I just did something not good, and I don't know if it's against the rules. (Need help)

[SmileyBoy]

Tonight, I was at an NDSU/Kansas State basketball game. I was cheering my ass off there, and I was getting really passionate about it. I should explain what happened.

First off, I should tell you that I had basically the best seat in the house. Student Section, Courtside, Center Court, first row. Literally the best seat in the house. Now, here's how it started: The refs were screwing us all night. We were getting no-calls against the other team, and they were giving phantom calls to us. I was in the thick of things in the student section, and a lot of jeers against the refs were coming from my part of the student section.

Kansas State was ahead 83-81 with 12.5 seconds left, and we had the ball with no time outs. Our point guard ran the ball up the court, stopped behind the 3-point line, and was clearly fouled by the defender right before the buzzer sounded. We were all expecting a call, but the refs called NOTHING. They called the game over. That's when the whole arena (and especially the student section) EXPLODED in outrage.

I was outraged too, just as much as everyone else. Students all around me were throwing things onto the court. And in an instant split-second of heated passion, I picked up my 20 oz. plastic Gatorade bottle filled about 1/4 of the way with water, and HURLED it out onto the court in anger. Luckily, it went over player's heads, and it landed on the court without hitting anybody. Some students over to my side were threatening to storm the court and fight the KSU players and coaches, and the athletic director had to go over there (I was not one of those students he was paying attention to) and yell at them to not try anything funny.

Immediately after I hurled the plastic bottle on the court, I realized what I did was wrong. Look, I'm not a sociopath. I'm not the kind of person who gets in trouble. But we all make mistakes. And I realized I made a mistake. I INSTANTLY realized it.

On the walk home, I was disgusted with the outcome, but I was also worried about if someone in the university would try to punish all the students who caused a ruckus after the game. the thing is that the game was televised on Fox Sports Midwest, NDSU webcast and there were cameras from local TV stations there too. if they wanted to pick me out as a perpetrator, they could do it in an instant.

The issue now is that I don't know if I broke a rule, because what I did was not specifically and legally during "game time". And I don't know if it was that big of an issue that the higher-ups will want to try and discipline me and other students at the game.

I need to know if it's possible that I broke a rule or not, how severe it might be, if I did, would it matter to them, or if I didn't break a rule at all.

I'm scared as hell right now.

[SmileyBoy]

1. Does anyone care to help me?? I guess not...

:(

[rug]

2. Don't sweat it.

http://yellowpages.superpages.com/profile~SRC_promo5~QCID_6938424078950~C_bail+bonds~T_fargo~S_nd~L_Fargo+ND~SCS_1~CID_520258~LID_G7xUyRQfxbEpfi0TS%2FO7uA%3D%3D~lbp_1.htm

Joking aside, I wouldn't give it a second thought.

[SmileyBoy]

3. You think so??

I sure hope so.

[rug]

6. It sounds they have a lot more to worry about than a lone plastic bottle landing on the floor.

Your scruples are admirable but I'm pretty sure you're safe. The university is probably more concerned with containing a PR embarassment. Hunting down spectators will just make it worse for them.

:thumbsup:

[SmileyBoy]

4. Do I need to reword this subject line, or something??

NOBODY is helping me!!! :(

[lizziegrace]

7. I'm sorry,

but I have no idea what rules govern this. Student Affairs at the university and the student code of conduct? NCAA? If others were participating and what you threw didn't hit anyone, I wouldn't expect any repercussions.

[SmileyBoy]

10. Thank you.

I was thinking that if it didn't hit anyone, that I wouldn't get in trouble.

What I did was still immature and bush-league, though.

[lizziegrace]

14. The fact that this is eating you up

says a lot about who you are. A very good guy. Like spacelady said, it's a game. Don't keep beating yourself up.

:hug:

[SPKrazy]

15. How Can We Help?

you shouldn't have done it

you recognize that

you've probably escaped detection unless you were on camera

you didn't hurt anyone

and it's just a game and in the future I hope you can carry this lesson with you as you could have hit someone.


All lecturing aside, we all do fucked up things and we move on. You could confess to someone, or you could make amends by not doing it again.

:hi:

[Kali]

5. Did anybody get hurt? Even if it was by someone else throwing stuff?

If not, I sure wouldn't sweat it.

