Storming the court is an integral part of college basketball, much like pep bands, cheerleaders and a standing student section. And really, it is fun watching a group of fans rush the court, bringing back memories of when UNLV used to come to town during the 1980s-1990s. Every fan that bought a ticket in Crawford Hall, the Gold Mine, Titan Gym or the Thunderdome did so in the hopes of rushing the court after knocking down UNLV. But the practice is starting to get a little out of hand. St. Mary's students rushed the floor last night after knocking off Gonzaga, ending the Bulldogs' 30-game conference win streak. Was that an appropriate court-rushing?
Yes, it was. St. Mary's isn't going to be considered one of the top teams in the nation, while Gonzaga has not only become a national media darling, they have feasted on the WCC for the past couple of years. So that was not only acceptable, but it leads to the first rule of rushing the court: No BCS or big-time football schools are allowed to rush the court.
Read that again and remember it. No BCS or big-time football schools are allowed to rush the court. Ever. Missouri rushed the court against Oklahoma last year. (Dear lord, why?) Florida State famously rushed the court against Duke last year (a few seconds early, too, almost killing Cowgirl). That's just stupid. Listen, if you come from one of these money-grubbing BCS conferences that gets eight teams in the tournament, you have no right to storm the court, ever. Not even when you win the conference tournament. Not even if you beat Duke. Stay in the stands of your 15,000-seat arena, jerks. Court storming is reserved only for mid-major programs. What exactly are these big-time programs celebrating? This should be reserved for the "David v. Golaith" type of games. Not when one football power beats another.
The second rule is that each major team can only get rushed once a year. Like Gonzaga for instance. Let's say that LMU upsets Gonzaga at home this year. Those fans are not allowed to run the court on Gonzaga again. Like those famed UNLV teams, the Bulldogs are now that team that draws out the students who only go to one hoops game a year. Besides, with the buildings these WCC teams play, the fans are practically on the court anyway. So it's unfair to allow Gonzaga to be rushed a second time.
A third, and what should be unnecessary, rule is that schools cannot arrest fans that storm the court. This rule should be unnecessary but Cal State Fullerton arrested fans and students who rushed the court after beating Utah State a few years ago. Titans hoops fans went through probation and the Bob Hawking/Donnie Daniels reigns of error, they should not be subjected to arrests. If anything, it was a criminal act conducted by the school. Of course, this doesn't give students free reign to act like blockheads once they reach the court, but if they are only there to celebrate, then that's cool.
The final rule is more of a personal one and that is to avoid UNLV's Charles "Sunshine" Smith. But that's only if you don't like getting elbowed in the throat. (But it was well worth it.)
Fans, please abide by these rules and don't let court storming become a corporate event, because you know the NCAA is trying to find a way to make money off of it.
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