The Southeastern Conference (SEC) has fined the University of Tennessee $100,000 after football fans flooded the field following its win over the University of Alabama.
The Saturday night victory broke a 15-game losing streak against the Crimson Tide in the longtime conference rivalry.
SEC policy states that “access to competition areas shall be limited to participating student-athletes, coaches, officials, support personnel and properly-credentialed individuals at all times. For the safety of participants and spectators alike, at no time before, during or after a contest shall spectators be permitted to enter the competition area. It is the responsibility of each member institution to implement procedures to ensure compliance with this policy.”
The fine for the penalty is $50,000 for a first offense, but Tennessee is currently on its second offense following a 2006 basketball violation against Florida. The fine of $100,000 is based on the second offense. Penalties for a third offense and beyond are $250,000.
Fines against schools in the conference are deposited into the SEC Post-Graduate Scholarship Fund, according to the policy.
In addition to storming the field, fans ripped down the goalpost, marching it out of Neyland Stadium. Fans carried it to the Strip area of Knoxville and later tossed it into the Tennessee River.
Down goes the goalposts. Not an ounce of alcohol is gonna be left in Knoxville tomorrow morning. pic.twitter.com/SKQMIenwp1
— Barstool Sports (@barstoolsports) October 15, 2022
The mayhem occurred after a wild game that ended in epic fashion. Tied 49-49, Alabama attempted a 50-yard field goal to win without going into overtime. The kick soared wide right, leaving the Volunteers 15 seconds and a tiny window of opportunity.
Two plays later, Tennessee had moved the ball far enough to attempt its own field goal from 40 yards for the final play of the game. The kick by the Vols Chase McGrath spun sideways, barely clearing the crossbar on the final play, sending fans into a frenzy.
More than 102,000 spectators were in attendance, with thousands storming the field as fireworks launched into the night sky. Security was quickly overwhelmed as students and other fans soon took over during the massive celebration.
University of Tennessee System President Randy Boyd was seen in a video on social media responding to the scene.
“Randy, what’s that gonna cost?” he was asked.
“It doesn’t matter, we’ll do this every year!” he responded.
Randy, what’s that gonna cost? “It doesn’t matter, we’ll do this every year!!!” @Vol_Football @randyboyd @Vol_Sports @Vol_Sports @BarstoolTenn pic.twitter.com/eJm3bMScAq
— Hanes Torbett (@Tarheelbb) October 16, 2022
Sunday afternoon, the school’s athletic director, Danny White, posted the need for donations to replace the goalpost before next week’s home game.
“We had some fun, didn’t we?” he wrote. “New link below. Help us out #VolNation!”
We had some fun, didn't we?
New link below. Help us out #VolNation! https://t.co/iybdSw14dn
— Danny White (@AD_DannyWhite) October 16, 2022
Tennessee Vols Head Coach Josh Heupel was ecstatic in the postgame interview.
“This is college football at its absolute best,” Heupel said, according to ESPN. “We were the best team on the field tonight. That’s all we can control.”
Tennessee remains undefeated at 6-0 and was ranked #3 in the nation’s latest AP NCAA football standings released on Sunday. Alabama dropped to #6 at 6-1. Conference rival Georgia ranked #1 at 7-0.