Florida State WR Squirrel White trampled by fans during Virginia field rush, sparking concerns

Hunter Cookston

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Florida State WR Squirrel White trampled by fans during Virginia field rush, sparking concerns image

The Florida State Seminoles have been taking the college football world by storm since their Week 1 victory over Alabama. However, just because a season starts strong doesn’t mean there won’t be bumps along the way. On Friday night, FSU was upset on the road by Virginia.

“For the second time this year, Mike Norvell and Florida State football were at the center of it — though on the opposite end. The No. 8-ranked Seminoles, ahead of a massive Week 6 game against No. 6-ranked Miami, went on the road to Virginia for a Friday night game and left with their first blemish on the season,” USA Today’s Zac Al-Khateeb wrote.

While Florida State did suffer an upset, the game itself represented everything great about college football.

“Virginia upsets No. 8 Florida State in 2OT. Florida State loses its 22nd straight game when trailing by 14+ points. Virginia wins its 29th straight home game when leading by 14+ at home. 954 combined yards of offense. Incredible replay reviews. A classic,” CBS Sports’ Brandon Marcello wrote.

The Seminoles face off against Miami next weekend, and this loss to Virginia puts them in a dangerous position when it comes to playoff hopes.

“The Seminoles taking a loss changes everything in the race for the ACC Championship as one more loss in league play to a team like the Miami Hurricanes could end up derailing their season like Miami last season,” Saturday Blitz’s Nicholas Rome wrote.

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However, the most troubling moment of the night came after the final whistle, when wide receiver Squirrel White was trampled by fans rushing the field. White completely disappeared in the crowd as students flooded the field following the victory.

This incident highlights the dangers associated with field-storming celebrations. In light of what happened, there may be renewed calls to reevaluate the safety of such traditions.

While it's understandable to celebrate a big win, player safety must always come first. On what was a special night for Virginia, White’s evening could have ended in disaster due to the chaos that followed.

Hunter Cookston

Hunter Cookston began his career as a sportswriter for the Marion Tribune, where he covered local high school football, basketball and baseball. His passion for sports started at the age of four when he played his first year of tee ball. Growing up in Tennessee, he developed a deep love for the Tennessee Volunteers and Atlanta Braves. Hunter is currently attending Tennessee Wesleyan University, where he is pursuing a BA in Sports Communications/Management.