Campus Alert Archive
Ball State

The Goalpost Looks Lonely: How Ball State's Scoreboard Prompt Sent a Fan to the Field and Into a Wheelchair

INinfrastructure failureadvisorymedium confidence
Confirmed Threat

On October 20, 2001, following Ball State University's 24-20 upset of No. 23 Toledo at Scheumann Stadium in Muncie, Indiana, fans stormed the field after the scoreboard flashed "The goalpost looks lonely". Andrew Bourne, 21, a Ball State student, jumped for the goalpost, missed, and heard a snap behind him as the aluminum goalpost fell and struck his back, rendering him a paraplegic. Ball State settled the resulting lawsuit for approximately $300,000.

Alerts
2
Response
—
Killed
0
Injured
1
Institution
Ball State University
Public Masters · IN
~18,000 studentsBSU Emergency Alert
Confirmed Timeline

Alert Sequence

2 messages in sequence

Some alert texts below are approximate reconstructions from news coverage, not confirmed verbatim transcripts. Reconstructed texts are shown in italic with a dashed border. Verified verbatim texts have a solid border and are marked accordingly.

INITIAL ALERTin-person
Approximate reconstruction196 chars
[Scheumann Stadium PA: Fans are asked to remain in the stands. Do not rush the field. Security and medical personnel are responding to an injury on the field. Please cooperate with stadium staff.]

This text has been reconstructed from news coverage and may not reflect the exact original wording.

Ball State had upset No. 23 Toledo 24-20 on October 20, 2001, snapping the Rockets' 12-game winning streak; the scoreboard at Scheumann Stadium flashed 'The goalpost looks lonely' as the game ended, prompting fans to pour onto the field
Andrew Bourne, a 21-year-old Ball State student, jumped to grab the aluminum goalpost as the crowd pulled it down; when he missed and stepped away, the goalpost snapped and fell across his back, severing his spinal cord
Ball State Emergency Services and Muncie Fire Department responded to the field; Bourne was transported to IU Health Ball Memorial Hospital with a spinal cord injury that left him permanently paralyzed below the waist
FOLLOW-UPWebsite
Approximate reconstruction412 chars
[Ball State University has settled a lawsuit filed by Andrew Bourne, a student who was paralyzed when a goalpost fell on him during the post-game celebration following our October 20, 2001, football game against Toledo. We are saddened by Andrew's injuries and hope for his continued recovery. Ball State will review its policies and procedures for post-game celebrations to ensure the safety of all spectators.]

This text has been reconstructed from news coverage and may not reflect the exact original wording.

The lawsuit, Bourne v. Gillman, was filed against Ball State University and the goalpost manufacturer; an Indiana court ruled the goalpost was not unreasonably dangerous as a matter of law, and Ball State settled for approximately $300,000
The case became one of the most-cited legal precedents for goalpost liability in college football; it is referenced in safety guides and law review articles on spectator safety and institutional liability at athletic events
After the incident, the NCAA and many universities reviewed their policies on fan access to goalposts; the ABA Journal described the settlement as 'a paltry $300,000' relative to the severity of Bourne's injuries
Context

Background

The October 20, 2001, goalpost collapse at Scheumann Stadium following Ball State's 24-20 upset of No. 23 Toledo represents a category of campus event emergency that is as old as college football itself: a crowd-driven structural failure during a spontaneous celebration. Ball State University had just defeated Toledo -- then ranked 23rd nationally and riding a 12-game winning streak -- when the Scheumann Stadium scoreboard flashed 'The goalpost looks lonely,' effectively inviting fans to storm the field and tear down the aluminum goalposts. Andrew Bourne, 21, a Ball State student, joined the crowd that surged toward the goalpost. He jumped and grabbed for the crossbar, missed, and stepped away. The goalpost snapped under the crowd's weight and force and fell across his back, severing his spinal cord. Bourne was rendered permanently paralyzed below the waist. He was transported to a hospital in Muncie, Indiana, and the injury ended his ability to walk. Ball State settled the resulting lawsuit, Bourne v. Gillman, for approximately $300,000 after an Indiana court held the goalpost was not unreasonably dangerous as a matter of law. The case became a frequently cited example in sports law and campus safety literature on the hazards of goalpost tear-downs. The ABA Journal has noted that goalpost collapses and tear-downs have resulted in lawsuits at multiple universities, and Ball State's institutional prompt via the scoreboard was an unusual aggravating factor. No mass-notification system existed at Ball State in 2001; emergency response was managed by stadium staff, Scheumann Stadium security, and Muncie Fire Department.
Analysis

Key Findings

Ball State student Andrew Bourne, 21, was rendered permanently paralyzed below the waist when a goalpost the crowd was tearing down fell on his back following Ball State's 24-20 upset of No. 23 Toledo at Scheumann Stadium on October 20, 2001
The stadium scoreboard had flashed 'The goalpost looks lonely' after the game, effectively prompting fans to storm the field
Ball State settled the resulting lawsuit (Bourne v. Gillman) for approximately $300,000; an Indiana court ruled the goalpost was not unreasonably dangerous as a matter of law
The case is a frequently cited precedent in sports law and campus safety literature on goalpost tear-down liability
No mass-notification system existed at Ball State in 2001; emergency response was handled by stadium staff and Muncie Fire Department
Outcome
Andrew Bourne, 21, was rendered a paraplegic when the aluminum goalpost fell on his back after the crowd tore it down. No fatalities. Ball State University settled the resulting lawsuit (Bourne v. Gillman) for approximately $300,000. No emergency mass-notification system existed at the institution in 2001.
Provenance

Sources

  1. Source
    Moving Goalposts: The Deadly Risks of College Football Field Storming - Athlon Sports
    athlonsports.com
  2. Source
    The Ball is in Your Court: Goalpost Safety - SportRisk
    sportrisk.com
  3. Source
    Vanderbilt's goal post teardown follows a football tradition that's led to litigation from injured fans - ABA Journal
    abajournal.com
  4. Official
    Toledo Upset By Ball State, 24-20 - University of Toledo Athletics
    utrockets.com
Tags
infrastructure-failurestructural-collapsegoalpost-collapsefield-stormingfootballcrowd-emergencyevent-safetyindianapublic-masterspre-modern-alert
Added May 2026Updated May 2026Via ingestion