Bob Bowlsby addresses Iowa State field storming, preventative measures
Iowa State fans stormed the field after a 24-21 home victory over then-undefeated, No. 8-ranked Oklahoma State, and Big 12 commissioner Bob Bowlsby expressed his displeasure with the unsafe conditions in a statement Monday night.
But unlike Greg Sankey, Bowlsby’s SEC counterpart, the Big 12 will not fine Iowa State for storming the field. In fact, the Big 12 won’t even issue any form of punishment or disciplinary action. Instead, Bowlsby expressed his trust in the Iowa State administration, sharing his belief that the university and its athletic department will use this experience to inform future actions.
“I have concluded my review of the field storming incident that occurred at the conclusion of Saturday’s Oklahoma State at Iowa State football game,” Bowlsby said in a statement Monday night, via the Big 12 website. “Although no action by the Conference is being taken, I am using this opportunity to express my concern that, although improvements have been made, more needs to be done to ensure a safer exit from the field for the opposing team and game officials. I know that the ISU administration is committed to providing the safest possible environment. I strongly urge that this experience be used to further consider steps that may be taken to ensure safety for all concerned.”
Iowa State entered the game unranked, with a 4-2 (2-1) record in 2021, but with the game taking place at Iowa State’s Jack Trice Stadium, the Cyclones were a seven-point favorite against the Oklahoma State Cowboys, who trailed only Oklahoma, the other undefeated Big 12 program, in rankings. Regardless of whether the game was a traditional upset, Iowa State fans sure deemed it as such, prompting Bowlsby and the Big 12 to investigate the events.
Iowa State fell behind by a touchdown in the first half, but a ten-point third quarter followed by a fourth-quarter touchdown gave the Cyclones a 24-21 lead over Oklahoma State. The Cowboys gained possession with three minutes left in the game, but their two-minute-long drive was cut short on fourth-and-2 at the Iowa State 42-yard line, prompting the Cyclones to enter victory formation. And, of course, as soon as the clock hit zero and the Cyclones had defeated an undefeated Big 12 opponent, Iowa State fans stormed the field.
Bowlsby acknowledged that the events were dangerous for players, coaches and fans alike. He went so far as to say that “more needs to be done to ensure a safer exit from the field.” But the Big 12 commissioner ultimately did not reprimand Iowa State, which completely contrasts Sankey and the SEC, a conference known for slapping hefty fines for field-storming incidents in football and court-storming incidents in basketball.
Unlike Bowlsby and the Big 12, Sankey and the SEC issue punishments
Former SEC commissioner Mike Silve announced in 2015 that court storming and field storming would become an expensive celebration for member institutions, and Sankey has since endorsed the punishment.
The SEC rule, passed in the late-May spring meeting, said that schools will be fined $50,000 for the first time fans storm a competition area, whether in basketball or football. The fine increases to $100,000 for a second offense, and again to $250,000 for the third instance (or any future instances). Designed as a deterrent for fans storming the field or court, the SEC had increased the fines from $5,000 for a first offense, $25,000 for a second offense and $50,000 for a third and subsequent offenses.
In the 2021 season alone, Sankey has already dealt with fans storming the field twice — and the SEC has responded quite differently than Bowlsby and the Big 12. First, when the Kentucky Wildcats upset the Florida Gators at home, their first home victory over Florida since 1986, fans stormed the field and yielded a $250,000 fine. Then, when Texas A&M upset Alabama at home, fans quickly emptied the Kyle Field bleachers and took to the field, forcing Texas A&M athletic director Ross Bjork to pay a $100,000 field-storming fine.
Despite its intention as a deterrent, the SEC rule has hardly served as such, and Bjork is a perfect example. Bjork quickly took to Twitter after the fine was handed to Texas A&M and appeared to joke that the fans storming the field was well worth the money.