SEC fines Tennessee for field storming following Week 8 victory over Alabama
The SEC announced that Tennessee will be fined for the behavior of fans following the team’s home victory over Alabama in Week 8. After the game, Tennessee fans again stormed the field to celebrate. Like in 2022, the goalposts were removed and carried out by the mob of fans.
In 2023, the SEC revised its access to competition area policy, meaning Tennessee will incur a $100,000 fine for the incident. The prior field-storming took place in 2022 before the policy was revised.
The SEC released the following statement on the matter:
The Southeastern Conference announced today that the University of Tennessee will be fined for violation of the league’s access to competition area policy due to fans entering the field following its football game vs. the University of Alabama on October 19.
Tennessee will incur a fine of $100,000 for a first offense under the league’s current access to competition area policy that was revised at the SEC Spring Meetings in 2023.
While a first offense is a $100,000 fine, a 2nd offense costs $250,000, and every subsequent offense is a $500,000 fine. These fines are paid directly to the opposing school, so Alabama will reap the benefits of the Vol fans’ actions.
The SEC also issued a fine to Texas for the behavior of their fans in Week 8. The school will incur a $250,000 fine after fans threw trash on the field after a controversial call. The SEC has also requested that those involved be identified and banned from all Longhorn sporting events through the 2024-25 season.
Even with the fine, everybody associated with Tennessee has to be thrilled after another defeat of Alabama. The Vols moved up to No. 7 in the latest AP Poll.
Storming in 2022 was well deserved. Not for 2024. Overzealous students mostly.
2022 was Green Lighted by the University the week of the game.
in 2022 I donated to pay the fine… ended up with some cool swag in the mail..
Agree 100%. There wasn’t much to celebrate. Act like you’ve been there, take the dub and get ready for the next challenge.
The students weren’t the first to storm the field this time. The *recruits* were. I completely changed course on my thoughts about it when I found that out. If some key players decide to come to UT because they had a blast storming the field, it’s totally worth the fine.
Agreed and UT can’t buy or plan that level of experience for recruits.
Foolish to run onto the field this time. UT beat them last time at Neyland. No need to give Bama free money.
Very much agree there should be no field storming. We need to act like this is what is supposed to happen. Smoke your cigars and enjoy the win, but don’t give Bama any free money.
Pssh, whatever.
I’d hardly call that STORMING the field.
casuals
100% this was on the recruits. Security was concentrated near the student section and responded to the recruits, then came the students. It was a slow build effect.
Stupid to have to pay the other school. Should give that money to charity.