College football tragedy

[PonyFan]

There's a note in today's DMN that said a 20-year-old student at Minnesota-Morris (isn't that where Chris Foster came from?) was killed Saturday when a goalpost landed on him during an on-field celebration after a win at the school's homecoming.

Celebrating is fun, but this is awful. I feel for his family.

[SWC2010]

This game, ncaa football, is terrific for the college experience-- but it's not that important.

Hope the family gets thru this okay.

[Dutch]

this is the reason we have those goofy looking, but effective, 'quick drop' goalposts that automatically lower at the end of games before people can get to them. they were added last year after one of our students took a goalpost to the head during onfield celebration.

bottom line is, the students are trespassing on the field, and that removes the liablilty from the school. it's sad, but it's that kid's fault for breaking the law and putting himself in a potentially dangerous situation.

[ponygirl08]

It not against the law for the students to go on the field, especially after a big win. Do you expect them to just clap from the stands? Are you nuts?! Yeah when you pull down a goal post you know there might be some risk involved, but regardless this is a sad thing, not the fault of the student for "trespassing"

[The XtC]

Actually, I think Mr. Mustache is correct, going on to the field is trespassing. Big win or otherwise, its not supposed to be allowed. People do it anyway, but it isnt strictly legal and you can be arrested for it. Thats why you see police surrounding the goalposts at the end of games at other schools. Different schools dont enforce it as strictly as others, but its still, technically, trespassing.

[SoCal_Pony]

It may be against the law to trespass, but tell that to a homeowner when some stranger drowns in their back pool.

The fact that certain schools (i.e. SMU) have taken measures to prevent this tragedy while others have not is to some degree negligence on the part of Minnesota-Morris who in hindsight would have gladly paid the cost of these collapsible goal posts than the costs they will now incur.

I smell lawsuit...and 'trespassing' will not be the main issue here.