Keeping it safe in College Park.
As I get set to watch my Maryland Terrapins host the Michigan Wolverines at the Xfinity Center in College Park on my flat screen at noon today, I’m still smiling abourt the way my squad handled the No. 5 team in the country on Tuesday night.
Yes, serving Wisconsin just its third loss of the season by a score of 59-53 was so thrilling for the 19,000 college basketball fans in the building — particularly the students at my alma mater — that they had to storm the court, causing the scene I caught with my iPad Air on my TV above.
I was ready because that swell of bodies was in the news. Just the night before, Kansas State beat rival Kansas, and in Manhattan, the rush to the court was so fierce it caused sour stories.
(From bringonthecats.com)
The visiting Jayhawks and coach Bill Self did not have the time nor space to depart the court. Self was pinned against the scorer’s table, and Kansas State coach Bruce Weber tried to wade through the bodies to help his colleague, to no avail. Further reports told of students “chicken-winging” Kansas players attempting to get out of there. Ugly.
Tuesday morning, ESPN radio hosts Mike Greenberg and Mike Golic held a lively back-and-forth about the premise of court storming. Greenberg told of how he was part of a rush to the court to celebrate while he was a senior at Northwestern and the Wildcats had upset Indiana. He still recalled it as a moment of great joy in his life. Golic, a former football star at Notre Dame and then a defensive lineman for the Philadelphia Eagles in the NFL, said he would hate to have to outlaw the tradition of the rush, but understood that the mayhem was getting out of hand.
I’ve been caught in one. When I was assistant sports editor of the big daily here in Syracuse in the mid-1980’s, one of my tasks was to write columns. Thus I was at court side in the Carrier Dome with beat reporter David Elfin when Syracuse Orange freshman Dwayne “Pearl” Washington majestically drained a rainbow shot from midcourt to beat Boston College. Elfin and I had to cover our heads on press row as the student bodies climbed us as if we were ladders. As much as I was thrilled to witness such a stunning accomplishment, I did not particularly appreciate that part of the moment.
No harm, no foul in College Park?
Alas, the talk on my TV during the fans’ celebration for beating the first-place team in Maryland’s first year in the Big Ten to move the record to 11-4 in conference and 23-5 overall was how security was prepared, and had funneled the roiling throng away from the players and coaches and scoring table and toward center court.
As the season approaches March Madness, there’s likely to be more moments of decision when an underdog squad pulls off an upset against a big conference rival, or a team notches a victory fans perceive as the one needed to make the NCAA Tournament.
Think now, folks. Danger lurks. Should and could schools keep the court off limits after the game?
Mo Trimble, Maryland’s marvelous freshman.
I’d be happier hereafter without the court storm. I’d rather concentrate on important on-court game action, considering that my alma mater is poised to make the NCAA Tournament for the first time under the direction of coach Mark Turgeon, who took over after Gary Williams — who guided the Terps to our only national championship in 2002, thank you very much — retired in 2011.
Here’s the link for the story about the aftermath of the court storming on the Kansas State fan site.
Here’s a link to a story in the Chicago Tribute debating the troubles that occur when students and others storm a college basketball court.
Have you ever been part in a big-crowd celebration storming a court or field where spectators really shouldn’t be, and if so, how did it feel? Do you think it’s harmless fun, serious trouble or an issue that can be negotiated? How would you handle this if you were the powers-that-be?
Mark Bialczak 
I’ve been caught in a court storming and they can be scary. I would be fine with them eliminating the option. In all fairness, this particular KSU win was out of this world crazy moment. People lost their minds.
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I know your alma mater was quite in the moment for beating THE RIVAL, Aud, and I’m happy for the in-game glory. But the few in the rush really brought a bad result to the evening. Now talks must be had about keeping players and coachres safe, so maybe it’ll turn out good.
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That just looks too dangerous. Of course when I’ve been in similar situations at concerts, that was not dangerous. Just sayin’. 😉
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I haven’t felt in danger at concerts, Rachel. Oh, wait. I have at general admission concerts down front in the crush of bodies. I don’t go down there anymore because of … older.
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LOL! Once I was crushed and passed out at a DLR concert… I was passed over the top and carried to the medic’s office. When I came to, I was upset that I lost my place in front! LOL! Of course that was many moons ago when I was young and DLR had hair.
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I bet you wish David Lee Roth himself had jumped out breathed life back into you, Rachel. Since he still had hair and all, and you were young. 🙂
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I’m all for enthusiasm and school pride, but some of the court rushing lately is turning into pure thuggery. I worry about another Tonya Harding moment when someone targets a player or coach. I’ve worked events and as hard as you try, you can’t cover every inch. You plan for things, but I don’t see how to eliminate that many people running that fast. Fining a university isn’t the answer, imo, but I don’t see an easy solution.
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I have a really good friend I used to work with at the big daily, a big and smart man who now runs the IT department for an international company, and he works security at the Carrier Dome because he loves it. Sometimes I watch him through the binoculars during breaks in a game, and the way he’s on his toes, scanning the crowd, is incredible, to make sure nobody steps out of place. I should ask him about this issue, how they plan for control of it. Thanks, Apple Pie, for reminding me of this with your Tonya Harding statement.
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This sounds like a bad accident waiting to happen, Mark. I recall years ago when crowds at a soccer stadium caused injuries and a few deaths. I believe a portion of the stadium collapsed and people panicked. Different scenario, but still crowd control is needed at sports events.
