. 25 Nebraska seems a little bit much. However, I think it has a lot of correlation with the related catharsis of a win.

Rushing the field on a night of beating the Badgers at home after a couple tough losses and celebrate with the axe? It's cathartic for the fans to rush the field.

Same with the win last night against Indiana. I think considering how the basketball program has been the last couple of years, it was warranted.
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Nebraska was a Friday night stand along prime time game, which might have had something to do with it.

I would have sauntered down to the field that night, but I had a Saturday morning tee time I needed to rest up for.
 



Ope3 said:
Nebraska was a Friday night stand along prime time game, which might have had something to do with it.

I would have sauntered down to the field that night, but I had a Saturday morning tee time I needed to rest up for.
Click to expand...
Also the energy at the stadium was CRAZY that night and we DOMINATED.

It was a great game.
 



MaxyJR1 said:
I actually think they should promote it for football and redesign the student end of the field to safely allow it.
  • Higher Ranked Opponent
  • Rivalry Game
  • Create a playlist
  • Stay to the East end of the 50
  • Players can shake hands on West end of the 50 and visitors exit
  • Lead the Nation in Safe Celebration
#BestCOACHPLAYERSTUDENTrelationsip
Click to expand...
The last few for Gopher football have definitely been mostly students. I kind of like the idea of students coming down and celebrating with the team after a win. Our student section has been really good the last few years and if you add a fun element like celebrating with the team it only strengthens that bond.

My only problem/issue with field/court storming is when the opposing team and coaches get caught up in it and can't exit the field without being accosted by fans acting like morons.
 


Run the barrier out in this type of fashion. People are more likely to follow a plan than to just be told to stay off the field after they are already on the field.


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MNVCGUY said:
The last few for Gopher football have definitely been mostly students. I kind of like the idea of students coming down and celebrating with the team after a win. Our student section has been really good the last few years and if you add a fun element like celebrating with the team it only strengthens that bond.

My only problem/issue with field/court storming is when the opposing team and coaches get caught up in it and can't exit the field without being accosted by fans acting like morons.
Click to expand...
agree on all accounts. I like the students getting to be out there with the team but also very much get the safety aspect of it and think that should be paramount. The kids running across the field down south and throwing up the double birds to head coaches or running into/being hit by opposing players is just an ugly side that we don't need (this is not saying we've done that as haven't ever heard or seen this come up here).

think the "fun police" side of it is wanting to maintain the idea as something "special" to keep the mystique about it. there's a reason we didn't storm the field after NW St. Don't know why both sides get cantankerous with each other (the pro field storm and the maintaining it for certain games/situations). It's a message board y'all. Not like someone was sitting there hissing at the students as they ran on the field same as it's not like Murray was holding up a sign in the 1st quarter directing the students to rush the field. Live and let live, celebrators and complainers both
 

Some members of the local media just use "storming the court/field" as fodder to gripe. I don't listen to KFAN (or much talk radio) much anymore, but I imagine Barreiro will talk about this for about 15 minutes.

Let the kids be kids. I'm in my 70s and never stormed a court/field (even when my blood alcohol level was well above the legal limit), but as long as the kids are celebrating and congratulating our team instead of getting in the way of the opposition it's no big deal.

I think storming the field against team like Nebraska in football and Indiana in basketball may stem from the impression based on the past glory of those programs. The days of Tom Osborne and Bobby Knight are merely specks in the rearview mirror of time, but both those programs were very successful and there is still some cache in that.
 
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RememberMurray said:
I see Gopher fans stormed the court after the basketball team beat #22 Indiana last night.

I'm very concerned.

I had heard that some of our local media personalities were quite offended by Gopher football fans storming the field after Fleck's team beat #25 Nebraska.

So I'm wondering: will these arbiters of good taste be equally upset over last night's unbecoming display of maroon and gold enthusiasm?

I hope the joyous basketball fans won't be called on the carpet by the local media.
Click to expand...
local media is filled w/ dorks that should be ignored.
 



50PoundHead said:
Some members of the local media just use "storming the court/field" as fodder to gripe. I don't listen to KFAN (or much talk radio) much anymore, but I imagine Barreiro will talk about this for about 15 minutes.

Let the kids be kids. I'm in my 70s and never stormed a court/field (even when my blood alcohol level was well above the legal limit), but as long as the kids are celebrating and congratulating our team instead of getting in the way of the opposition it's no big deal.

