SEC fines Oklahoma $200,000 for charging onto the field after win over Bama

The best lots can come with a hefty price tag.

after saturday 24-3 victory over AlabamaSooner Nation delivered a real blow to Owen Field as more than 10,000 Oklahoma fans rushed the field to celebrate an important victory.

The bill came due on Sunday.

The Southeastern Conference announced that OU would be fined $200,000 for two violations of the league’s competitive field access policy.

The SEC also fined Auburn $100,000. Auburn violated the policy following its game against Texas A&M and was fined $100,000 for a first violation under the league’s current competitive field access policy, which is being revised at the SEC Spring Meetings in 2023.

Oklahoma fans haven’t stormed the field since beating No. 1 ranked Nebraska in 2000, but on Saturday The organizational unit was initially violating policy Fans stormed the field with 28 seconds left. The field had to be cleared before the final kick, after which they ran onto the field again – an additional $100,000 fine for fans entering the field before the end of the game.

“Yeah, they were kind of happy,” linebacker Danny Stutsman said, “but it is what it is. We have to wait a little bit, but I like it.”

“That was great,” cornerback Woodi Washington said. “This was amazing. It’s something I’ve never seen like being on the other side. I’ve seen this when I was on the other side of a storm. “It was great.”

“It was electric,” Stutsman said. “This is something I will remember for the rest of my life. For this I am forever grateful. And of course we knew the fans would rush. Yes, but I’m not complaining. This is great. This is something you will remember. “I found my family right away, which was amazing.”

“Don’t take this out of my pocket,” OU head coach Brent Venables joked.

In conference competitions, penalties for violation of the competition area access policy are paid to the competing institution.

The policy states: “Institutions shall at all times limit access to competition venues to participating student-athletes, coaches, officials, support personnel, and appropriately credentialed or authorized individuals. “For the safety of participants and spectators, spectators cannot enter the competition area at any time before, during or after the competition.”

Financial penalties apply to violations in all conference-sponsored sports. Corporate penalties range from $100,000 for a first offense, $250,000 for a second offense, and $500,000 for a third and subsequent offenses.

Alabama received fines from opposing teams for the third time this season (three losses), while Tennessee and Vanderbilt were each fined $100,000 for fans rushing onto the field after upsetting the Crimson Tide. Alabama leads the SEC with 10 such fan attacks, according to AL.com.

The policy was first adopted by a vote of Conference members in 2004, and financial penalties were increased by members’ actions in 2015 and 2023.

Alabama athletic director Greg Bryne called for harsher penalties for rushing on the field, even advocating for the winning team to forfeit the game if fans rush onto the field or field.

“You talk about the players being hungry for it,” Venables said, “and the coaches and the fans are hungry for it. It’s a place that expects to win at the highest level.”

Some of that fun may have even spilled into OU’s postgame locker room.

“He was swinging,” defensive coordinator Zac Alley said. “I think three or four brother men sneaked in from somewhere I’ve never seen before. They broke in and missed security. It was shaking. Our people were excited, excited. “It couldn’t have been more enjoyable.”