Chaos erupted outside Neville Arena at Auburn University as students waited to get into the arena for ESPN’s College GameDay broadcast. The scene was described as a ‘huge cattle stampede’ with fans being trampled and rushing toward the front of the line, causing injuries.
Chaos Erupts Outside Neville Arena Ahead of College GameDay
Auburn students who were waiting to get into the arena for ESPN‘s College GameDay described a chaotic scene outside Neville Arena on Saturday morning.
The university had announced that due to “extreme temperatures,” camping would not be allowed, and students were only allowed to begin lining up at 6:30 a.m. However, when the line was opened, multiple people reported fans being trampled and rushing toward the front of the line, causing injuries to those in the area.
Students Describe the Chaos
Cooper Smith, an Auburn senior who was in line at the time, described the scene as “just a huge cattle stampede.” He said that once the gate opened, people were falling down and getting hurt all over the place. There was no sign of organization, and some students even jumped barricades to gain entry.
Logan Smith, another Auburn senior, said he got to Neville Arena at 3 a.m. but people “stampeded forward” once the line officially opened at 6:30 a.m. He described seeing people on the ground “screaming and crying in pain in fear” while the stampede was happening.
Injuries Reported
According to an Auburn spokesperson, “On site medical staff reported a few minor injuries which were addressed locally by EMS.” However, multiple students reported more severe injuries, including broken bones and facial lacerations.
Sammy Lifshen, one of the students injured in the rush, sustained multiple facial injuries, including a chipped tooth and a laceration on her chin that required six stitches. Despite her injuries, she was still able to get back into the arena with a wristband.
University Response
The university released a statement saying that they made the decision to disallow camping due to extreme weather conditions. They also stated that all students in line were admitted to the arena and provided with a wristband for entry to the game.
However, some students expressed frustration with the way the situation was handled, with one student saying that it was “unacceptable” and that Auburn needs to do better. Coach Bruce Pearl even weighed in on Twitter, saying “Minus all the students who were hurt and trampled. This is unacceptable! Do better Auburn!”
Aftermath
The game between Auburn and Tennessee is scheduled for 7:30 p.m., with doors opening at 6 p.m. Students are allowed to get back in line at 4 p.m. Despite the chaos earlier, some students remain optimistic about the game, while others have expressed their disappointment on social media.
