Beat Alabama?
Pay for it later.
The Southeastern Conference announced Sunday afternoon that Tennessee will be fined $100,000 after fans violated the league's access to competition area policy Saturday night following the riveting 52-49 triumph over Nick Saban's Crimson Tide. Jubilant Volunteers supporters rushed the field inside Neyland Stadium immediately after Chase McGrath's deciding 40-yard field goal as time expired, eventually tearing down both goal posts.
Tennessee athletic director Danny White expected the fine in addition to needing new goal posts, posting Saturday night on Twitter, "Vol Nation, how much can we raise to cover the tab?!"
The amount is due to this being Tennessee's second offense of a policy that was adopted by SEC members in 2004 and with penalties having been increased in 2015. Current fines are $50,000 for a first offense, $100,000 for a second offense and $250,000 for third and subsequent offenses.
Tennessee's initial fine of just $5,000 accompanied a basketball win over Florida in 2006.
Auburn, Ole Miss and Texas A&M also have been fined in recent seasons following football wins over Alabama, with Texas A&M incurring the first offense of $50,000 last year. Auburn won the 2013 Iron Bowl before fines were increased and stormed the basketball court after a 2006 triumph over Kentucky, so the Iron Bowl wins in 2017 and 2019 resulted in the maximum $250,000 each time.
Fines levied against schools are deposited into the league's postgraduate scholarship fund.
Contact David Paschall at dpaschall@timesfreepress.com.