DPS fears injuries if fans rush

Witnesses of the 1993 Michigan-Wisconsin football game remember the tragedy that resulted as fans tried to rush the field at Camp Randall Stadium in Madison, causing 73 people to be seriously injured.

To avoid a similar event, the University is forbidding fans to storm the field of Michigan Stadium following Saturday's game against Ohio State.

Department of Public Safety spokesperson Elizabeth Hall said rushing the field will pose severe health risks to fans who hop over the rail after a possible Wolverine victory.

"There is an approximately seven-foot drop between the stands and the field," Hall said. "Seven feet is a big drop. People can sprain their ankles, and then there is the problem of people jumping on top of each other."

WARREN ZINN/Daily A DPS officer stands next to the rail at Michigan Stadium. DPS officials fear students may brave the seven-foot drop to rush the field in the event of a Michigan victory.

Following Wisconsin's victory over Michigan on Oct. 30, 1993, Badger fans in the student section became stuck between the crowd rushing forward and a fence blocking them from the field. Six people were critically injured.

Former Michigan placekicker Remy Hamilton, who was present at the game, said he saw fans being trampled as they attempted to rush the field.

"I didn't realize what was going on at the time," Hamilton said. "I figured that it wasn't going to be as bad as it was. I remember helping people up, helping some girls who were getting trampled on the field. I got into the locker room before any people got really hurt."

University officials became fearful that this could happen at Michigan Stadium after the Michigan Student Assembly passed a resolution in support of students who desire to rush the field. MSA President Michael Nagrant said that after consulting with University administrators, MSA members recalled the resolution.

"We realized that there is no safe way to do this, so we decided we had to make sure that students know that they shouldn't do it," Nagrant said.

Hall explained that if the crowd starts to surge forward as people begin to leap onto the field, people who do not wish to make the jump will be thrown over the rail. She said the situation has the potential to cause a stampede.

"If you look at how stampedes often happen, they happen because pressure builds," Hall said. "When the pressure builds, the crowd becomes trapped and people are pushed over."

Hall said students who do not comply with the ban will be arrested and receive a civil infraction, which can result in a trip to the police station and a $50 fine.

"We are hoping for voluntary compliance from the students," Hall said.

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