Nick Saban responds to opponents storming the field
Not many teams have had the pleasure to storm the field versus the Alabama Crimson Tide but the Texas A&M Aggies finally did in Week 6. Nick Saban got a question about the often frowned-upon act on Wednesday.
“I’ve answered the question before and you know, I think it’s great that we have tremendous passion in this league for all the teams,” Saban said on the SEC coaches’ teleconference. “The fans are excited and come to the games. They want to cheer their team on.
“I think what I think about most of the time is what could I have done better so that they’re not rushing the field. I never feel threatened. People are very respectful actually. We have very good police protection. I’m excited that people are excited and back to watching football.”
Nick Saban also encouraged all Alabama Crimson Tide fans to continue to act “in a first-class way.”
Alabama bounced back after the loss to the Aggies and are 7-1 at their Week 9 bye. The Crimson Tide are No. 3 in the AP Top 25 and have LSU, New Mexico State, Arkansas and Auburn left on the schedule.
While the win will forever be remembered in College Station, it did come with a fine. The Aggies paid $100,000 for the violation, marking the second time they’ve paid the price for field-storming. The last came in 2018 after a seven-overtime win over LSU.
Rushing the field violates the league’s access to competition area policy.
SEC programs fined in 2021 for field-storming
Texas A&M celebrating their takedown of Nick Saban and the Tide was one of several SEC field-stormings so far this season.
After Arkansas beat old Southwestern Conference rival Texas in Week 2 and fans stormed the field, the Hogs paid up on a $100,000 bill. Arkansas athletic director Hunter Yurachek was more than happy to fork it over for the historic win. A&M had a nine-game win streak going into the game.
The SEC gave Kentucky a similar fine after beating archrival Florida in Week 5. The win marked the first time the Wildcats beat the Gators in Lexington since 1986.
All of the money accumulated by the SEC from the fines go into the SEC post-graduate scholarship fund.
The policy states “access to competition areas are limited to participating student-athletes, coaches, officials, support personnel and properly credentialed individuals at all times. For the safety of participants and spectators alike, at no time before, during or after a contest shall spectators be permitted to enter the competition area. It is the responsibility of each member institution to implement procedures to ensure compliance with this policy.”
The SEC penalties range from $50,000 for the first offense to fines of up to $100,000 for a second offense. After a third offense, fines then and thereafter are up to $250,000.