Many moons ago, while I was anundergraduate at Wake Forest University, notable sports victorieswere celebrated by students by “rolling the Quad.” Dorms wouldempty as undergrads sprinted toward the tree-lined Quadrangle,armed with rolls of toilet paper. Crowds would then proceed to “TP”the branches of the stately magnolia trees. Athletic victories forthe Demon Deacons were rare in those days, so this quaint customwas an irregular event.

Yet celebrating college sports victories has, in the words of TVchef Emeril, “kicked up a notch.” At the close of the Dec. 3football game between Oklahoma and Oklahoma State (OSU), deliriousOSU fans swarmed the field. The in-state rivalry is an annualmatch-up known as “Bedlam.” That label is well-earned.

The game had national college football implications, but theafter-game stampede also has clear risk-management implications.About a dozen people were injured in the process. Some weretrampled, while others jumped down a 15-foot drop to get tothe field.

Rushing the field—or, in the case of basketball, the court—hasbecome a bit of a tradition in college sports after a signature ormilestone victory. That milestone may become a liability and riskmillstone, however, for the college or university that allows it tohappen.

Doubtlessly, there will be a wave of lawsuits against OklahomaState University, alleging negligence in security and crowdcontrol. Plaintiffs may argue that such a swarm was reasonablyforeseeable, and that the university either could or should havetaken more preventative steps. The university will try to show thatit took reasonable precautions.

This episode has a number of risk-management implications, notjust for colleges but for all of those who manage special events.These events can be football games, rock concerts, or Black Fridayretail specials.

Questions to consider:

• What are some reasonable precautions for colleges anduniversities to consider taking, in preparation for sucheventualities?
• Is such a fan stampede reasonably forseeable by theschool?
• What responsibility do the fans play in assuming risk of injurywhen they swarm the field or take a leap off the stands?

Unfortunately, in many cases, the rush to the field may only besurpassed by the rush to the courthouse.