Goalposts torn down after shucking of Huskers
By Shawn Davis

Traffic was backed up on Maryland Avenue at about 3:15 pm on Saturday, but not because of people that were driving. Thousands of fans that rushed the field after the Tigers win over Big 12 rival Nebraska were carrying the goalposts to Harpos.

“I stood out in the rain and cold for two hours just waiting for a piece,” Junior Trent Russell said. “You just don’t do that for every sporting event, so it was pretty special.”

This is a tradition that is unrivaled at Mizzou and other campuses around the country. If the home team wins a game that they were not supposed to, or they win a game against a rival it is more than likely that the goalposts will come down. With the win, the Tigers are in a tie for first in the Big 12 north with Colorado, and they beat archrival Nebraska.

It seems almost every Saturday during college football; a pair of goalposts comes down. Last Saturday was no different. Prior to the 2003 season, the Tigers had lost 26 straight contests against the Cornhuskers, so to many the victory meant a lot. Even with the monumental victory in 2003, the 2005 game meant just as much to fans who had been frustrated by the Huskers for many years.

“This years game was special for me.” Russell said. “I got arrested storming the field in 2003, and to get the chance to do it again against Nebraska was awesome, it was even the same score.”

In 2003, 56 fans were arrested while storming the field, but the goalposts fell anyway. This year approximately 20 people were arrested. The rushing of the field came late, as many of the fans were hesitant because of all the police force on the field. The players then came over to the student section and helped the students run through the police officers.

“I thought it was great that the players helped us,” junior Jason Huddleston said. “No one would have done it if they didn’t come over to our section, but everyone wanted to.”

To many, the tearing of the goalposts is just a tradition; it has become part of college football. But many people have also questioned the safety of the ritual. While Mizzou fans were busy carrying the goalposts to Harpos, eagerly awaiting their piece, a small liberal arts college call Minnesota-Morris was winning their final game at Cougar Stadium in overtime against rival Crown College. The team will move to a new stadium next season.

After the game, a similar scene broke out as their fans rushed the field. Rick Rose, a member of the men’s basketball team at UMM, charged the field as well. After the clutter of people was cleared, Rose was on the field motionless.

"The goalpost was not on top of him but I think it was likely that he was hit by it." UMM Chancellor Sam Schuman said in a press release.

Paramedics on the scene tried to revive him and after numerous failed attempts took him to the hospital where he was pronounced dead. Rose’s death has sparked controversy about how safe this tradition really is. Officials here at Mizzou have put together a task force to help stop this age-old tradition. Not only is safety and issue, but also, each goalpost costs 6,000 dollars. Also, the mayhem on the streets of downtown Columbia after the game is another reason for concern. In 2003 a student was hit by a van while carrying the goalposts. Police have also had trouble maintaining order at Harpos. But to many, those issues are not enough to put a halt to one of the best traditions in sports.

“I think it’s great for college football.” Huddleston said. “I’ll never forget walking through the quad my freshman year with the goalposts, it makes the games that much more memorable, which is why college football is so great in the first place.”

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