December 15, 2004

SEC: Keep off the grass, kids!

The SEC has put member schools on notice: no fans on the field during games. If the policy is not obeyed, the host team faces fines from $5,000 to $50,000, with the exact determination being set by the commissioner.

"access to competition areas shall be limited to participating student-athletes, coaches, officials, support personnel and properly credentialed individuals at all times."

Fans who violate the rules can be kicked out, arrested and kept from purchasing tickets in the future. Students may also be punished by their schools for violating the rules.

I think the only "news" here is the fine. I don't ever recall fans being "allowed" on the field during games. After the games, sure...right Zook?

Posted by Kevin Donahue

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1. Chris Lawrence says:

   posted on December 16, 2004 12:52 AM — link

   That limitation seems to exclude marching bands, who fit in none of those categories.

2. Pete Holiday says:

   posted on December 16, 2004 11:25 AM — link

   Marching Bands -- home and, in some situations, away -- are "properly credentialed" as are the folks who run the game-ball to mid-field, celebrities, etc...

   The schools can let whomever they please on the fields, just so long as the only people on the field are people allowed by the school.

3. Jeff Quinton says:

   posted on December 16, 2004 11:36 AM — link

   The press is acting like it includes post-game for football so who knows?

   I guess this is why SEC fans (notably Tennessee and SC ones) always complain that Clemson fans "storm" the field after games. I've never been to a Clemson home game that fans weren't allowed on the field after a game - even after the brawl this year there was no way to bring in enough security to stop it so they went ahead and allowed it - just hustled the teams to the locker rooms.

   After an injury during a goalpost incident 2-3 years ago (when 4 reserve deputies from a neighboring county stayed underneath the goalposts trying to stop a mob of students even after a radio call to give it up had gone one), Clemson started preventing fans from entering via the gates on the end of the field where the visiting lockerroomr is until that team is off the field.

   They also discourage people from jumping down from the seats but haven't started enforcing that yeah.

   Now they encourage the players and fans to meet on the paw at midfield for the playing of the alma mater postgame.

   If you look, the vast majority of people on the field after the game is fathers and sons and groups of children playing catch.

4. Pete Holiday says:

   posted on December 16, 2004 11:56 AM — link

   Jeff:
   To me there's a big difference between "storming the field" and being on the field. Personally, I think "storming" the field and tearing down goalposts is about the least classy thing a team's fans can do -- C'mon. Act like it's not the first time you've won a football game.

   But I think as long as the fans are not being destructive or abusive if they want to make their way onto the field after the game and the Univ. is OK with that, the SEC should just mind their business.

5. Jeff Quinton says:

   posted on December 16, 2004 12:00 PM — link

   Pete,
   I agree with you about tearing down the goalposts and Clemson took steps to prevent that from happening with the new goalposts - a solution that allows them to still let fans on the field.

   I'm concerned that the ACC may try to push this through now that the SEC has done it.