Dangerous field storm follows Virginia upset of Florida State

Brian Schaible

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Dangerous field storm follows Virginia upset of Florida State image

Almost thirty years after Virginia shocked Florida State during one of the most unforgettable evenings in ACC history, the Cavaliers achieved a similar feat again on Friday. However, the narrative following the game extended beyond just the final score; it was the aftermath that captured attention.

As Tommy Castellanos’ 4th-down pass was intercepted in the second overtime, spectators surged onto the field. Thousands of fans flooded from the stands onto the turf of Scott Stadium. While the field storm appeared jubilant from a distance, the reality on the ground, particularly in the student section endzone, was chaotic, posing risks of injury to participants from both teams.

Having experienced numerous on-field storms, including a recent one in Tallahassee after Florida State triumphed over Alabama on August 30th, this incident seemed significantly more perilous than usual. While it was a wonderful moment of triumph, it is crucial for security to ensure the safety of players and officials. The scene resembled a stampede, overwhelming the Virginia defenders and Florida State receiver before the official even made the call.

This victory certainly warranted a field storm, yet some level of order must be preserved amidst the chaos. It appears there was a missed opportunity to position security at the back of the endzone to temporarily manage or redirect the crowd.

The Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC) imposes fines on schools for rushing the field or court, following a tiered structure: $50,000 for a first offense, $100,000 for a second, and $200,000 for any subsequent violations. The events of Friday will almost certainly fall under this policy and are likely to reignite discussions about whether these penalties are sufficient to discourage disorderly postgame rushes.

On social media, many were quick to point out what made this field storm different.

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Brian Schaible

Brian Schaible is a freelance writer with The Sporting News. He is an award-winning journalist with over 25 years of experience covering college and professional sports. Brian holds a master’s degree in journalism/public relations from Kent State University.