LSU football hit with hefty penalty after fans storm the field in huge upset
Baton Rouge, Louisiana - The Louisiana Tigers' huge upset win over the unbeatable Ole Miss has vaulted the football program back into the national rankings – at a costly six-figure price.
After fans stormed the field in celebration of Saturday's huge victory over then-top 10 ranked Ole Miss, the SEC Conference has imposed a huge $250,000 penalty.
It's the program's third violation of the league's access to competition area policy, which states:
"Access to competition areas shall be limited to participating student-athletes, coaches, officials, support personnel and properly-credentialed individuals at all times. For the safety of participants and spectators alike, at no time before, during or after a contest shall spectators be permitted to enter the competition area."
This is the second fine the program has copped this season and third in four years. Last week, Tennessee was fined $100,000 for its postgame celebration upset over No. 6 Alabama during their Week 7 showdown. Vols fans heaved the uprooted goalposts into the Tennessee River, attracting a separate financial penalty by the university.
Competition area violation fines start out at $50,000 for the first offense, $100,000 for a second offense, and $250,000 for each violation after that. The fine money will be donated to the SEC Post-Graduate Scholarship Fund.
Cover photo: JONATHAN BACHMAN / GETTY IMAGES NORTH AMERICA / GETTY IMAGES VIA AFP