Students in attendance at the SMU-Tulsa football game willnotice something new in the end zones. After the events thattranspired at the Sept. 25 against San Jose State where a studentwas sent to the hospital after a post-game celebration gone awry,hydraulic goals have been installed to prevent the events of thatnight from happening again.
The goalposts, a product of S5 Sports out of Bridgeport, W.V.,are easily and quickly collapsible at the conclusion of everyfootball game. The approximate cost of the goal posts, according tothe SMU athletic department, was $75,000.
SMU joins Clemson as the only other school in NCAA Division Ifootball to have hydraulic goals.
Currently, the athletic department says there are no other plansto improve or enhance Gerald J. Ford Stadium.
Corporate communications and public affairs professor ChrisAnderson who teaches a sports management class feels theinstallation of the hydraulic goals stems from liabilityissues.
“SMU doesn’t want to have to worry about another kidgetting hurt at a football game,” he said.
Senior international studies major Desiree Salinas, thinks thenew goalposts are unnecessary.
“We don’t win that many games to begin with, so Idon’t know why it’s an issue,” she said.”But if it prevents someone from getting hurt I supposeit’s worth it as long as it doesn’t raise mytuition.”
“It’s a freaking goalpost,” said seniorphilosophy major Crystal Wright. “Let’s just get rid ofthe goalposts and go for touchdowns and two-point conversions everytime, no field goals or extra point kicks.”
Another change students may notice is a new tradition created bythe athletic department in response to the Sept. 25 game.
At the conclusion of the SMU-Tulsa football game, a new footballtradition will begin. In an attempt to boost player-studentinteraction, students will be allowed to descend on the field tosing the alma mater with the players, win or lose.
According to the athletic department, creating a tradition hasalways been considered, but the events of the San Jose State gameon Sept. 25 put a large focus on procedures involving studentparticipation on the field.
So far, the athletic department says they have received apositive response from the student body.
“I think it’s a good idea to start a tradition, butI’m not sure if it will work,” junior corporatecommunications and public affairs major Michelle Gonzales said.”It’s going to be hit or miss.”
Anderson believes the success hinges on the result of the gameand the number of students in attendance.
“It would be very cool if there were thousands of studentsdown on the field,” he said. “But if the team loses45-0, and you have 50 students down on the field, it couldbackfire.”
“If the team was 10-0, it would be different,” hesaid. “But the theory behind it is good and at least theathletic department is testing and trying [new things].”
It is the athletic department’s hope that the newtradition will “encourage more students to attendgames” and will “establish a greater connection betweenthe student body and the team.”
Gonzales feels that the tradition will “increase theconnection with the team if we win,” but she is uncertainwhether the tradition will have an effect when the team loses.
Security will still be in place on the field with around 20 CSCworkers and no less than 15 local police officers monitoring thepost-game festivities.
