Georgia enlisted the help of head football coach Kirby Smart to keep the student section in check during the closing moments of Tuesday’s college basketball game against Florida. They were asked to wait exactly 90 seconds before they stormed the court to celebrate the top-five upset win.
The efforts to prevent a fine were a great success!
In response to various incidents with court and field storms in the past, the SEC implemented a new rule in 2023. Schools, through their athletic departments, are fined $100,000 for a first offense during a calendar year, $250,000 for a second offense, and $500,000 for third and subsequent offenses. All of the fines are paid directly to the visiting school that lost the game and sparked the court/field storm.
To avoid such fines, college basketball teams ask their fans to wait 90 seconds before the court storm. That allows the opponent to get off of the court without incident and, though not quite the same, still allows for the fun.
Georgia stormed the college basketball court in Athens after beating Florida without getting fined!
Two Gators fans sat right behind the Bulldogs’ bench and right in front of the student section on Tuesday. They wore shirts that read “GEORGIA SUCKS,” which was rather awkward when their team went down 51-35 at halftime.
Tough scene pic.twitter.com/qzWJ6HjMPq
— Pregame Empire (@PregameEmpire) February 26, 2025
Florida battled back in the second half but it still lost by five. The two fans were escorted out of the gym just moments before the final buzzer. Students were ruthless toward them on their way out.
Meanwhile, Kirby Smart walked over to the student section with a reminder— do not storm the court when the clock hit zero. Stay put!
UGA PD escorts two Florida fans out, and while the students are chirping them, Kirby Smart chimes in for them to settle down until the clock hits zero. He was also asking them not to rush the floor until they were told they could. pic.twitter.com/e7ah4SMyH0
— Lance (@LM_Sports_Media) February 26, 2025
As soon the game went final, the countdown began. Athletic director Josh Brooks stood in front of the soon-to-be storming students and kept them in line for one minute and 30 seconds. And then it was on!
Here comes the Georgia student section onto the court after the Dawgs upset No. 3 Florida. pic.twitter.com/62c3KNt9Ik
— Lance (@LM_Sports_Media) February 26, 2025
It was awesome scenes on the floor at Stageman Coliseum. Georgia head coach Mike White also shared a special moment with Jesse Kenney, a season-ticket holder since 1983.
Amidst the madness, Georgia head coach Mike White shares a moment with @SweaterManSteg after the Dawgs upset Florida. pic.twitter.com/1kYfMmu4Xb
— Lance (@LM_Sports_Media) February 26, 2025
White served as head coach of the Gators until 2022 when he left Gainesville for the same role with the Bulldogs. Tuesday’s upset victory and subsequent court storm was extra special. And his current program didn’t have to pay a fine to his former program! A win all around.
The post Kirby Smart Checks Georgia Students Who Heckled Ejected Florida Fans Right Before Court Storm appeared first on BroBible.
Kirby Smart Checks Georgia Students Who Heckled Ejected Florida Fans Right Before Court Storm
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