The SEC acted quickly following the end of game delay caused by fans throwing debris on the field during the Ole Miss vs Tennessee game Saturday night in Knoxville, Tennessee.
On Monday, the SEC announced that The University of Tennessee will be fined $250,000, “which will be deducted from the University’s share of SEC revenue distribution.” The SEC has also tasked the university with using all available resources to “identify individuals who threw objects on to the playing field or at the opposing team.” Those that are found to have participated in the trashing of the field will not be allowed to attend Tennessee athletic events for the remainder of the 2021-2022 school year.
“The disruption of Saturday night’s game is unacceptable and cannot be repeated on any SEC campus,” said SEC Commissioner Greg Sankey. “Today’s actions are consistent with the oversight assigned by the membership to the SEC office, including the financial penalty and review of alcohol availability. We will use this opportunity to reemphasize to each SEC member the importance of providing a safe environment even with the intensity of competition that occurs every week. We will also reengage our membership in further review of the alcohol availability policy to consider additional measures for the sale and management of alcohol while providing the appropriate environment for collegiate competition.”
On Saturday night at Neyland Stadium, a small number of fans began throwing debris onto the Ole Miss side of the field after a video review did not go the Vols way.
With 54 seconds left in the game and Ole Miss up 31-26, Tennessee tight end Jacob Warren was ruled short of the first down marker on a fourth and 24 play, handing the ball back to Ole Miss with an opportunity to ice the game. Officials went to the replay monitor to check the mark and ruled that the call on the field would stand.
Fans began pelting the Ole Miss side of the field with debris. Water bottles, beer cans, and even a container of mustard were thrown toward the field, causing a 20-minute delay to the game as security attempted to get everything under control.
The Tennessee cheerleaders were forced to run for cover and Ole Miss head coach Lane Kiffin was hit with a golf ball.
Lane Kiffin got hit by a golf ball from the stands in Knoxvillepic.twitter.com/ZrNyqCPCRh
— Sports Illustrated (@SInow) October 17, 2021
It was an emotionally charged game from kickoff, with the Vols losing out on seven points in the first quarter on a questionable call from the officials. Ole Miss quarterback Matt Corral fumbled at midfield, which was returned for a touchdown by the Tennessee defense. Though no whistles were blown during the play, Corral’s progress was ruled to be stopped, negating what was viewed as a Tennessee touchdown in Neyland.
It was just one of the many points of the game that enraged Tennessee fans in Kiffin’s first game at Neyland Stadium as head coach since departing Tennessee after the 2009 season.
Throughout the game, Kiffin’s defense repeatedly fell to the ground with injuries when the Vols would begin moving the ball on offense. Kiffin also called three consecutive timeouts in an attempt to ice Tennessee kicker Chase McGrath’s field goal attempt at the end of the first half.
Following the game, UT chancellor Donde Plowman took to Twitter to express her disgust at the fan behavior.
“I am astonished and sickened by the behavior of some Vol fans at the end of tonight’s game,” Plowman said. “Good sportsmanship must be part of who we are as Volunteers. Behavior that puts student-athletes, visitors and other fans at risk is not something we will tolerate.”
“I will be calling Chancellor Boyce in the morning to offer my personal apology on behalf of the University of Tennessee and discuss what we can do to make this right. Neyland Stadium has always been a place for families, and we will keep it that way.”
Tennessee’s next home game is 11/13 against No. 1 ranked Georgia.
Joe Morgan is the Sports Reporter for The Daily Wire. Most recently, Morgan covered the Clippers, Lakers, and the NBA for Sporting News. Send your sports questions to [email protected].