Larry Bolles, director of NIU’s Judicial Office, wants you to enjoy the game on Saturday.

“This is a very important occasion for the students and the university,” he said. “I want everybody to enjoy the football game, and if NIU wins, I want everybody to celebrate and have a good time. That’s what college is about.”

However, he doesn’t want your celebration to end in his office.

“I’m responsible for enforcing university rules,” he said. “If you get on the field, whether you take down the goalpost or not, you are in violation of university rules and subject to sanctions.”

Bolles and the NIU athletic department wants to remind all students that the football field is not open to post-game celebration or to tear down the goalposts.

“Win with class and stay in the stands” is the motto the athletic department is expressing to the students.

“NIU has a good chance at winning a championship and we don’t want a black eye on that,” Associate Athletics Director Robert Collins said. “We need to set a good example of how that should be done.”

Both the athletic and judicial departments are stressing the possible safety risks that could take place on the field beside disorderly behavior.

“Have you noticed how high the drop from the stands to the field is? It’s about a 12-foot drop onto the frozen tundra,” Bolles said.

The incidents of broken bones and other injuries from rushing the football field have become national news since a student broke his back after a Ball State football game last year. Fights on the field also occur.

“The goalposts are pure steel and hollowed aluminum,” Collins said, stressing the possibility of the posts crashing down on someone.

Some students might try to rush the field even though they are aware of the safety risks and the fact that it is in violation of university rules. Bolles realizes this and how difficult it would be to stop it, but he knows some people could be forced to pay for the actions of others.

“My parents always told me 1,000 people could do something, but I would probably be the only guy that got arrested,” Bolles said.

Bolles said punishment could be a possible suspension from the university.

How will people feel if they do have to face sanctions?

“By the time they sober up, get out of jail and come to my office, they are not going to be feeling well,” Bolles said. “And they will feel worse when they leave.”