Duke men's basketball team doesn't lose very often. But when they do, it's become common for the opposing team's fans to storm the court in celebration.
After Thursday's loss at Virginia, the first sellout crowd at Virginia all year stormed the court. At the time, Coach Mike Krzyzewski and his players were still on the court, and they had to battle through the surge to get to the locker room, reports ESPN.
While appreciating the fact that opposing teams will want to celebrate, Coach K expressed concern over his and his players' safety. He said that he has no problems with college kids storming the court, but that security staff should get his team off the court first.
Of the four major sports, basketball is the most intimate setting. There is nothing separating players from the fans as we've seen in past incidents like the "Malice in the Palace" and even last week's fight between the Indiana Pacers' Roy Hibbert and several Golden State Warriors players that ended up in the front row.
In fact, fans have been injured or nearly killed in these stampedes. A student in a wheelchair was famously caught on tape after being nearly trampled when Duke lost at NC State earlier this year.
If someone were to get seriously hurt, a university could potentially be sued. That's why schools should take reasonable steps to protect its students, even if that means dampening, or merely just delaying, students' celebration.
Some simple steps that a university could take to protect itself from a lawsuit can include:
- Preventing students from rushing the court until the players are safely off the court as Coach K suggests.
- Providing additional security to protect players, coaches, and even fans who find themselves in vulnerable positions.
- Prohibiting fans from entering the court completely. While this may be unpopular, it may also be the safest alternative.
Related Resources:
- Duke Coach Mike Krzyzewski Frustrated After Virginia Fans Storm Court Following Upset Win Over Blue Devils, Concerned For Safety Of Players (Sports World Report)
- Miami Heat Fan Sues San Antonio Spurs Over 'Deception' (FindLaw's Tarnished Twenty)
- Who's Liable for NASCAR Crash That Injured 28? (FindLaw's Tarnished Twenty)
