Tag: SEC office

SEC fines Texas, fans face ban for behavior

Texas fans throwing bottles results in huge fine. SEC reserves the right to suspend alcohol sales if Texas does not abide by SEC’s orders

For Georgia  Bulldogs fans who didn’t watch the Bulldogs’ 30-15 win over No. 1 Texas, you may want to remember one image in particular: bottles being thrown on the field. Midway through the third quarter, a Texas interception was originally overruled by a pass interference that, admittedly, was a little questionable. In response, Texas fans threw beer bottles into the end zone, causing a delay. Following the delay, officials made a controversial overturning of that call.

For those fans actions, the Texas football program was fined $250,000. The SEC said the fine was for “interrupting the competitive opportunity for both teams and endangering contest participants.” It also requires Texas to “use all available resources” — including security, stadium and television video — to identify those who threw trash onto the field or at the Bulldogs — and prohibit them from attending Texas athletics events for the remainder of the academic year.

“The Conference is not suspending alcohol sales privileges for the University of Texas at this time but reserves the right to do so if other requirements outlined above are not met,” said the SEC.

“The throwing of debris and resulting interruption of play that took place Saturday night cannot be part of any SEC event,” SEC commissioner Greg Sankey said.

SEC makes its stance clear on controversial penalty reversal

The SEC makes its stance clear on the controversial negated penalty in the Georgia versus Texas game

Georgia fans have been waiting for the Bulldogs to look like their old selves, and they did Saturday night while manhandling the No. 1 Texas Longhorns, 30-15. However, it didn’t come without controversy from the officiating.

With Georgia winning 23-8 late in the third quarter, Carson Beck threw an interception to Jahdae Barron. However, the play was originally flagged for pass interference by the defense, negating a massive play for the Longhorns. This caused a lengthy delay as incensed Texas fans threw bottles on the field.

The officials met during the delay and they overturned the penalty, meaning the interception call stood.

The decision was misguided and inexplicable. Penalties are not reviewable unless they could call for an ejection. Kirby Smart was, justifiably, irate over the referee’s decision to overturn the penalty, saying after the game: “They tried to rob us of calls.”

With that in mind, here’s what the SEC had to say on the matter:

“With 3:12 to play in the third quarter of the Georgia at Texas game, Texas intercepted a pass at the Texas 46-yard line and returned it to the Texas 9-yard line. Texas was flagged for committing defensive pass interference on the play, which resulted in Georgia maintaining the ball with a first down.

The game officials gathered to discuss the play, which is permitted to ensure the proper penalty is enforced, at which time the calling official reported that he erred, and a foul should not have been called for defensive pass interference. Consequently, Texas was awarded the ball at the Texas 9-yard line.

While the original evaluation and assessment of the penalty was not properly executed, it is unacceptable to have debris thrown on the field at any time.

The disruption of the game due to debris being thrown onto the field will be reviewed by the conference office related to SEC sportsmanship policies and procedures,” said the SEC office.

Two Georgia players were also ejected for targeting against Texas.