Byrne: Forfeits Can End Field Storming

Alabama football was on the wrong end of three field storms in 2024, with Vanderbilt fans storming the field in an unprecedented upset of Alabama in September, Tennessee fans storming the field after an upset of Alabama for the second time in three seasons, and Oklahoma fans storming it twice in the Sooners' upset of Alabama.

The SEC implemented a fine system to deter fans from rushing the field in a wave of drunken emotion that endangers coaches, players, and media on the field. For the first offense, the offending school must pay $100,000 to the losing school. On the second offense, $250,000 must be paid to the losing school. A third offense results in a $500,000 fine.

Alabama collected $400,000 in field storming fines this season (Oklahoma had to pay $100,000 twice for storming the field before the end of its victory over Alabama).

However, with Alabama collecting $400,000 in fines, clearly the fines are not enough to deter fans, because they do not feel the consequences of the actions. The schools and athletic departments do.

Alabama Athletic Director Greg Byrne has seen his team on the wrong end three times, and each time, there has been concern for the health and safety of Kalen DeBoer and the Crimson Tide football team.

Byrne provided one extreme answer for the field and court storming problem in college athletics:

I think from a safety standpoint, keeping people off the fields and courts is a good thing for everybody involved," Byrne told ESPN. "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.”

Fans taking the field after big wins is an integral part that makes college football exciting, but storming the field before players have the chance to leave safely is a major issue in college sports right now.

Wyatt Fulton is the TIde 100.9 DME and Brand Manager, primarily covering Alabama Crimson Tide football and men's basketball. For more Crimson Tide coverage, follow Wyatt on X (Formerly known as Twitter) at @FultonW_.