Tennessee just wiped out the only drawback to Alabama win, thanks to South Carolina
The Vols are going to be on the receiving end of some significant money, thanks to Gamecock fans.
The Tennessee Vols have had quite the rollercoaster week, particularly on the emotional side of things.
The Vols thoroughly dominated the Alabama Crimson Tide back on Oct. 17, winning 26-10 in Knoxville. The resulting celebration on the field with fans, players, and a cloud of cigar smoke led to a fine by the SEC in the amount of $500,000 due to fans being on the field, which is to go to Alabama under SEC rules.
With the importance of the game in the SEC standings and to the Tennessee fanbase, it’s a check that Tennessee probably doesn’t mind cutting every other year.
However, they were able to recoup that $500,000 from South Carolina on Saturday. Unfortunately for Tennessee, it’s because Gamecock fans flooded onto the field to celebrate a 27-24 South Carolina win. The SEC equally fined South Carolina, with the full amount to come to Tennessee.
Tennessee to receive $500,000 from South Carolina for storming the field one week after the Vols cut a check in the same amount to Alabama for the same violation
The statement from the SEC to Tennessee following the Alabama game includes the following:
“The policy also permits member institutions to establish procedures allowing fans to celebrate on the playing surface after all visiting team personnel and game officials have safely exited the field or court. To qualify for this exception, institutions must submit their plans to the Conference office in advance and communicate the procedures to fans. Institutions may avoid the prescribed penalty when all applicable requirements are satisfied.
“The Commissioner may reduce the fine to $100,000 if the home institution can prove that a full attempt to prevent the field rush/court storm was instituted, few individuals breached the competition area and minimal interaction with the visiting team occurred.”
We’ll find out in the coming days and weeks if Tennessee is able to get the fine reduced — athletic director Danny White did ask Vol fans to wait for the officials and Alabama players to leave the field first before going to the field — but with how sudden and chaotic the South Carolina field rush was, and how Tennessee players were caught up in it, it seems like the amount going from South Carolina to Tennessee isn’t going to get cut short of the full $500,000.
A silver lining that Tennessee probably didn’t want to receive, but a silver lining nonetheless.
