South Carolina Fined for Celebrating after Upsetting Kentucky

Yahoo! Sports reports that South Carolina will be fined $25,000 by the Southeastern Conference after fans stormed the court following the school’s upset victory over No. 1 ranked Kentucky. South Carolina was in violation of a league rule that prohibits fans from going out on the playing surface.

SEC commissioner Mike Slive has expressed that the rule was instated to provide a safe environment for everyone who attends and participates in the conference’s activities. The rule was enacted back in 2004, just two weeks after a fight broke out between the Pacers and the Pistons in the NBA, and one day after a fight broke out among players in the Clemson v. South Carolina football game.

South Carolina has been fined for violating the rule before. They were last fined $5,000 in 2005 after storming the floor following an upset over then-No. 3 ranked Kentucky in basketball. According to SEC rules, another violation within the next three years will cost South Carolina $50,000.

South Carolina athletic director Eric Hyman said he had messaged the SEC commissioner to see if he could get the fined lessened. Hyman also said student fans were giving him $1 bills to help pay for the fine.

I understand safety needs to be a priority, but it seems like the SEC might be taking things a little too far.

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