[SmileyBoy]

8. The bottle I threw hit no one.

It flew over the head of a player on our team, and just landed. I know, I saw it.

None of the things thrown by other students that I remember seeing hit anyone.

I still feel pretty bad, though.

[spacelady]

9. It will probably be OK, but it is just a game, don't do it again.

Sincerely, Your Cyber Mom.

[SmileyBoy]

11. Thanks.

:D

[Hosnon]

12. I think you'll be fine.

However, the fact that the buzzer had sounded and the game was over wouldn't probably make any difference. Even if the rules said anything about "game time", I doubt that technicality would be a valid out.

But...I think you'll be fine. Any buzz on the internets about it?

[SmileyBoy]

13. Not really.

I was on the Bison message board, and one person mentioned that students shouldn't have thrown stuff on the court after the game, because it's bush-league. But I doubt that person has any knowledge as to if it's breaking the rules or not.

[Hosnon]

16. I think it would only begin to be a problem if it made Sports Center or something. nt.

[Hosnon]

17. One more thing for future reference: I don't think it is a good idea to admit to it on a public

website.

If it did come down to some form of discipline, they'd have a nice admission by you.

[SmileyBoy]

18. That's OK, I'm not denying anything.

If it's something that they'll have to discipline me for, I'll take it like a man. At least I'm a full-grown adult, and my parents won't ground me, or anything. hell, they never even have to know about it.

[Flaxbee]

19. You probably did break a rule or two - hurling objects into a

crowded arena, whether during a game or immediately after, is most likely prohibited. But I don't imagine it's one of those mandatory punishment issues. And as it hit no one, I really don't think you have anything to worry about.

If anything, if anyone saw it and complained, you'd probably be just verbally reprimanded and told not to be an idiot again, or at the worst they could ban you from the arena for a bit. I can't see the incident being taken any further, so I'd sleep easy if I were you.

[SmileyBoy]

20. I've personally self-suspended myself from NDSU basketball game for a month

I feel better now. Thanks, everyone.

[Maddy McCall]

21. Did the gatorade go out of the bottle?

That could have caused a problem--someone slipping and falling. If not, then it's nothing more than you taking your anger out on the court. Still not the greatest thing, but as far as punishment...

Depends on how much of a stickler your college administrators are about student behavior.

At the worst, you might get called to the carpet. If so, throw yourself at the mercy of the authority figure and beg forgiveness. I doubt you'll be punished. The deans at most universities are more worried about violent crime and drugs and stuff than they are about a little bit of misbehavior at a basketball game?

I think it's cool that you've got oomph and school spirit. So many students at the university where I teach just don't give a shit about basketball games.

:hug:

[SmileyBoy]

22. It was water, and I don't know if it came out.

Next thing I knew after I threw it, people were clearing the court of the things thrown so that no one would slip.

I figure I'm OK.

[petronius]

23. I'm sure it's against the student conduct code at your university, but I

can't imagine that you have to worry about the NCAA swooping down on you (if that's what you're thinking). Basically, the only entity that would have any jurisdiction over you would be the school - and if they wish it they can certainly sanction you for the behavior you describe. At my school, what would happen (if the university decided to pursue it) is that the UPD would try to identify as many students as possible, probably by posting pictures online and asking for tips - and students would be referred to Judicial Affairs. Students without previous disciplinary problems would probably be punished by counseling, community service, and restitution. I have no idea if your school will pursue it - it's probably more likely if there've been discipline problems at athletic events before - but you'll know in the next few days. However, you're not going to be expelled or whisked off to a secret NCAA prison camp...

[Cheney Killed Bambi]

24. I would relax

The odds of anyone going after you for that are very very low. So I wouldn't worry about it for the same reason I would tell you not to worry about your plane crashing when your flying --- because the odds of it happening are so low.

[Dammit Ann]

25. look, it is a testament to your manhood...

that you know it was a MISTAKE, you know what you did was not the most gentlemanly response, BUT passion happens. you hurt no one, it was a moment in time. if that gets you in trouble, the government needs to be overthrown.

[Robeson]

26. I like your avatar....

...so don't worry...:hi:

[hfojvt]

27. our local news did not say anything about this melee

why would student want to fight players because of the refs? What do the players have to do with the officiating?

Good grief, it's not a hockey game.