One brave Utah fan found out what it is like to be on the end of a Bronco Mendenhall stare. The fan was chanting "Bronco, you suck!" Bronco turned and walked toward the fan and the oddly-dressed fellow backed off. I don't believe that Bronco Mendenhall would have beat this young man up. He probably would have invited him to dinner. The young man was simply caught away in the moment. That was the third incident on the crowd during Utah's 24-21 win at home last week.
Three times on Saturday, Utah fans stormed the field. Twice when play was still happening. The second time, the officials gave Utah a 15-yard penalty. Which gave BYU a second shot at a game tying field goal. Even though the outcome of the game was not decided by this rush of the field, sooner or later in college sports, it will.
The tradition in college football of rushing the field after a big win is not one of college football's best. In fact it is one of the most dangerous. Sooner or later, someone is going to get hurt. Perhaps the reason this has not happened yet is youth. Remember the end of that crazy Cal/Stanford game from several years ago? Do you remember how the California runner celebrated the touchdown after the Stanford band entered the field?
That trombone player could have been hurt on that play. (The penalty in this game was for the Stanford band entering the field).
The NCAA rules are very clear. No bystanders on the field while play is in progress. There is a reason for this, bystanders are not padded. It is a lawsuit waiting to happen. And fans should stay out off of the field until the visiting team has entered the locker rooms. Same for any bands. Once the visiting team and the referees are safe, then pandemonium can break out.
At better alternative is to allow the home team to go into the stands after the game is over to celebrate with the fans after the game is over, or have a designated area just outside the stadium where home fans can celebrate with players. Fans should be kept off the field entirely; before, during and after the fame. Rice-Eccles stadium has the perfect place for fans and players to celebrate after the game is over...Olympic Park, just outside of the South Stands. It is inside the stadium gates, so only admission-paying fans will be there. It would also help for traffic control after the fame to have a place for fans to mingle and party after the game has ended.
PAC-12 Power Rankings...9/18/2012
1. Oregon
2. Stanford
3. USC
4. Arizona
5. UCLA
6. Utah
7. Arizona State
8. Washington
9. Oregon State
10. California
11. Washington State
12. Colorado
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