MORRIS, Minn. (AP) – A 20-year-old University of Minnesota-Morris student was killed Saturday when football fans rushed onto the field and pulled down a goal post at the end of the school’s homecoming game.

Richard Thomas Rose, of Benton City, Wash., was pronounced dead at a hospital after attempts to revive him on the field failed, school officials said. No one else was hurt.

Minnesota-Morris Chancellor Sam Schuman said it was not immediately clear how Rose died. “I think the presumption is that (his) death was caused by a blow from the goal post,” he said.

University Police Sgt. Chuck Grussing said the department is working with the county coroner’s office to investigate the death. He declined additional comment.

Schuman said the stands were full, with about 1,000 fans watching the last football game at Cougar Field – an overtime victory over Crown College. The Cougars move to a new stadium next season.

Schuman said the school will offer counseling to students, staff and faculty. “He was a popular young man, and I think students are shocked and in a very deep state of grief,” Schuman said. Schuman said Rose, a junior, was a member of the men’s basketball team.

Minnesota-Morris is a public liberal arts school of about 1,700 students in west-central Minnesota, about 135 miles northwest of Minneapolis.

AP-ES-10-22-05 2354EDT