Ole Miss is paying a steep price after its fans turned a frustration-filled afternoon against Georgia into a field-clearing mess.
The SEC announced Nov. 9 that it had fined the Rebels $250,000 after spectators tossed debris onto the field during the game at Vaught-Hemingway Stadium. Commissioner Greg Sankey pointed to the league’s sportsmanship, game management and alcohol availability policies in the announcement.
The incident came during Ole Miss’ 42-7 loss to the Bulldogs, with the game briefly delayed for about five minutes in the second quarter after fans threw trash onto the field in protest of an officiating call.
The SEC spelled out the basis for the penalty in its release, saying: "The actions taken by the Conference are consistent with SEC Bylaws and Commissioner’s Regulations related to the availability of alcoholic beverages at athletics events which state, 'If cans or plastic bottles are used as projectiles or otherwise cause game management issues, the institution is subject to an immediate fine and suspension of the alcohol sales privilege.”'
The conference said Ole Miss will not lose alcohol sale privileges at this time, though it kept that option on the table.
Most of the debris landed in the north end zone closest to the Ole Miss student section.
The crowd had already been worked up over a couple of calls. In the middle of the second quarter, Georgia quarterback Gunner Stockton had an interception wiped out after Ole Miss defensive lineman Jordan Renaud was flagged for roughing the passer. Later, fans were also angered by a pass interference call against Ole Miss.
Ole Miss athletic director Keith Carter declined comment when reached by the Clarion Ledger.
The Rebels, ranked No. 17, are 6-3 overall and 4-3 in the SEC. They head to Oklahoma on Nov. 14 for a 3:15 p.m. game on SEC Network, then return home for games against Wofford on Nov. 21 and Mississippi State on Nov. 27.
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