Tennessee fans stormed Shields-Watkins Field at Neyland Stadium on Saturday after the Vols defeated Alabama, 24-17.
The Vols have defeated Alabama in back-to-back games at Neyland Stadium. Tennessee was also victorious, 52-49, over the Crimson Tide on Oct. 15, 2022.
Both contests in 2022 and 2024 resulted in Tennessee fans storming the field. The Southeastern Conference announced Tennessee has been fined $100,000 for violation of access to competition area policy.
Tennessee also incurred a $100,000 fine after the 2022 Alabama football game. At the time, it was the Vols’ second offense under the league’s then-access to competition area policy. Under the previous policy, Tennessee was first fined following a basketball game against Florida in 2006.
The SEC released the following statement following fans storming the field after Saturday’s contest.
The Southeastern Conference announced today that the University of Tennessee will be fined for violation of the league’s access to competition area policy due to fans entering the field following its football game vs. the University of Alabama on October 19.
Tennessee will incur a fine of $100,000 for a first offense under the league’s current access to competition area policy that was revised at the SEC Spring Meetings in 2023.
For Conference contests, fines are paid to the opposing institution.
The policy states that “institutions shall limit access to competition areas to participating student-athletes, coaches, officials, support personnel and properly credentialed or authorized individuals at all times. For the safety of participants and spectators alike, at no time before, during or after a contest may spectators enter the competition area.”
Financial penalties are imposed for violations in all sports sponsored by the Conference. Institutional penalties range from $100,000 for a first offense, $250,000 for a second offense and $500,000 for a third and subsequent offenses.
The policy was originally adopted by a vote of Conference members in 2004 and financial penalties were increased by action taken by the membership in 2015 and again in 2023.
PHOTOS: Tennessee fans storm field after beating Alabama football
This article originally appeared on Vols Wire: Tennessee fined for violation of access to competition area policy
