SEC fines Tennessee $500,000 for allowing fans to storm the field after beating Alabama

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. (AP) — The Southeastern Conference fined Tennessee $500,000 on Sunday for allowing fans to storm the field following a 26-10 victory over then-No. 6 Alabama.

The fine will be paid to Alabama in accordance with SEC policy, which provides for a $500,000 penalty for violations involving access to competition areas in all SEC-sponsored sports.

It was the 11th consecutive field storming following a Crimson Tide road loss, a streak that started at Auburn in 2013.

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.

Commissioner Greg Sankey may reduce the fine to $100,000 if Tennessee 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.

But that's didn't happen in Knoxville, where Tennessee played “Dixieland Delight” after beating Alabama at Neyland Stadium for the third time in three games.

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