A fan was trapped under a goal post after the crowd invaded the field following the Colorado Buffaloes’ victory in Boulder, Colorado.
- Colorado avoided a fine because the conference determined the university properly executed its storm management procedures.
- During the storm on the field, an Iowa State player’s helmet was knocked off by a fan and another fan was temporarily pinned under a goal post.
- Coach Deion Sanders expressed support for the controlled assault on the field and suggested that fans could help pay a possible fine.
The prospect of a fine sparked consternation from Colorado coach Deion Sanders, who suggested after the game that fans should “chip in” to pay for it if it happened.
But the Big 12 reviewed the situation and decided otherwise.
“The conference is not going to fine us for Saturday’s field storm,” CU athletics spokesman Steve Hurlbert said Wednesday, Oct. 15. “The conference said we executed our field storm management procedures and therefore they would not fine us.”
The Big 12 and other leagues can fine schools whose fans run onto the field over safety concerns. They want teams to be able to leave the field without being rushed by a mob. The possible sanctions force schools to implement security measures to guarantee this.
Videos after Saturday’s game in Boulder showed Iowa State players were still on the field when fans invaded the turf, with some attempts by stadium security to cordon off Iowa State’s sideline.
But a video circulating on social media showed a Colorado fan putting the helmet on Iowa State receiver Chase Sowell. On Thursday, Sowell said on the social media site
“Both athletic directors contacted me and apologized for the incident and at the same time resolved everything,” said Sowell, a former Colorado player.
Another video showed a fan temporarily trapped under a goal post.
Last year, the Big 12 also fined Colorado $25,000 after fans stormed the field at the end of a 38-31 overtime win against Baylor.
Additional security at Colorado-Iowa State game
After Colorado’s previous home game on September 27, the Big 12 reprimanded and fined Colorado $50,000 for “hateful and discriminatory language” after Colorado fans made profane anti-Mormon chants against BYU, which won the game 24-21.
Colorado then announced on Oct. 6 “new procedures around fan behavior at Folsom Field.”
This included an increase in security personnel at the stadium and undercover police “embedded in various sections of the stadium for immediate removal.”
What did Deion Sanders say about it?
He was previously unaware of any Big 12 policy prohibiting rushing on the course and expressed surprise that it could result in a fine. Colorado officials suggested after the game that a $50,000 fine could be on the way.
But Sanders said it’s a good thing for fans to storm the field if it’s controlled, saying, “We don’t want to do anything stupid.”
“I want to see the kids run on the field,” Sanders said Saturday. “I love it.”
Sanders himself was protected by security personnel surrounding him when he left the game.
“Congratulations to our security team,” Sanders said. “They do a good job of welcoming me. But I love seeing it. I really love it.”
Colorado has a weekend off this week before returning to play Oct. 25 at Utah.
Follow reporter Brent Schrotenboer @Schrotenboer. Email: bschrotenb@usatoday.com