Carleigh Harbin-The Grove Report
By Chris Marler
In the SEC, rivalries don’t end off the field. In this case, they’re about who gets on the field and how often.
Recently, Ole Miss released a statement, announcing the following:
“Entering the playing field is strictly prohibited and those found to be violators are subject to arrest. Violators could also be denied ticket privileges for the current and the next season, including but not limited to student, season, and single-game tickets.”
Arkansas took a very different stance.
“Following a momentous win, three minutes will be placed on the video boards inside Donald W. Reynolds Razorbacks Stadium to delay the field rush and allow the visiting team, staff and officials to exit the field. At the conclusion of the three minutes, fans will be allowed down to the field to celebrate with the Razorbacks.”
The SEC implemented a new field rushing policy in May, instituting a flat $500,000 fine for every instance of court or field storming from fans. The league cites player and staff safety as the primary reason for the policy. Previously, fines escalated from $100,000 for a first offense to $250,000 for a second, and $500,000 for a third.
Maybe Greg Sankey’s been too busy politicking over eight and nine game schedules or lobbying for more playoff spots. But here’s the thing he seems to miss, money isn’t real in this sport. Not in the SEC.
We’ve seen coaches over the past year take to the mic and beg their fans, especially the student sections, not to storm the field so schools can avoid fines. A few have even said outright that the money would be better spent on NIL. But let’s be real: no fine is going to stop fans from being fanatics. That much is guaranteed.
The effort was impressive and noted by the SEC, and good for Ole Miss for trying to follow suit. After watching the horrific behavior of some of their students rushing the field against LSU in 2023, maybe we should all collectively hope that particular school actually follows the rules this time.
But try telling that to Arkansas, Vanderbilt, or any other die-hard SEC fanbase. When a six-win team takes down a top-five opponent, fans aren’t staying in their seats. That’s one of the things that makes college football unique. It’s one of the few traditions and parts of pageantry that are left since the sweeping changes made across the landscape of the entire sport.
More than anything, it’s one of the last traditions that still belongs to the fans. Credit to Arkansas for doing its part to keep it alive.
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