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Yes, Judy, sports venues bring together passionate people, many of them, in closed quarters. Bam.
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Is there anything you can’t write about?!! Not only does “M” stand for “Mark” but also for “Multi-talented.”
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Thank you, Christy. Sports is definitely one of my passions. 🙂
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I’ve never been caught in a court storming, but in ’04ish when the Calgary Flames were in the running for the Stanley Cup. The Red Mile (17th Ave. SW from 4th Street to 8th Street) was filled with tens of thousands of people and my daughter and I were nearly crushed in the crowd – scary stuff Mark!
Diana xo
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That’s pretty awful, Diana, being caught in the crowd like that. MDW Karen and I went to the Duke-Syracuse game in the Carrier Dome two weekends ago, and she left her seat at the very start of halftime for a potty break and to buy a beer, and returned to her seat with five minutes of play gone by in the second half, that’s how crowded the concourse was. That’s scary right there, too. I was wondering where the heck she went!
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Yikes, that’s crazy and then just imagine what would happen in such a crowded area if there was a fire or natural disaster. I’m always a tad uncomfortable in tight crowds; my heart rate increases and sparks of panic rise up.
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Agreed, Diana.
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Thanks a lot! You pissed off Wisconsin and we’ve got them next. At their house.
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Uh-oh. On the other hand, maybe they’ll still be reeling from our punch?
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So excited to read your summary of the close game you all won against Wisconsin! Hope you are going to be starting the pre-game excitement and that Maryland Terrapins upset and win over the Michigan Wolverines. I do live closer to Michigan but have always supported the Eastern states’ wins. Hope not to tread on the Ohio or Michigan fans here too hard!
Hope you enjoy sitting inside and will be heading out to a few stores, once I leave the library. I have two birthday parties to go to, next weekend. One is at a bowling alley down in an area called, Polaris Shopping Place. The other is at the Delaware YMCA. I need to get a present for 6 year old Micah and another for soon to be 4, Makyah or Kyah. She is interested in play doh and Frozen items. Micah likes his Mom’s creative minions invitations she made for the boys in his class and he wishes he would get anything from “Despicable Me,” any type of heroes or Minecraft stuff.
At least it is sunny, Mark! Go Terrapins and hope they do what they did the last game they won! Worked their magic!
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Thank you, Robin, for rooting for the Terrapins! I am catching up on comments at halftime, and Maryland is leading by nine points. So far, so good. Knock on wood.
It is sunny here in Syracuse, too, and I am planning to walk Ellie B once the game concludes.
Play doh and Despicable Me gifts are perfect for Micah and Maykyah/Kyah! Birthday parties for grands are great, my friend. That’s a good weekend next week. 🙂
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I still can’t get used to Maryland’s being in the Big 10 and not the ACC.
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It’s a tough one, Doobster. But I like the Terps’ success so far. Knock on wood.
And off topic, thank you for the kind comments and links regarding the award nomination.
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Thank you for the nomination.
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all of the joy and celebration can quickly go bad in those situations in a moment. it always worries me a bit. i have to admit i’ve been part of a field run after a tigers’ playoff game. p.s. go wolverines!
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I’m glad you were safe in the Tigers’ field run. In those, there is at least more space to dodge and stay safe. Theoretically. But still, bad things are waiting to happen, I think.
P.S. Good luck today, but just enough that none of your
Wolverines gets hurt and that it’s a fun game to watch for you. 🙂
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I have been WAITING for this post 😉
So, as a mom whose daughter was in the KSU-KU court storming, all I could think about was…”my baby girl is going to be trampled.” Tanna is a KSU student and she sent me screen shots from the mayhem as it was happening. “Cuz I knew you’d be worried, Mom”
Then, I spoke with a mom friend whose daughter is a KU student and also there that night. She said, “I was so worried that my baby girl would be trampled.” Whether we bleed purple or red and blue – we have the same values and priorities.
I’m a huge sports fan and enjoy all that comes with it – college sports especially. But, a wise 11-year old (Jayhawk/KU) fan just told me a couple of days ago, “Nothing says ‘We Never Win’ like storming the court when you do.”
GREAT post!
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I am so glad that the baby Wildcat and Jayhawk girls both went unharmed, Michelle. See, all it takes is real, live parents with students in the storm to bring this issue into even sharper focus.
It needs to stop. These are living, breathing kids out there. Some of them are not equipped to protect themselves from the biggest, strongest, rowdiest, drunkest, most violent, meannest, most evil of those that decide to run out on the court in the name of celebrating victory. And in our society, we have sadly learned, it is with this bottom-feeder element firmly in mind that we must make our plans.
Your wise 11-year-old adds something great to the table here today, too. Thanks so much for bringing your family to the forum.
Please feel free to reblog and get your Kansas people involved in the discussion. I think it’s vital for the NCAA to hear as many voices as possible.
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Mark, it does need to be controlled in some measure. Unfortunately, it will take some kind of serious injury or suffocation for anything to be out in place. The NCAA seems more concerned with petty rules and money to be proactive. Unruly students and fans tear down goalposts in football stadiums. What’s to stop them from climbing on basketball hoops and causing those to fall and nail someone?
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Hearing the description of Bill Self being pinned against the scorer’s table and Bruce Webber thinking he needed to wade in and free his opposing coach from the mob was enough to convince me, Jim. Even though I watched how Maryland immediately reacted the next night by protecting the players and coaches, I agree with you that it’s a tragedy waiting to happen.
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