Oh, we gonna rush

I touched on this yesterday: rushing the field is not a bad thing. Ringo got his panties in a bunch this morning, and questioned weather the students had standards anymore. I would question whether they ever had standards, but that's besides the point. Is rushing the field the august institution that needs to be coddled and placed in a museum? Rushing the field is, by definition, a bunch of drunken idiots running to celebrate with their fellow students (the players). Beyond that attending a football game isn't like sitting in church or attending a legislative session at the capitol: it's supposed to be frivolous and fun.

We expect the students to show up "loud and proud," essentially encourage them to be rowdy, if not drunk, then expect them to immediately cease being rowdy once the clock hits triple-zero? CU students essentially carry the stadium for 4 quarters then are expected to shut up, turn out the lights, and go back to their dorm rooms? I'm honestly surprised we're the only ones doing this on a semi-regular basis. What's there to protect? What's the harm?
(The aftermath of the Georgia game. From: Me)

Further, I absolutely disregard any contention that these students pose any risk to the opposing players and coaches. Ringo insinuates that there is no way for the opposing team to tell if the fans rushing the field mean harm: that's a load of stinky bullshit. Any human with half a brain knows exactly why those students is running on the field: to celebrate, not to attack. If there are any random trouble makers, what are they going to do? Punch a 300lb lineman in the face-mask?

Hell, even Hawk gets this. Ringo prodded him after the game, I'm sure with the intention of getting some reactionary parental concern out of him, and Hawk responded with a defense of the students and their new "tradition" of rushing the field.

"To me it`s just become sort of a tradition here a little bit. I think our student section is pretty dynamic and a big part of Folsom Field. I think it`s become more of a tradition and a fun thing and I hope it continues to stay like that."

Hawk is damn right, it is a fun thing. The students in Folsom are more a part of the action than anywhere else in the country, and rushing the field is just a direct reflection of that.

Finally, Ringo runs into the enforcement wall. Ringo points out that in '06 "two fans suffered serious injuries -- a broken shoulder and broken leg -- in scuffles with security trying to prevent them from getting on the field." Even cops know it stupid to try and prevent 15,000 students from trying to do anything. CU police is now concerned with mitigation and protection of key assets (Goalposts, referees and opposing team members). They essentially just let that shit happen.

"We are not actively trying to stop it. What we look to do is set a presence where hopefully if they`re deciding and it`s not a 'We`re doing it` thing, maybe we can stop it. But if they`re going to come -- and we knew they were going to come in this game -- we`re basically there to have no one get hurt and make sure no one interacts with the visiting team."

There is really no reason to stop this "tradition." If students want to get on the field, preventing them is only going to end up with someone getting hurt, and that's the last thing people want. Let the kids have their fun, slowly but surely send them to the exits (like they do), and move on.