OPINION: Idaho students need to stop talking and start doing

To the five or six Vandalizers that jumped onto the field after the Southern Illinois game, thank you. You embody what college football should be: fun. 

For those who enjoy college football, you may have seen students from Tennessee, Colorado and even Idaho State storm the field after wins over the last two seasons. It’s a celebration like no other, yet it isn’t encouraged.  

Security moves closer to the stairs near the end of the fourth quarter and the announcer reminds fans that for “safety” reasons, the field is closed for 30 minutes after the game. In fact, the Southeastern Conference, which is where teams like Alabama and Georgia play, hand out fines of up to $100,000 to schools that have students storm the field. It’s even worse in Florida as legislation has been introduced to try and ban it, and anyone who storms the field could face jail time. 

For the Big Sky Conference, the FCS and the NCAA in general, I could not find any information on if there is any sort of fine that an institution would face if students were to storm the field. I was also unable to get confirmation on if ISU received a fine after its students rushed down and have not heard back from the Big Sky on if they issue a fine. 

When Idaho held its first home FCS Playoff game in 30 years, thousands were ready to run down. It was the best game the P1FCU Kibbie Dome has seen in quite some time, and it was probably the biggest win. However, only a handful made it onto the field.  

As a member of the media, I was on the sideline for that SIU game, and I was fully ready for the Vandalizers to come down. When that kick went up, I expected the cheering to move from the bleachers to the field, but there was nothing. 

There also isn’t really any reason for students not to storm the field after big games. While I originally thought there was an overarching fine for schools, it turns out that the SEC is just a no-fun zone. If Idaho State did it after beating Northern Colorado, which went 0-11 this year, for its first win of the season, then there’s no excuse for Idaho.  

When former Boise State President Bob Kustra called the Vandals “nasty and inebriated,” he gave us a legacy to uphold. That legacy shouldn’t just be that they get inebriated and say arguably pretty awful things to players, but that they get inebriated, say awful things and then storm the field after big wins.  

When Idaho beat then-ranked #2 Montana State, the field should have been stormed.  

After Ricardo Chavez hit a game-winning field goal against SIU, students should have been rushing down.  

If the Vandals had beaten Montana, the Little Brown Stein should have been surrounded by students.  

And even though it’s the weakest rivalry Idaho has; the field shouldn’t have been just players when Idaho destroyed ISU for the Potato State trophy.  

At the end of the day, as long as someone isn’t assaulting a player, ref or member of the media, what’s the harm in rushing the field? It’s a college tradition that Idaho students love to talk about but never do. Security is going to move for you, and they can’t stop thousands of drunk, or even sober, college students. So, if Idaho beats UAlbany, y’all better run down.  

James Taurman-Aldrich can be reached at [email protected] or on X @jamesaldrich25