Jamie Rowe’s body flew toward the ground and landed with a loud thud. The crowd gasped as he struggled toward the gate and out of harm’s way, the gigantic animal still thrashing just a few yards away. It was the first time Rowe had ever ridden a bull.
A student saddles up a bull before the bull-riding event.
Bull riding is the most popular and most dangerous event of the annual LSU student rodeo. Any student may participate, but they must sign a liability waiver.
“The paper I had to sign was something saying I wouldn’t sue if I died or anything. There was a notary there who had to sign it and two witnesses also,” said Rowe, LSU civil engineering senior.
After his rough landing, a student carried Rowe into the stands where two paramedics checked him for injuries. Rowe only suffered minor injuries: a bruised shoulder bone and a strained back. Several weeks after the rodeo, Rowe said he was still sore.
Paramedic Timothy Eschete has been covering the student rodeo for the past five years. He said the most serious injury he has ever seen occurred during a bull-riding event two years ago.
“We had a young man who had what’s called a retroperitoneal tear. He was bleeding into the back, in and around his kidneys,” Eschete said. “He got stomped on and went into the stands and passed out.”
Eschete said injuries are common because most students who participate have little or no rodeo experience. Bull riding is dangerous for even the most seasoned riders, he said.
“A pro cowboy grew up doing this,” he said. “You take kids from the city and bring them out here and stick them on something that by nature doesn’t want them there. It’s just an added risk versus what a normal cowboy would face.”
LSU environmental engineering senior Grant Gutierrez rode a bull for the first time last year. The writhing bull stepped on him and gored him in the back. The ride was thrilling, but the landing was painful, Gutierrez said. Despite his “bad landing,” he said he was not hesitant to ride again this year.
“I didn’t think it could get worse than last year,” he said. “I didn’t get too bloody this year, so I’m happy.”
Similarly, Rowe said he would do it all over again, despite his minor injuries.
“I would definitely ride again to make my glory last longer than 1.3 seconds,” Rowe said with a laugh. “It was a great experience. Who else can say they have ridden a bull?”
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