Getty Image / Alex Slitz
Saturday night’s game between Georgia and Texas was expected by many to be a heavyweight fight of two of the nation’s best teams and quarterbacks that would be filled with great football. While that wasn’t the case in Georgia’s 30-15 win over the Longhorns, we still saw something that will keep people talking for a long time.
A Texas interception that was initially negated by a pass interference penalty but then overturned by officials saw fans throw water bottles on the field when they thought that it would indeed be negated by the penalty. On Sunday, the SEC laid down the law, and they want Texas to go after the fans who threw the water bottles.
In case you missed it, here’s what happened. Take a look.
Chaotic scene in Austin:
A Texas interception vs Georgia was — *initially* — negated after the officials ruled defensive pass interference on the play.
Texas fans then threw bottles onto the field, leading to Longhorns HC Steve Sarkisian pleading with the fans to stop. pic.twitter.com/v5yJQMSqol
— Awful Announcing (@awfulannouncing) October 20, 2024
It seems dubious that the referees overturned their own call and didn’t look at the video board to do it, which would not be allowed. That being said, they got it right, so that’s what matters, I guess.
But, the SEC is understandably not happy about the series of events. Not only did they hand down a huge fine, but they want Texas to use available video footage to find out who threw water bottles and for those offenders to be disciplined.
SEC announces Texas will be assessed a financial penalty of $250,000 and also “required to use all available resources, including security, stadium and television video, to identify individuals who threw objects onto the playing field or at the opposing team.”
— Pete Thamel (@PeteThamel) October 20, 2024
Is Texas really going to snitch on its own students, as most of the offenders were those in the student section? I’m not sure that Texas is going to pursue this all that strongly. They may just pay their fine and move on.