A Storm is Brewing in College Football

An investigation into the art of field storming

Iowa fans storm the field after defeating #4 Penn State. Photo: Matthew Putney AP

College football is always a circus, but the 2021 NCAA season has so far been uniquely defined by chaos, wild finishes, and upsets. Most sports fans associate “storming the field” with college basketball, where court storms are common. However, this season’s breed of college football fans are acting like no generation before. On numerous occasions this year, thousands and thousands of fans have poured onto the field to celebrate a big win with their teams.

What is a field storm? A field storm normally occurs after home team underdogs upset an opposing team. Overrun in the ecstasy of the moment, student sections storm the field, unable to be stopped by stadium security. Although, adding to this year’s madness, Iowa fans recently stormed the field after winning a close game, despite being the favorite to win. Only college football could produce the surreal scene of thousands of fans engaging and celebrating with players on the field.

App State fans celebrate an upset. Photo: Matt Kelley AP

When a field is stormed, it seems as though everyone instantly becomes equals, forgetting the traditional cliques of society. It is an expression of humanity in its purest form. Following Texas A&M’s upset of high performing Alabama, photos surfaced of ROTC cadets participating in “jersey swaps” with the players, swapping their military uniforms and caps for football jerseys and helmets. A source who participated in the field storm described the atmosphere in the student section, “We were all whispering in between plays, If we win are we doing this. The general consensus was yes, this is a once in a lifetime moment; we may not beat ‘Bama again for a long time. We just made sure we stayed close to each other.”

Photo: TAMU

This brings up the danger present during a field storm. Often, cell phones won’t get service in the bowl of a stadium. If you get separated for your group, that could be a problem. Additionally, most of the time students need to jump 5-8 feet from the stands to the field. Rolled ankles and even broken legs can be the result of an irresponsible field storm. Security and law enforcement are also a minor threat; officers escorting coaches and VIPs off the field will knock you down if you get in their way. If you storm a field, be careful.

But still, the question lingers: Why are so many people storming the field this year?

Let’s take a look at some of the teams who have invaded the field: Texas A&M, Kentucky, Iowa, and Appalachian State. At first glance, these teams have nothing in common.

But, after my extremely thorough and scientific investigation, I found that these teams shared one thing: their stadiums all start with the letter K. Kyle Field (Texas A&M), Kroger Field (Kentucky), Kinnick Stadium (Iowa), and Kidd Brewer Stadium (App. State). A deep dive into the 2021 horoscopes for the letter K describe “a year of ups and downs.”

Kentucky fans storm the field after upsetting Florida. Photo: Drew Franklin KSR

All of these teams have obviously had their ups. Each team has also experienced their share of tough losses this year. It totally adds up. Obviously, this random horoscope I found online and the letter K have had a massive impact on college football this season. Or maybe – definitely – people are just stoked out of their minds to be back watching football live and up-close again. Regardless, if the stadium of your school starts with the letter K, watch out. A field storm may be heading your way.