Kentucky fans are known for their passionate support of the Cats but not for behavior like Tennessee fans displayed last week. (Vicky Graff Photo)
The Southeastern Conference has fined Tennessee $250,000 for the despicable behavior by some fans at the end of the Vols’ loss to Mississippi Saturday night in Knoxville.
Fans pelted the field with all sorts of trash and the Tennessee band, cheerleaders, and dance team were all evacuated during the 21-minute delay before the game could be finished. The SEC says Tennessee must also use “all available resources” to identify individuals guilty of throwing trash. Eighteen fans had been arrested as of Monday afternoon and police noted that 47 more were ejected from the field.
Tennessee must also update its game management procedures and alcohol availability policies. Before the next home game Nov. 13 against No. 1 Georgia the school must report to the SEC on its efforts to both identify and penalize offenders, as well as its plans to prevent future similar events from taking place.
All that is a small price to pay for the embarrassment Saturday’s situation brought to Tennessee but the long-term price the Vols pay could be much greater. The incident put a huge negative spotlight on Tennessee fans and football that won’t go away any time soon and might impact recruiting.
I asked Kentucky recruiting coordinator Vince Marrow if an incident like that could hurt Tennessee’s recruiting. He did not answer specifically about the Vols but his point was clear and concise.
“I think parents look at that and yes, how your fan base acts does play a big part in recruiting,” said Marrow. “When you act a certain way, parents are going to say, ‘Do I want my kid to go there?’
“Parents play a big part in where kids go. They can say they like this fan base, don’t like that fan base. Kids listen to what they say. So you have to watch how your fan base is.”
ESPN/SEC Network talk show host Paul Finebaum didn’t hold back with his opinion about the Tennessee fans.
“I thought it was classless and unconscionable behavior,” Finebaum said. “It was an absolute disgrace. And I realize this — as everyone does, in a stadium of 100,000-plus — this was not just a handful. It was maybe a couple hundred. But that’s one too many.”
By the way, Tennessee plays at Kentucky Nov. 6.
6 Responses
Wasn’t UK fined $250,000 for celebrating one of the greatest accomplishments by this program in 70 years? $250,000 for the Tennessee crowd behavior is not nearly enough IF UK’s $250,000 fine was appropriate. The SEC yet again shows itself dark side.
Tennessee plays 6 or 7 homes games, how about 1/6 or 1/7 of their 2021-22 take from the SEC football pot that will be divided up later this year?
Tennessee misconduct by its football program, and to a lesser degree its men’s basketball program has been well documented. That may have had some impact on Tennessee’s ability to recruit and remain at the top of the SEC. Perhaps this event will cause more recruit’s parents to back off. We will have to wait and see on that one, but the $250,000 fine for what happened down there last Saturday is an absurdity.
I have a young adult in college and the college’s sports behavior had nothing to do with the decision she made for her university. Real parents who have their child’s best interest in mind won’t base a decision that could make a huge difference in their children’s future on the bad behavior of a few. The decision to attend a university should be focused on the majors that are offered not sporting events. You wouldn’t attend a university that doesn’t teach the major your child is interested in. For example if your child wants to go into marketing you would not want them to go to a school that is not accredited in marketing.
I love how there is a comparison of UK and UT. Rumor has it that LSU fans had to be escorted out of their game at UK because UK fans were throwing food at them. And of course let’s not forget that there needs to be a couch protection plan in Lexington. WE WON!!!! Let’s set the couch on fire. No one is perfect. UT’s behavior was not appropriate but neither is UK’s
So if you were the parent of a football recruit JustMe that behavior would not bother you. Guess we will agree to disagree on that
I was at the UK vs LSU game. Never saw this happen! Now there was some friendly bantering back and forth but no one threw stuff! You heard rumors only. The whole country saw UT throw stuff on the field. UK and UT are not the same. I also believe the couch burning is the stupid thing ever!
Neither the SEC nor NCAA have any jurisdiction over couch burning. That is a matter for local authorities. I have no idea about the food throwing, but assuming that did occur, there is a huge difference between that and golf balls thrown from elevation and distance at players and coaches.
The appropriate response to me is the $250,000 fine, with UT forfeiting the rest of their games for 2021 if that happens again. That might go a long way in stopping golf balls from being thrown at opposing coaches. If that continues, and is not dealt with strongly, somebody is going to get seriously injured, maybe a cheerleader, dance team member, a fan, or coach.
My approach sends a real strong message to all SEC teams that that kind of behavior will not be tolerated inside a stadium, and a that few people can ruin the season for the innocent if people don’t use common sense. So the good must stop the crazies.
As for UK throwing food, rumor is not proof my friend. If that did happen, it was wrong. What happened at UT is on national TV for all to see. That was disgusting behavior, and it did look like to me the call on the field was questionable, nor am I a big Lane Kiffin fan.
I will be honest here, I dislike Tennessee with a passion. They are an arrogant bunch. Football is serious business in the SEC for sure, but UK has suffered through many questionable calls in the past. UK has suffered losses in games too because of them, that can be argued, but it is not life or death. People need to grow up!