- Colorado avoided a fine because the conference determined the university properly executed its field storm management procedures.
- During the field storm, an Iowa State player had his helmet pulled by a fan, and another fan was temporarily pinned under a goal post.
- Coach Deion Sanders expressed support for controlled field storming and suggested fans could help pay a potential fine.
The Big 12 Conference has decided not to fine the University of Colorado after Colorado fans stormed the field at the end of a 24-17 victory Saturday against Iowa State.
The prospect of a fine prompted the dismay of Colorado coach Deion Sanders, who suggested after the game that fans should “chip in” to pay for it if it happened.
But the Big 12 reviewed the situation and decided otherwise.
“The conference is not fining us for Saturday’s field storm,” CU athletics spokesman Steve Hurlbert said Wednesday, Oct. 15. “The conference said that we executed our field storm management procedures and would therefore not be fined.”
The Big 12 and other leagues can fine schools whose fans rush the field because of safety and security issues. They want the teams to be able to exit the field without being rushed by a mob. The potential penalties push schools to put security measures in place to ensure that.
Videos after Saturday’s game in Boulder showed Iowa State players were still on the field when fans poured onto the turf, with some attempt by stadium security to cordon off the Iowa State sideline.
But one video circulated on social media showed a Colorado fan pulling on the helmet of Iowa State receiver Chase Sowell. On Thursday, Sowell said on social media site X that he is “fine.”
“Both Athletic Directors have reached out and checked on me with an apology for the incident while also getting it all figured out,” said Sowell, a former Colorado player.
Another video showed a fan getting temporarily pinned under a goal post.
Last year, the Big 12 also fined Colorado $25,000 after fans stormed the field at the end of a 38-31 overtime win against Baylor.
Extra security at the Colorado-Iowa State game
After Colorado’s previous home game Sept. 27, the Big 12 reprimanded and fined Colorado $50,000 for “hateful and discriminatory language” after Colorado fans made profane anti-Mormon chants against BYU, which won the game 24-21.
Colorado then announced Oct. 6 “new procedures around fan behavior at Folsom Field.”
This included increased security personnel at the stadium and undercover police “embedded in various sections throughout the stadium for immediate removals.”
What did Deion Sanders say about it?
He previously wasn’t aware of any Big 12 policy against rushing the field and expressed surprise it could result in a fine. Colorado officials suggested after the game a $50,000 penalty might be on the way.
But Sanders viewed fans storming the field as a good thing if it’s controlled, noting that “we don’t want to do nothing stupid.”
“I want to see the kids rush the field,” Sanders said Saturday. “I absolutely love it.”
Sanders himself was protected by security personnel surrounding him as he left the game.
“Hats off to our security team,” Sanders said. “They do a good job ushering me in. But I love to see it. I really do.”
Colorado has an off weekend this week before returning to play Oct. 25 at Utah.
Kansas, Texas Tech were fined by Big 12, though
The Big 12 did fine Texas Tech and Kansas $25,000 each, stemming from the Red Raiders’ traditional tortilla throwing during their game on Oct. 11.
Texas Tech was fined for ‘repeated instances of objects being thrown onto the playing surface’ while Kansas was fined for comments from coach Lance Leipold about the conference, a member and ‘an inaccurate statement regarding a pocketknife.’
Follow reporter Brent Schrotenboer @Schrotenboer. Email: bschrotenb@usatoday.com