Fans celebrate a big win in all kinds of ways; storming the field just so happens to be the tactic of choice for many college football fans. Previously, this occurrence only happened a couple of times within a season, but has been on the rise in recent years. During the 2022 season alone, at least 5 teams stormed the field after various victories. Fans argue rushing the field is an integral part of the game experience, while others are concerned about the safety implications of stampedes. 

The SEC is one of the few conferences that have financial repercussions for teams whose fans rush onto the field after a game. According to SEC Regulations, “a school’s first-time offense rushing the field results in a $50,000 fine. The next time it happens? $100,000. A third and all subsequent offenses warrant a $250,000 fine.” Conference Commissioner Greg Sankey, argues access to the field should be limited to staff and players only and each institution is responsible for restricting fans from the competition area for their own safety. The PAC – 12 follows similar guidelines, with a $25,000 fine for the first offense, rising to $50,000 and $100,000 for subsequent violations.

With the average amount of spectators per college football game totaling 50,000, rushing the field can be a colossal safety concern. Earlier this year when Appalachian State rushed the field after beating Troy University, several fans walked away with a few broken bones. Alabama Head Coach Nick Saban described how he and some of his players felt scared after crazed Tennessee fans stormed the field after upsetting Alabama for the first time in 15 years. Vols fans took it a step further and stole the goalposts off of the field, carrying them all the way down to the Tennessee River. 

Unfortunately, fines do not make a dent in the budgets for most powerhouse schools and are not effective deterrents. For example, the athletic director at Texas A&M, Ross Bjork, tweeted an image of fans storming the field and responded to another left on his timeline, “Happily trading $100,000 for a win over Alabama,” back in 2021. Schools believe allowing fans to storm the field is part of providing a positive experience and the crowd should be included in post-game celebrations after a big win. Conferences such as the Big 10 and ACC do not have any policies in place to restrict storming the field, and the Big 12 only fines schools if there is not a clear path for teams to return to their locker rooms. Clemson University invites their fans to join them on the field after every home game to participate in their “Gathering at the Paw” post-game routine. 

Not only does this phenomenon occur in college football, but there have been scenarios of fans rushing the court during basketball season. Fans can be even harder to control in a basketball arena, as seats for fans can be found directly on the court floor. While collegiate teams are held to the same fines imposed by the conferences, the NBA has a strict no tolerance for storming the court. Former head of NBA security, Michael Verden, shares he restricted fans to the stands by properly training staff in securing the court, through tight security perimeters and barricading off an area for athletes to safely exit.

Since other conferences do not have restrictions, SEC fans are asking the conference to embrace the tradition of storming the field and outlaw their fine policies. Supporters claim that schools will continue opting to pay the fine and large crowds are overpowering for security guards to control, so they should focus on ways to safely allow rushing the field/court.