BIRMINGHAM, Ala. — The Southeastern Conference fined Arkansas $500,000 on Sunday for allowing fans to storm the field following a 34-6 victory over No. 20 South Carolina.
The money will be paid to the Gamecocks in accordance with SEC policy. South Carolina was fined $500,000 last month for violating the league’s access to competition area policy after beating Tennessee, so the Gamecocks are back to even this season.
The same thing happened to the Volunteers, who were fined one week (after beating Alabama) and then got it back the next (after losing to South Carolina).
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The SEC policy states that “institutions shall limit access to competition areas” for “the safety of participants and spectators alike.”
The policy permits schools to establish procedures that would allow fans to celebrate on the playing surface after all visiting team personnel and game officials have safely exited the field or court.
But that didn’t appear to happen in Arkansas.
Commissioner Greg Sankey may reduce the fine to $100,000 if the Razorbacks can prove that a full attempt to prevent the field rush was instituted, few individuals breached the competition area and minimal interaction with the visiting team occurred.
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