Fans may have gone too far

By By Eric Jorgensen

Friday, April 28, 2006

KU football fans, and college football fans across the country, may have their tradition of postgame goalpost charges restricted by the NCAA.

On April 14, the NCAA met in Savannah, Ga., to discuss this very problem, and possible resolutions. The council declared fans charging a field or court after games had gone too far. They used the example of Rick Rose, a University of Minnesota-Morris basketball player who was killed instantly when a torn-down goalpost fell on him following a football game.

Jennifer Kearns, NCAA spokeswoman, said the council would meet again June 23 in New Orleans to discuss recommendations for the NCAA. From there, any recommendations that become legislation will be voted on in Jan. 2007. Kearns said the NCAA did not want to stop students from having fun, it was just trying to ensure safety.

“They understand this goes on and it’s a way for fans and students to show support, and they’re excited,” Kearns said. “They really want to make sure people don’t get hurt.”

Some of the recommendations include possible fines or penalties of schools that fail to keep fans in the stands. Keeping those fans in the bleachers is a primary concern of both the NCAA and the University of Kansas.

“I think the consensus is we can’t afford to have anyone else die,” Kearns said. “I think enough people see this as a pretty serious issue. I think it will be made a priority.”

The Southeastern Conference is one example of an organization that has taken action to preserve the safety of the athletes and personnel on the field following a game. Schools are fined if students or fans enter the field of play.

Jim Marchiony, associate athletics director, said he saw one near miss following one of last season’s postgame celebrations at KU.

“I saw a goalpost just miss a facilities worker,” Marchiony said. “And it absolutely would have killed him. It just missed his head.”

The department’s number one concern during these situations is everyone’s safety. Marchiony cited the facilities worker and a student who was trampled and injured as evidence of needed reform.

“I’d like to see students and other fans use more brain power before they rush the field, so no measures would ever have to be considered,” Marchiony said. “Eventually something terrible will happen.”

If measures are passed by the NCAA to stop postgame charges onto the field, they would not go into effect until January or February of next year.

During last season, fans charged the field following victories against Nebraska, Missouri and Iowa State. After each game, the goalposts had to be paid for and replaced. A set of posts runs from $6,000 to $7,000.

— Edited by Matt Wilson

Wheeler: Goalposts don’t belong in lakes

It happened three times in 2005, and again in 2006 against Kansas ...

/news/2007/nov/01/Wheeler/

Football schools improve basketball programs

Athletics Department hopes to follow the lead of other schools and make ...

/news/2007/mar/01/football/

Stadium, Fieldhouse get updates

The football field and the athletic complex will both see many changes ...

/news/2009/aug/25/stadium/

Degrees of success: athletes after college

College athletes' payment is their degree. But what if they never get ...

/news/2011/may/10/degrees-success/

Gridiron Club struggles to meet financial goal

Construction cannot begin until the $34 million goal is reached.

/news/2010/jan/25/gridiron-club-struggles-meet-financial-goal/

Athletics department proposes new facility

The Olympic Village will combine soccer, softball and track into one complex.

/news/2009/mar/26/new_facility/

Mangino talks more about investigation

Associate athletics director in charge of gathering, evaluating information.

/news/2009/nov/19/mangino-talks-more/

Offensive flood defeats Baylor

After more than two hours of weather delays, Kansas drilled Baylor with ...

/news/2007/oct/15/football/

New $6 million boathouse gets city commission ...

City commission approved a measure to continue negotiations on boathouse

/news/2007/jul/25/new_6_million_boathouse_gets_city_commission_appro/

Game-day celebration causes confrontation

/news/2005/oct/31/ne_pepper_spray/

Morning Brew: Fusco on soccer, football and ...

Soccer coach schedules weaker teams for non-conference play; football fans should perform ...

/news/2008/aug/26/morning_brew/

Battle for NCAA Football ‘09 cover

Year of the Jayhawk: Fans will determine Big Jay’s fate.

/news/2008/feb/25/ncaa_football_09/

Athletics department considers economy

Changes are being put in place to raise money and help fans ...

