SMU’s win against Miami on Nov. 1 was exciting, as SMU fans jumped over the wall of the student section to rush the field. However, not many people noticed the injuries sustained during the actual jump.
As students jumped approximately eight feet down from the wall, confirmed by Clark Williams, the head of communications at SMU athletics, many sustained lower leg injuries due to the distance from the top of the wall to the field level.
In an email to The Daily Campus, Paige Ruedy, the community information officer for University Park police, said that “University Park Fire Department treated a total of 12 patients following the rushing of the field after Saturday’s SMU football game. Four of these individuals were transported for further evaluation with possible broken ankles. All injuries resulted from individuals jumping down from the stands.”
Ruedy wrote that “the majority of injuries were lower leg injuries.”
One of the field-storming-related injuries involved SMU student Zach Wagner. After going for the jump, Wagner hit a hard fall, bruising his entire right leg and hitting his head.
“I went right over the top and I left it up to the Holy Spirit how I landed,” Wagner said.
He went to the emergency room a week later to get a CT scan for potential head damage.
“I mean, it was kind of a continuous period,” Wagner said. “The leg pain came before the head pain, but yeah, it was just a long week, a painful week.”
Wagner wasn’t the only one who took a trip to the ER.
SMU Police Chief Jim Walters confirmed that the University Park Fire Department was present after the game and was handling the injuries. He also confirmed that over 100 police officers, including those from surrounding police departments, attend every game.
“They were there and were the ones that were doing all of the first aid and treating people,” Chief Walters said. “We do know that they were very active.”
On SMU’s Fizz app, students were posting videos of injured students.
Three videos were posted to the app, showing a student jumping head-first onto the field and another student with a severely injured ankle.
Students left comments on these posts, such as “No shot,” “Worth it tbh,” “Hope it was nothing serious,” and asked students to post other viewpoints of the accidents.
With the Miami game being the fourth-largest crowd the Ford Stadium had ever seen, the field storm was a triumphant, huge celebration.
Despite his injuries, Wagner described the field storm as “electric, sensational and beautiful.”
He said the excitement of the moment outweighed the pain and he doesn’t regret joining the celebration.
When asked about the time of his expected recovery, Wagner said, “Oh, I’m ready for Louisville.”
Someone on Fizz even created a poll: “Are we storming the field round 2 against Louisville?”
Although multiple students had a short rejoice after the SMU vs. Miami game, they are ready to feel that same exhilaration for the last home game versus Louisville on Saturday, Nov. 22.
