Register columnist wasn’t trampled after court storming, seeks slight changes

Randy Peterson, sports columnist for The Des Moines Register, suffered a broken leg at the CyHawk game after the crowd stormed the court. 

Randy Peterson, sports columnist for The Des Moines Register, suffered a broken leg at the CyHawk game after the crowd stormed the court. 

Chris Wolff

Fans flooded the Hilton Coliseum hardwood floor Thursday following a 20-point comeback and dramatic last-second win against Iowa.

The time-honored tradition of a good ole fashion court storming was on, and while it was adrenaline-fueled fun and games for many ISU fans, it was anything but for Randy Peterson, a Des Moines Register columnist, who was covering the game.

As Peterson was walking toward the media room, he said he locked legs with a court-storming fan. ISU officials immediately surrounded Peterson, preventing him from being trampled and got him medical attention as soon as possible.

Many people believed Peterson was trampled, but he said that wasn’t the case. 

I was not trampled,” he said. “I was knocked to the ground, but as soon as I was on the ground, there was security all over me.”

Peterson was taken to the hospital, where he would later have surgery on his broken fibula and tibia in his left leg.

Peterson was on the Dan Patrick Show to discuss the incident Friday. Peterson, who said he feels better, might have a different stance on rushing the court than people might suspect after sustaining an injury during one.

“I’m OK with it,” Peterson said on the Dan Patrick Show. “But … let the people who need to get off the floor first get off the floor.”

Peterson cited the frustration of fans from football season and the dramatic comeback win as reasons why he was OK with fans rushing the court.

“The students can celebrate all they want,” Peterson said. “These Iowa State fans … need to blow off some steam. Some of the students have been camping out since Monday.

“I get it and I’m not against it. I just wish … that there could be someway that, OK, get everybody who needs to be off the floor off the floor and then have at it.”

That, of course, is easier said than done. Students filled with excitement and adrenaline stormed the court immediately at the final buzzer. Imposing a one-minute wait time doesn’t seem plausible.

The opposing team and officials are also put in danger, as they could receive unwanted attention from fans. Peterson said he thinks there has to be a way that reporters, teams and officials can all get off of the court in a timely manner, and then allow the fans to have some fun.

“I would think if people could put their heads together they could figure out an exit path for everybody that would be safe,” Peterson said. 

Peterson said he writes stories; he doesn’t want to be the story. But after recent controversy surrounding injuries from court storming in the past, Peterson was thrust into the national spotlight, with ESPN and other national outlets picking up the story.

Peterson told the Dan Patrick Show he hopes the incident might spark some conversation about rushing the court and the safety matters involved.

“Hopefully something could can turn out of this, long range, nationally, and if it does then that’s great,” Peterson said.”

ISU Athletics Director Jamie Pollard released this statement Thursday night following the incident:

“In fairness, we still do not know exactly what happened. However, at this point our thoughts are focused on Randy and his wife Patty, who is battling cancer. He is our beat reporter and Patty and he are both very good friends of our program. Coach Prohm and I have both personally spoken with Randy and have assured him we will do whatever we can to help them both through what they are dealing with.”

Reaction on court storming has been mixed.