/news/2009/sep/01/athletics_department_considers_economy/

Rowing team one step closer to boathouse

First drawing released for rowing boathouse to be built near Kansas River

/news/2007/jul/23/rowing_team_one_step_closer_boathouse/

Jayhawk fans a bunch of followers

The basketball team is not the only KU team drawing fans to ...

/news/2007/oct/23/jayhawk_fans_bunch_followers/

Gridiron Club expansion still on track

Despite Coach Mark Mangino's departure and the six-game losing streak, plans for ...

/news/2009/dec/03/gridiron-club/

Sports’ Academic Progress Rate unblemished

Every Kansas team earned at least the benchmark score of 925 for ...

/news/2009/apr/16/sports_progress_rate/

Looking at both sides of the scalp

The Athletics Department has begun to take legal action against ticket scalpers ...

/news/2008/jan/24/scalping/

Brew: Victory a token title for Tigers

Students storming Norm Stewart Court shows misguided priorities of Missouri fans.

/news/2009/feb/11/tigers/

Addition to Memorial Stadium approved

Board of Regents approves proposed plan for new section in Memorial Stadium.

/news/2009/sep/18/memorial_stadium/

Fans face game day construction

Changes to parking and tailgating will affect pregame activities before Saturday’s season ...

/news/2007/aug/30/parking/

Athletics facility construction on schedule

A new basketball practice facility, locker rooms for smaller sports and an ...

/news/2008/nov/13/athletics_facility_construction_schedule/

Basketball student attendance drops over break

How student support at basketball games waned during winter break.

/news/2008/jan/24/attendance/

Athletes attend Senate debate

Student Senate presidential and vice presidential candidates held a debate open only ...

/news/2007/apr/03/debate/

Basketball games to be played without "The ...

Allen Fieldhouse will no longer be filled with the chants of "We're ...

/news/2006/sep/11/glitter/

Students face being banned from recruiting sites

The University could ban students from athletic events to comply with NCAA ...

/news/2009/jul/30/ncaa/

K.C. Wizards to meet, greet in Lawrence

Players from the team will take part in prize drawings and foosball, ...

/news/2008/feb/22/wizards/

Kansas football opener will have instant replay

/news/2005/aug/26/instant_replay/

Football facility architect reportedly selected

/news/2006/jan/31/football_facility/

Fans line up for tickets to Border ...

Students missed class and bribed campers to get tickets for the Kansas-Missouri ...

/news/2007/nov/13/fans_line_tickets_border_showdown/

Free tickets to Big 12 title game

The KU Athletics Department is feeling the Christmas spirit a little early ...

/news/2007/nov/20/free_tickets_big_12_title_game/

Boat subsidy keeps sports fee increases at ...

The athletics department said it won’t increase all-sports pass fees next season.

/news/2008/mar/27/passes/

Student-led initiative tackles kick-off chant

Student leaders are looking for an alternative to the offensive phrase.

/news/2008/oct/09/studentled_initiative_tackles_kick_chant/

Hemenway, others made to answer for NCAA ...

The Kansas Athletics Department placed itself on two years of probation and ...

/news/2006/aug/14/ncaa/

KU students enjoy varied sports traditions

Game days and Traditions Night anchor the school’s sport history.

/news/2010/aug/16/ku-students/

IFC members may step down after hazing ...

Multiple executive board members of the Interfraternity Council acknowledge hazing incident.

/news/2011/feb/03/ifc-hazing/

Game day goes smoothly despite construction

The Athletics Department said navigating construction was not a problem for most ...

/news/2007/sep/04/construction/

Students let down by tickets purchased from ...

Several students who received tickets through the Kansas Athletics lottery were astounded ...

/news/2008/apr/07/students_tickets/

Montemayor: Outrage saves social media

SEC’s recent decision to allow tweeting at sports events is a victory ...

/news/2009/aug/20/montemayor_outrage_saves_social_media/

'A Long Story,' but told so well

Announcer Max Falkenstien was courtstidefor 60 of Kansas basketball's 110 years.