On a sleepy Sunday morning in Baton Rouge on Oct. 9, 1988, the Louisiana Geological Survey made a curious discovery. Don Stevenson, manning a seismic station near Tiger Stadium, noticed seismic activity that coincided perfectly with LSU’s dramatic victory over Auburn the night before. This event, dubbed the „Earthquake Game,“ marked the beginning of a trend in college football where seismic activity from games was captured by nearby seismographs.
The concept of earthquake games refers to games where large collective fan movements trigger seismic activity. This phenomenon has been observed at various stadiums, including Lane Stadium at Virginia Tech, where the crowd’s synchronized movements during the pre-game ritual create seismic waves. The seismic impact of these games is not just about the noise from the crowd but the physical shaking of the stadium grounds, which generates seismic waves that travel through the Earth’s critical zone.
LSU geoscience professor Juan Lorenzo incorporated the earthquake game into his curriculum, using it as a tool to engage students and alumni in the study of seismology. The seismic data collected during LSU games led to the launch of the SeisMEAUXgraph program, which monitored entire games and provided valuable insights into seismology. This research extended beyond football games to studying levees, dams, and even water distribution programs, showcasing the societal importance of the Earth’s critical zone.
In Ohio, geophysicist Derek Sawyer initiated the FanQuakes project at Ohio State, aiming to use college football seismology as a teaching tool in a seismically uneventful state. The project captured seismic activity during the iconic Ohio State vs. Michigan game in 2016, where a dramatic victory induced a seismic shockwave score equivalent to a 5.79 magnitude earthquake. The project has since expanded to involve collaborations with other Big Ten schools and aims to compare the seismic impact of different venues.
Recent graduate Mallory Price, who completed her thesis on seismology at Ohio Stadium, has become a passionate advocate for FanQuakes. She highlights the project’s potential to engage fans and students in the study of seismology, showcasing the excitement and educational value of monitoring seismic activity during football games. The FanQuakes project looks forward to future collaborations and road trips to other stadiums, aiming to spread awareness and interest in seismology among college football fans nationwide.