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Over the weekend, rival teams around the college football world faced off in pursuit of bragging rights and oddly-shaped trophies—including Alabama and Auburn, who took on each other in the 84th annual Iron Bowl.
The Crimson Tide needed a win to keep their playoff hopes alive and came into the game listed as 3.5-point favorites, but when everything was said and done, they fell by a score of 48-45 after Alabama kicker Joseph Bulovas failed to convert a 30-yard field goal on what would be their final possession (a miss he’s since apologized for).
The win gave the fans at Jordan-Hare Stadium an occasion to celebrate and they took full advantage by storming the field (or, in the case of the women who got stuck in the hedges, attempted to).
LOL at the two Auburn women trying to rush the field by walking through the bushes. pic.twitter.com/VzHNg2EYW8
— Gifdsports (@gifdsports) December 1, 2019
Auburn fans rush the field following the Iron Bowl win. pic.twitter.com/RHacPlZ7hp
— Jake Weese (@TheJakeWeese) December 1, 2019
Auburn fans rush the field after the Tigers beat Alabama 48-45 pic.twitter.com/2StlxEbWIs
— Auburn Gold Mine (@AUGoldMine) December 1, 2019
However, on Monday, the SEC decided to put a bit of a damper on things when it announced it would be hitting the school with a $250,000 fine for violating a conference-wide policy that punishes teams for not preventing fans from entering the field of play following football and basketball games.
Auburn is fined $250,000 by SEC for fans rushing the field after win against Alabama
— Brett McMurphy (@Brett_McMurphy) December 2, 2019
According to USA Today, this is the fourth time the Tigers have been penalized for an infraction like this, as they were initially dinged $5,000 following the legendary 2013 Iron Bowl.
While the sum is pretty staggering, there’s really nothing Auburn could have done to prevent thousands of eager people from overwhelming security (despite the best efforts of the aforementioned hedges).
However, when you consider Auburn’s athletic department raked in almost $150 million in revenue last year, something tells me they won’t have a problem paying this off.