College Football Firework Riots: A Historical Overview

College football, a sport steeped in tradition and rivalry, often ignites passions that extend beyond the field. Throughout history, these passions have sometimes manifested as celebratory riots, occasionally involving fireworks. These events, while often associated with joyous occasions like major upsets or rivalry wins, can also lead to property damage, injuries, and disciplinary action. This article examines the history and context of college football firework riots.

Spring Riots: A Tradition at Kenyon College

Before the introduction of Summer Sendoff in 1980, Kenyon College students had a unique way of celebrating the arrival of warmer weather: Spring Riots. These riots, which began in 1964 with a protest against Village traffic laws, evolved into a beloved tradition that lasted well into the 1990s.

The Parking Riot of '64

The catalyst for the first Spring Riot was the Village of Gambier's decision to implement stricter traffic and parking regulations. The Village introduced a new speed limit, installed more stop signs, and appointed Charles Imel, the College's first regular swim coach, as "marshal." Imel's strict enforcement of these new regulations, including issuing violations for offenses like running stop signs and jaywalking, angered the student body.

Tensions reached a boiling point when Imel issued a warning to a student for parking in a fire lane. The student reportedly "talked back" to Imel, leading to his arrest and a $50 fine. In response, approximately 300 students marched to Imel's house the following day, uprooting stop signs and chanting along the way. Newspaper reports indicated that three state highway patrol cars were called to the scene. At one point, students even sat in front of a police car to prevent the arrest of two students.

Despite the initial pushback from the Mayor of Gambier, local government's position softened. The mayor suggested that the students were simply letting off steam after being "cooped up all winter." Interestingly, the rioters were surprisingly courteous, avoiding the freshly seeded sections of Imel's lawn and using watercolor paint on the stolen stop signs for easy removal.

The Evolution of Spring Riot

Following the "parking riot," Spring Riot transformed into an annual bonfire fueled by various items, from old assignments to campus furniture. The concept was simple: build a bonfire in a central location on South Campus and feed it with anything available. In 1968 or 1969, fireworks were set off from a tree, which unfortunately caught fire. Students then took turns feeding the fire, eventually drawing half the campus outside.

The Spring Riot bonfire served as a cathartic outlet for seniors who had just completed their comprehensive exams. One alumnus recalled throwing a copy of his comps paper into the fire, describing it as a great feeling. Other items that found their way into the bonfire included an old sofa, a foosball table, and a dated computer terminal.

With Kenyon College becoming co-educational in 1969, Spring Riot began to include women. In 1970, during the first Spring Riot with female students, the men marched to McBride, where all the women resided. A standoff ensued between the Kenyon men and Dean Doris Crozier, who parked in the driveway in her nightgown to prevent the men from entering.

While there is no definitive evidence that Summer Sendoff was introduced to discourage Spring Riot, the latter tradition began to decline after the former was established. Although end-of-year traditions at Kenyon College have become more subdued, memories of the revelry and minor property damage of Spring Riot remain.

Celebratory Riots at Other Universities

College football celebrations sometimes escalate into riots at other universities as well. These events, often fueled by alcohol and strong emotions, can have serious consequences.

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Ohio State University

Ohio State University has a history of parties turning into riots. In April 2001, Chitt Fest turned into a riot. A week later, a riot occurred at Norwichfest, leading police to use tear gas and rubber bullets to disperse the crowd. The following year, 40 Columbus Police officers in riot gear broke up hundreds of people at Chitt Fest, resulting in 26 arrests.

Following the Ohio State-Michigan football game in November 2002, a car was set on fire during a riot. In response, the university established the Task Force on Preventing Celebratory Riots in December of that year.

In May 1984, over 9,500 people gathered at the Drake Union for a block party. However, in May 1989, a Student Life block party resulted in injuries to over 70 people, including five police officers. In May 2011, more than 1,000 people descended on East Woodruff Avenue for Woodfest, prompting police to use pepper spray to disperse the crowd. Similar incidents occurred at Woodfest in 2012 and Chitt Fest in 2013, leading to arrests.

