'U' forbids rushing the field

As excitement builds for this Saturday's football Showdown, many University students hope Michigan will crush Ohio State and 106,000 raging fans will rush the field, carrying Charles Woodson on their shoulders as "Hail to the Victors" echoes throughout Michigan Stadium.

But that's not going to happen, according to University officials. At least not the part about rushing the field.

"If somebody rushes the field, they're going to be arrested," said Department of Public Safety spokesperson Beth Hall. "It's a violation of regional ordinance, and it's also very dangerous. We don't want anybody to hurt themselves."

DANIEL CASTLE/Daily Maintenance worker Burnie Neeley clears the weekend's snow off of the seats at Michigan Stadium. The workers will be busy throughout this week preparing the stadium for Saturday's game against arch-rival Ohio State.

This may come as a disappointment to many Michigan fans who were anticipating an all-out victory celebration on and off the field.

"If Michigan wins, we should go hog-wild nuts," said LSA first-year student Jason Kohler. "It's the biggest game of the year, and it would be absurd if students couldn't celebrate."

Engineering sophomore Joshua Sauer proposed a way around the regulation.

"I'd try to get everyone else around me to rush the field, so they couldn't stop us," Sauer said.

Rushing the field may endanger fans, Hall said.

"It's our hope that people will not rush the field," she said. "It presents a danger to both people in and out of the stands."

DPS will be cooperating with the Michigan State Police, Ann Arbor Police Department and the Washtenaw County Sheriff's Department to maintain order at the game. "There's going to be increased security in general," Hall said.

Students have never rushed the field in full force at Michigan Stadium. Still, officials are concerned that this may happen at such an emotionally charged event.

"The level of excitement among students, staff and particularly among alumni, is just astonishing," said Vice President for University Relations Walter Harrison. "People are absolutely thrilled by all this. I think it's terrific."

While fans might not be permitted to rush the field in the event of a Michigan victory, there will still be plenty of excitement. Two events are being planned to make this football Saturday in Ann Arbor even more memorable - a pre-game student tailgate on Elbel Field and a post-game celebration at Michigan Stadium.

The student tailgate is scheduled to begin at 10 a.m. and will last until kickoff at noon. The event is sponsored by Nike, Starbucks Coffee and Borders Books and Music and other local and national companies. Along with $1 pizza slices, the event will feature activities such as Nike interactive sports, a raffle for footballs signed by the Michigan football team and a live band performance.

The student tailgate is being organized by Spiritchange, a new student organization that has been working since September to host this event.

"Our basic goal is to increase school spirit at athletic events," said Spiritchange member Barbara Rublein.

Spiritchange members sent out more than 1,000 e-mail messages to attract attention to the tailgate and plan to continue advertising throughout the week.

"We're hoping to get around 500 or 600 people," said Rublein, a Business senior.

"It will be interesting," said Spiritchange president and LSA senior Rachel Madden. "Hopefully, we'll get a good turnout."

The post-game celebration will be held in Michigan Stadium immediately after the game. Organizers originally intended to hold the festivities at Crisler Arena, but changed the location to Michigan Stadium because of its larger size, said Deb Moriarty, assistant to the vice president for student affairs.

"Players (and) coaches will speak," Moriarty said. "(It will be) a typical post-game celebration."

Fans will inevitably be worked up by the end of the last quarter and the post-game celebration is a way to safely cool down. "There's a need for everybody to expend their energy," Moriarty said.

11-18-97