In college football, bands, cheerleaders and mascots will always be honored as part of the game. But the tradition of tearing down the goalposts has come under scrutiny the past few years.

After West Virginia upset Virginia Tech, 28-7, on Oct. 22, students rushed the field to celebrate the victory. The celebration turned ugly when students started tearing down the goalposts. Security officers at West Virginia used pepper spray on the unruly mob. Now WVU is disciplining 40 students to whom police issued citations or arrested after the Virginia Tech upset.

‘You can’t get in trouble for going on the field, but the line is drawn at damaging property,’ John R. Sardino, a Syracuse public safety lieutenant said.

Based on a student’s previous record, the punishments will vary. A student may be relegated to community service, be suspended or even be expelled.

This September, Toledo students brought the goalposts down after UT upset Pittsburgh. Two students were injured in the incident. In addition to causing harm to students, Toledo paid $8,000 to replace the goalposts, according to the Toledo Blade.

‘You can’t stop thousands of people from rushing onto the field,’ Sardino said. ‘All we ask is that people are safe as possible. My main concern is safety and not the property.’

In order to prevent fans from getting out of hand, security officers often use pepper spray. This was the case on Nov. 23, 2002, after Ohio State defeated Michigan.

‘I was on the field and they sprayed (pepper spray) all over. It wasn’t directly at me,’ Ohio State sophomore Scott King said.

Despite the myriad security, it’s difficult to prevent fans from invading the field.

‘It was a mad rush,’ King said. ‘Security couldn’t have stopped us. And it wasn’t just students.’

One way to prevent fan injury is to take the goalposts out of the equation. During Virginia Tech’s upset of Miami last Saturday, the field crew at VT took the goalposts down even before the game was officially over. Virginia Tech employs a new system with a latch on the goalposts, which, when released, slowly lowers the posts to the field. This allows fans to celebrate while decreasing the risk of injury.

‘We have talked to Virginia Tech about the system,’ SU Director of Athletics Jake Crouthamel said.

While fans at Syracuse have been on the field, the goalposts have never been torn down in the Carrier Dome.

‘Many years ago, we beat Nebraska in the Dome when they were ranked No. 1,’ Sardino said. ‘The students came onto the field after that game.’

Crouthamel was glad SU fans never attempted to bring the goalposts down and hopes it never happens.

‘We don’t know (how easily the goalposts come down), and I hope we don’t find out,’ Crouthamel said. ‘They’re a dangerous object. They’re made of steel. Someone could get hurt.’

The action of storming the field is usually reserved for upsets. Many fans refuse to storm the field because it shows a lack of confidence in the team. When fans storm the field, the implication is that their team is inferior.

‘The need to storm the field perplexes me,’ Crouthamel said. ‘I don’t know why students would do this. When they storm the field, the suggestion is that the victory was extraordinary. It says that you’re not as good as them.’

As long as fans can celebrate in a safe manner, all parties will be happy. Maybe college football tradition is better without fans tearing down the goalposts.

Said King: ‘Rushing the field isn’t the problem. When the goalposts come down, that’s when the trouble starts.’

No. 18 Tennessee (+12) at No. 6 Miami

Both Miami (7-1) and Tennessee (6-2) are coming off disappointing games. The Volunteers surrendered 299 yards to lowly Duke but still managed to win, 23-6. Casey Clausen threw for 208 yards and one touchdown and Jabari Davis ran for 113 yards on 17 attempts for Tennessee. Miami lost in shocking fashion to Virginia Tech, 31-7. Brock Berlin threw for 164 yards but also threw two interceptions. Tight end Kellen Winslow only had 48 yards receiving. Winslow and the Hurricanes can’t afford another flat game if they want to remain in the hunt to make the Sugar Bowl.

Pick: Miami 24, Tennessee 14

No. 14 Michigan State (+4) at No. 7 Ohio State

Ohio State quarterback Craig Krenzel is questionable against Michigan State (7-2), and the Buckeyes might be without back Lydell Ross, too. Both Krenzel and Ross went down in OSU’s 21-20 thriller at Penn State. Backup quarterback Scott McMullen threw for 112 yards and two touchdowns. But Michigan State allowed 439 total yards on defense and managed to gain only 36 yards rushing last week against Michigan. On offense, Jeff Smoker threw for 254 yards and one touchdown. Ohio State (8-1) should manage to find a way to win this one.

Pick: Ohio State 21, Michigan State 17

Temple (+8) at Syracuse

With both teams coming off bye weeks, they have had plenty of time to think about their respective losses. Temple gave up 345 yards to perennial loser Rutgers. The Owls (1-7) only converted four third downs in 14 attempts. Syracuse (4-3) did not look much better Oct. 25 against Pitt. SU’s defense reverted to old form and allowed 310 yards passing. In order to win, the Orangemen need R.J. Anderson to get back on track after throwing for 49 yards and two interceptions. The interceptions were the first of the season for Anderson.

Pick: Syracuse 35, Temple 14

No. 10 Iowa (+3) at No. 16 Purdue

Purdue (7-2) and Iowa meet a week after each team won easily. Purdue’s John Standeford had 88 yards receiving, making him the Big Ten’s all-time receiving leader. Kyle Orton threw for 212 yards and Jerod Void had 87 yards and two touchdowns on the ground. Against Iowa, Purdue’s defense might be in trouble. Fred Russel rushed for 94 yards and two touchdowns, as he went over 1,000 yards rushing. The Hawkeyes (7-2) accumulated 505 yards on offense against Illinois. Nathan Chandler threw for 243 yards and a touchdown.

Pick: Purdue 24, Iowa 21

No. 20 Mississippi (-8) at Auburn

This game will be an offensive explosion. Auburn (6-3) had 481 yards offense last week. Jason Campbell threw for 180 yards and two touchdowns, and Carnell Williams ran for 113 yards and two touchdowns. Mississippi (7-2) gained 538 yards and allowed 416 yards last week. Heisman candidate Eli Manning threw for 391 yards and three touchdowns. Chris Collins was on the receiving end of two of those.

Prediction: Mississippi 31, Auburn 24

Published on November 5, 2003 at 12:00 pm