Texas Tech University

Following Texas Tech's underdog win over Michigan State, celebrations escalated into riots. Excited students flooded the intersection of Broadway Street and University Avenue, setting clothing and a couch on fire. A car parked on Broadway was flipped over while the crowd played music.

Lubbock police responded by attempting to contain the crowd. As the party continued, police used K-9 units and SWAT units to disperse the crowd, eventually deploying tear gas. The City of Lubbock reported vandalism and property damage, but no serious injuries.

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University of Kentucky

The University of Kentucky also has a history of athletic rivalry-related incidents. In 1908, an iron arch inscribed with the words "Kentucky University" was stolen from the Transylvania campus gate, presumably by Kentucky students. In 1911, after a football victory, Transylvania students held a parade that nearly turned into a riot when they encountered Kentucky supporters.

Field Storming: A Common Phenomenon

A "field rush," also known as field storming, occurs when spectators run onto the competition area, typically to celebrate a victory or protest an incident. This is a common occurrence in college and high school football, especially after major upsets, rivalry wins, or history-making victories.

Examples of Field Storming Incidents

Muscatine High School (1978): Fans celebrated the end of a 44-game losing streak by storming the field.
California vs. Stanford (1982): In the final seconds of the game, Stanford Band members and players ran onto the field prematurely, leading to a controversial winning touchdown by California.
Kentucky vs. LSU (2002): Kentucky fans rushed the field with two seconds left, only to be stunned when LSU scored a game-winning touchdown on a deflected Hail Mary pass.
Texas Tech vs. Texas (2008): Texas Tech fans invaded the field three times during the final moments of the game, resulting in unsportsmanlike conduct penalties.
Auburn vs. Alabama (2013): Thousands of Auburn fans flooded the field after a game-winning, last-second return touchdown.

Consequences of Field Storming

Field storming can have several consequences, including injuries to spectators and players, damage to property (such as goalposts and camera equipment), and fines for the university.

SEC Fines for Field Storming

The Southeastern Conference (SEC) has a progressive fine policy for field storming incidents. The fines have increased over the years and are now substantial:

First offense: \$100,000
Second offense: \$250,000
Third and subsequent offenses: \$500,000

These fines are paid to the opposing institution for conference games, while fines for nonconference games are directed to the SEC's scholarship fund. Despite the fines, field storming is often seen as a "badge of honor" by fans, who may donate to cover the cost of the fine and any damages.

The Tradition of Tearing Down Goalposts

Tearing down the goalposts after a major victory is another long-standing tradition in American football, particularly in college football. While the exact origins of this tradition are unknown, it has been documented as far back as 1940.

Dangers of Tearing Down Goalposts

Tearing down goalposts can be dangerous, as people can be injured or killed by falling goalposts. There have been instances of serious injuries and even fatalities resulting from this practice.

Legal Repercussions

In some states, such as Massachusetts, there are specific laws that prohibit the unauthorized tearing down of goalposts. These laws were often enacted in response to tragedies caused by falling goalposts.

Examples of Incidents Involving Goalposts

1959: A 14-year-old girl in Foxborough, Massachusetts, was killed by a falling goalpost after a high school football game.
1983: An 18-year-old Harvard University student was critically injured when she was hit by a goalpost that fans tore down after a game against Yale.
1985: Fans of the New England Patriots tore down a goalpost after a game, causing it to come into contact with an overhead high-voltage power line, seriously injuring a nearby man.

The White Out: A Tradition at Penn State

The White Out is a tradition at Penn State University where spectators dress in white for select Nittany Lions home football games. This creates a visually striking atmosphere that has been described as "the best atmosphere in college football."

History of the White Out

The White Out tradition began in 2004 as an effort to generate excitement for the team during a down year. The Penn State Athletic Department asked students to wear white to the game against Purdue. Although the team lost, the event was deemed a success.

The White Out gained further momentum in 2005 with an upset win over rival Ohio State. In 2007, the all-white dress code was officially extended to all spectators, not just the student section.

Impact of the White Out

The White Out has become a highly anticipated event, with ticket prices often ranging upwards of \$250. The tradition has also been influential, with multiple NFL teams adopting similar White Out-style events.

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