I think storming the field against team like Nebraska in football and Indiana in basketball may stem from the impression based on the past glory of those programs. The days of Tom Osborne and Bobby Knight are merely specks in the rearview mirror of time, but both those programs were very successful and there is still some cache in that.
Click to expand...
What!? Dan Barreiro using only 15 minutes to share a 30-second thought? Preposterous!
 

The B1G's rules are pretty limited on it. This is from an article last year, and covers all sports (so it may be different today, but I'm sure after the Nebraska game, if it was different, that would have been a source cited by the whiners:

Big Ten: A discretionary fine can result on a third offense for failure to "provide adequate security for visiting teams from their arrival for a game through their departure." There is a private reprimand for a first offense; a public reprimand for a second.

I love this, as it's based on protecting opponents (and implied respect for said opponents - even Wisconsin and Iowa) after a loss (I'm assuming we won't storm the field/court after a loss).

To me, the key is this: Have fun, be respectful of the players and coaches on both teams. Celebrate, don't instigate, and everyone has a good time. To Murray's point, Fans Cheer, the sports media in the Twin Cities can whine about it, and no one gets hurt.

As long as students/fans do not damage the opposing team, the stadium, or the field, we can have nice things in the B1G.

If/when that basic tenet is broken, you have issues, and it only takes one moron to ruin it for everyone, and then we can't have nice things.
 

Its just hot take internet fodder. A bunch of blowhards gatekeeping the fan enthusiasm to the elite upsets. I jumped down for Floyd in 2014, 2019 PSU, and the Axe in 2021. The last two I just watched from the stands for a bit and then went home. I think people's desire for instagram worthy photos has increased the desire to get on the field.
 

caliGopher said:
The B1G's rules are pretty limited on it. This is from an article last year, and covers all sports (so it may be different today, but I'm sure after the Nebraska game, if it was different, that would have been a source cited by the whiners:

Big Ten: A discretionary fine can result on a third offense for failure to "provide adequate security for visiting teams from their arrival for a game through their departure." There is a private reprimand for a first offense; a public reprimand for a second.

I love this, as it's based on protecting opponents (and implied respect for said opponents - even Wisconsin and Iowa) after a loss (I'm assuming we won't storm the field/court after a loss).

To me, the key is this: Have fun, be respectful of the players and coaches on both teams. Celebrate, don't instigate, and everyone has a good time. To Murray's point, Fans Cheer, the sports media in the Twin Cities can whine about it, and no one gets hurt.

As long as students/fans do not damage the opposing team, the stadium, or the field, we can have nice things in the B1G.

If/when that basic tenet is broken, you have issues, and it only takes one moron to ruin it for everyone, and then we can't have nice things.
Click to expand...
Priority one has to be getting the opposing team out of the way without being interfered with. For the most part this happens the problem is it only takes a couple morons to ruin it for everyone because they can't resist the desire to be a jackass as opposed to just celebrating with their team.

Done right it is a fun moment for everyone involved.
 

MaxyJR1 said:
I actually think they should promote it for football and redesign the student end of the field to safely allow it.
  • Higher Ranked Opponent
  • Rivalry Game
  • Create a playlist
  • Stay to the East end of the 50
  • Players can shake hands on West end of the 50 and visitors exit
  • Lead the Nation in Safe Celebration
#BestCOACHPLAYERSTUDENTrelationsip
Click to expand...
I have come around to this opinion. Lots of schools have little quirks. Mississippi State clangs cowbells. Boise State has a blue field. Rushing the field on a regular basis (instead of remarkable situations) could be "our thing."

I sort of resisted the idea at first, cringing when the students rushed the field to celebrate a win over a team we have beaten 6 times in a row. But, I have noticed how the students wait around in much larger numbers when there is a field rush in the air.

Maxy brings up a great point though. Safety needs to be a factor. I saw another social media video of a mom in the hospital getting a cast on her broken leg after jumping over the wall for last Saturday's field rush. Somebody is eventually going to get hurt badly. I've done my last field rush but I found that it could be done safely by turning my back to the field and letting myself down belly-to-the-wall. But most people haven't done it enough to realize that and they face the field when they jump down and it is a loooooong way. There have been medical needs every time.

If there are "rules" around when it can be done (heck, even publish it in advance "hey gopher fans, we'd like to meet you on the field in the event of a win this saturday to celebrate" and it could be set up more safely for field rush games - I officially give up and will quit sighing when a field rush occurs after a win over not-so-epic opponent.
 

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