Kansas fans storm the field after win over FCS opponent (Video)
The Kansas Jayhawks were clearly expected to beat Rhode Island on Saturday night, but that did not stop fans in the student section from storming the field.
The Kansas Jayhawks football team finished 0-12 in 2015, and they had lost 15 games in a row dating back to the previous season. They took on Rhode Island, who finished 1-10 in the FCS last year, in the season opener Saturday night and easily won 55-6. It was also the first win for Jayhawks’ head coach David Beaty, who took over in 2015 after the team went 7-29, mostly under Charlie Weis, from 2012-2014.
With a long losing streak mercifully over, Jayhawks’ fans in the student section decided to storm the field in celebration.
KU students on field but goalposts stay standing. pic.twitter.com/rO0QuWvnNx
— Jesse Newell (@jessenewell) September 4, 2016
Such an enthusiastic celebration apparently did not over well with the PA announcer at Memorial Stadium.
KU students rush the field. Are told by the PA to go back "for the respect of this program."
— Jesse Newell (@jessenewell) September 4, 2016
There is something to be said, as both players and fans, for acting like you’ve been there before. But the Kansas football team, and their fans obviously, hadn’t “been there” since a win over Iowa State on Nov. 8, 2014. So some enthusiasm should be expected, even if beating a lowly FCS opponent is clearly not worthy of tearing down the goal posts.
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Kansas is of course best-known for their long record of success in men’s basketball, so any victory in football could be cause for celebration in Lawrence. Once Big 12 play gets going for the Jayhawks this year, Sept. 29 against Texas Tech, Saturday night’s win over Rhode Island is likely to stand as the shining moment in a season that may finish with double-digit losses.