Do's and Don'ts of Court Storming

Something that makes the college basketball scene a hell of a lot better than the NBA one is the passion that seeps out of every fan in the building.

With chants and energy accompanying every single dribble, it's clear that teams feed off of the excitement, making every college arena a tremendous atmosphere.

And when a home team knocks off a team that they weren't expected to for an upset, that's when things get crazy, with fans storming the floor and celebrating with their classmates.

Although the ritual has been debated for years, it's an essential part of the entire college experience. However, it has to be done correctly, which is why I'm giving you the do's and don'ts of storming the court.

Don't: Do It If Both Teams Are Ranked

This was a problem that came up recently when a Maryland Terrapins team ranked No. 14 in the nation upset the No. 4-ranked Wisconsin Badgers, keeping their hopes alive for the Big Ten regular-season title.

Sure, it was a big win for the Terps—who have revived their program and are in their first year in the Big Ten—but was it court-storming worthy? That's debatable.

It made Terps fans look like they were just happy to be at the party rather than deserve to be there.

Do: Prepare for Possible Consequences

Like every questionable decision sports fans make, there will, typically, be some sort of consequence—whether that's yelling something a little bit too vulgar at an opposing player or simply moving closer to the action in an unoccupied section.

And when fans take to the court, there might be some repercussions with the choice, meaning an arrest or, God forbid, some sort of minor injury.

If you're going to do it, go all in and own it.

Don't: Get Arrested

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As mentioned above, while there are a few bad things that can occur when taking the court by storm with your fellow fans, the one thing that would absolutely suck is if you get singled out and ended up leaving the arena in handcuffs.

With security there to help monitor and not prevent the crowd from having fun, the last thing you need to do is take things another level by saying something to an opponent or being a complete moron.

Have fun, but don't be dumb—damn, I sound like my parents right now.

Do: Make Sure That's What Everyone's Doing

Although it might be obvious that upsetting a visiting team will lead to havoc on the hardwood with the rest of your fellow classmates, if it doesn't actually happen, well, you look like quite the weirdo.

Unlike streakers or fans who interrupt games by rushing the floor by themselves while the outcome is still in doubt, it takes an army—or entire student section—to have the police submit to allowing you on the floor, so don't do it with just a handful of friends.

Don't: Distract the Commentators

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With you on the floor, there will be an opportunity to get next to the bald head of a guy such as Dick Vitale who is literally right in the action.

Just because there is a temptation to go over to Dickie V, rub that dome of his and try to get your mug on TV doesn't mean you actually should.

No, it's not the worst thing you can do, but with those guys being on live TV, you should let them do their job and try not and earn your 15 seconds of fame by being that guy.

Do: Crowd Surf

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It might not be a rock concert, but it's totally understandable if you or people you know want to jump up and trust the entire student body with your life in order to crowd surf.

Hell, forget what I said about it not being a rock concert—treat the celebration as if it were one, going PG-13-rated nuts and taking it all in until you're forced to leave.

When a person crowd surfs, it takes things to a raucous level, and this should be the time when you make one of those decisions you can only get away with while in college.

Trust me, no one wants to see my 30-year-old ass crowd surfing out there, but you and your buddies are cool to.

Don't: Climb onto the Scorer's Table

Although it's the one spot that's above the rest of the madness and you see the players doing it, you shouldn't follow suit and try to get up there with them.

I don't know how to describe it, but that area is like the podium for the team, with them standing up there as united group taking in what they just accomplished as the fans cheer below them.

Even if you see the opportunity to go for it, things could get ugly if you start the trend of fans standing up there, so just avoid doing so.

Do: Take Something That You Can Keep Forever

This one is a little bit tricky, seeing as how a basketball court isn't like football field where you can pull out grass to keep.

Still, that doesn't mean you shouldn't at least try to find something.

That could be a towel from the bench or a headband from one of the players, but remember not to overstep your boundaries in trying to get something.

The memory of being on the floor is great, but a piece of it to hang on your wall or brag to your friends about is even better.

Don't: Bring a Drink onto the Floor

This isn't just for those who are boozing it up with a flask they sneaked into the arena, but anything that could cause a spill, such as water or a soda.

Though there are ball boys cleaning up sweat during a game, they aren't there to do their jobs when thousands of fans are coming at them like the Running of the Bulls.

For that reason, leave all beverages in your seat before the stampede to play things safe.

Do: Record It All on Your Phone

This should be an absolute no-brainer with how frequently we all use social media—use your phone to capture the moment.

One of the best things about having Twitter, Instagram and Facebook is that it's up-to-the-second stuff, allowing friends and family watching the game on TV see what it's really like to be there when they glance at your feed.

Plus, for all those friends who couldn't get tickets to the game, it's a chance for you to rub it in a little bit about what you witnessed.

Don't: Touch an Opposing Team's Coach or Player

Even before the whole incident that happened last week following the upset of the Kansas Jayhawks by their in-state rival Kansas State Wildcats, in which a K-State fan laid a shoulder into a KU player, this should have been obvious.

Court storming is a celebration, not a chance to get all macho and act as if you, as a fan, had anything to do with the win and harass opponents.

So show some sportsmanship and leave anyone associated with the other team alone while you go ham with friends, strangers and everyone else who is wearing the same colors as you.

Do: Go Nuts

As has already been mentioned more than a few times throughout this piece, court storming is a celebration, so treat it like the biggest New Year's Eve party you've ever been to—within reason, of course.

An upset win over a ranked team or rival is, in most cases, a once-in-a-college instance, so have some fun, scream your lungs out, take a lot of pictures and videos and go until they kick you out because this is your moment to show how big of a fan you are with your team.

Verdict: Keep Court Storming Alive

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Sure, court storming has had plenty of examples in which there were close calls for everyone on the floor, but come on, it's an amazing experience that college kids only get to do maybe a few times while in school.

Unlike the real world, where rules prevent rushing a playing surface at a sporting event and teenagers are forced to act like adults, court storming allows everyone to make memories they'll remember forever—as long as they do it right and don't act a fool.