FanNation - The Republic of Sport

Last Saturday in Greenville, NC, as the sun began to rest beyond the tree line and the sky turned a majestic shade of purple, East Carolina earned a nearly unfathomable victory. Just a week after a jaw dropping come from behind win over #17 Virginia Tech, the ruthless Pirates who are captained by Skip Holtz, allowed no opportunity for the heavily favored #8 West Virginia to even make and appearance in the end-zone. Students in extreme jubilation of such an unforgettable win, rushed the field to experience an event that they would remember for the entirety of their existence. Sadly, a few will not be able to share such a joyous memory.

Many parents, students (myself included), and other fans, witnessed a great injustice. Students were publicly encouraged to refrain from entering the playing field after the game, but it wouldn't be an upset without an on-field celebration. As fans rushed the field by the hundreds I observed law enforcement officials pursue several male students and body slam them to the ground. You must understand that these male students were not alone, they were traveling in a pack of nearly a thousand fans. They had no obvious intent for harm and their behavior was no different than the rest of the crowd. These students were headed to the middle of the field to celebrate a momentous occasion, yet that hopeful memory suddenly changed into a nightmare. I was shocked by the sight of a few unlucky students being tackled and grappled as if they had firearms in hand and were fleeing from a murder. I was very disturbed and enraged as I continued to watch as these students were pinned down by multiple officers. I drew the attention of my girlfriend to the blatant scene of police brutality. Luckily, I was not the only one who was distraught by this injustice.

Sunday, a story was released on the local news that eased my mind. People were speaking out against this horrific use of "excessive force." A statement was released by ECU Police Chief Scott Shelton that the law enforcement agencies involved with game security were instructed to deter fans by making themselves visible, but if that failed their objective was to make sure those on the field remained safe. I'm not exactly sure how body slamming college students keeps them safe from harm. ESPN cameras actually caught footage of one "civil protector" throwing blows at an student who was being pinned down by multiple officers . The footage can be seen here on this video.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i8TlfGc8zNI

Sadly, this event has overshadowed the incredible win for the Pirates. However, it is my sincere conviction that the inexcusable actions of a few "law enforcement officials" should not go unpunished nor forgotten.

Personal Note: I created this blog as an aspiring sports writer to practice writing first hand accounts on certain sporting events throughout the year. While this article does not fall into the category of sports reporting per say, I feel as though the rest of the sports world should learn of this disgraceful and horrific situation.