South Carolina Gamecocks Fans' Field Storming Brings $500,000 Fine in Columbia, Richland County, South Carolina; Fine to Be Paid to Tennessee Under Conference Policy
Columbia, Richland County, South Carolina — The Southeastern Conference announced that the University of South Carolina will be fined $500,000 for violating the league's access to competition area policy, after fans stormed the field following the Gamecocks' 27-24 win over No. 11 Tennessee at Williams-Brice Stadium on October 24. In its statement, the conference said that under league policy the fine for a violation of the access to competition area policy is $500,000, and the fine will be paid to Tennessee in accordance with conference policy. The policy states that member schools must limit access to competition areas at all times to participating student-athletes, coaches, officials, support personnel and properly credentialed or authorized individuals, and that for the safety of participants and spectators, spectators may not enter the competition area at any time before, during or after a contest. The policy also permits member schools to establish celebration procedures: after all visiting team personnel and game officials have safely exited, a school may allow fans onto the field under a plan submitted to the conference office in advance and communicated to fans, and the fine may be avoided when all applicable requirements are satisfied. If the host school can prove it made a full attempt to prevent the field rush, that only a few individuals entered the competition area and that interaction with the visiting team was minimal, the conference commissioner may reduce the fine to $100,000. The win moved South Carolina to 4-3, while Tennessee fell to 6-2.
Source: GSM · USA (original Chinese edition)
Photo: 图：哥伦比亚市威廉姆斯-布莱斯体育场（资料图）。SRA MARVIN PRESTON 摄，Public domain，来源：Wikimedia Commons / Photo: Williams-Brice Stadium in Columbia (file photo). By SRA MARVIN PRESTON, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons.
