After disgruntled Texas fans threw beer cans and water bottles onto the field in a game against Georgia, the university is tasked with banning fans who participated.
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. — After disgruntled Texas fans threw trash onto the field during a Saturday loss to the Georgia Bulldogs, the SEC is inflicting multiple penalties on the University of Texas.
First, the SEC is fining the Longhorns $250,000. That penalty is consistent for the conference, which fined the other UT (Tennessee) in 2021 after fans threw trash onto the field in a game against Ole Miss.
Perhaps most notably, Texas is now tasked with finding the fans who threw anything onto the field using “all available resources” and banning them from any Longhorn athletic events this academic year.
UT will also have to review its “Athletics Department game management procedures and alcohol availability policies to prevent a recurrence of Saturday night’s disruption…” That policy review will then have to be agreed upon by the SEC.
“The throwing of debris and resulting interruption of play that took place Saturday night cannot be part of any SEC event,” said SEC Commissioner Greg Sankey. “The SEC is assigned responsibility by its membership to enforce its sportsmanship and game management policies and these actions are consistent with that oversight responsibility, including the financial penalty and mandated reviews.”
The penalties come after an in-game penalty. SEC officials initially overturned an interception by the Longhorns, deeming it a pass interference. Fans reacted to the call with the usual “boos” but also threw objects like beer cans and water bottles onto the field. Refs eventually rescinded the call and the interception was granted.
Under the SEC Bylaws, “If cans or plastic bottles are used as projectiles or otherwise cause game management issues, the institution is subject to an immediate fine and suspension of the alcohol sales privilege.”
The SEC said in a statement that they are not suspending Texas’ alcohol sales privileges, but reiterated they reserve the right to do so if their standards are not met.
Source Credit: WFAA