Alabama AD Greg Byrne has solution to field storming

By Chris Marler

The doldrums of the offseason have clearly set in. There’s no transfer portal news to break, and most rosters are set for Spring Practice. However, that hasn’t stopped offseason nonsensical fodder from taking place. 

Case in point, on Wednesday Alabama Athletic Director Greg Byrne weighed in on court/field storming issues in an interview with ESPN. 

“I think from a safety standpoint, keeping people off the fields and courts is a good thing for everybody involved,” Byrne said. “If we said that the home team, if they storm the field or the court, they’re going to lose the game right then and there, that will stop it.”

The current repercussions for storming a field or court are fines that go directly to the athletic department of the losing team. This last year alone, Alabama made $750,000 in losses to Vanderbilt, Oklahoma, and Tennessee. Dating back to 2013, the last ten road losses Alabama havs suffered have all resulted in the opposing fans rushing the field. 

Byrne’s issue is reportedly player safety, and it dates back to last season when he originally brought up the issue. Byrne proposed the solution then, too. 

“Let’s celebrate up in the stands,” Byrne said. “Let’s have a great environment. I’d even be fine if you say, let’s give it three minutes to get the team off the field. Then, if they want to come down and celebrate, great.”