Vandy fined $25,000 for storming court

[BamaDude06]

Updated: Feb. 19, 2007, 6:08 PM ET
Vanderbilt hoops fans cost school $25,000 fineESPN.com news services


SEC Commissioner Mike Slive rendered the decision Monday to fine Vanderbilt $25,000 for its fans storming the court after the Commodores' upset win over former No. 1-ranked Florida on Saturday.

Vanderbilt was fined $5,000 in March 2005 when fans stormed the court after a second-round NIT win against Wichita State. Institutional penalties range from $5,000 for a first offense to fines of up to $25,000 for a second offense and up to $50,000 for a third and subsequent offenses.

"This policy is designed to create a safe environment for everyone who participates and attends our athletic contests," Slive said in a statement. "The security and protection of our student-athletes, coaches, officials and fans is our primary concern."

Slive will also review videotape of a report of Florida freshman Brandon Powell throwing a punch in the postgame scrum. But early indications from the league office are that Powell was trying to get out of the fan crush in self defense. Florida officials were upset over the lack of security by Vanderbilt.

ESPN.com senior writer Andy Katz contributed to this report.


ESPN.com - NCB - Vandy fined $25,000 for fracas after Florida game (http://sports.espn.go.com/ncb/news/story?id=2770430)

[AUChamps]

Vandy's so rich that they can courtstorm 250 times and it won't make a dent.

Sounds to me like Mike Slive should get courtstormed.

[PuddingTime]

Best money Vandy's spent in a minute I'd say

[GatorHunter]

Some of the fans harassed the Florida players before they could get off the court...Horford got pushed...another UF player...one of the freshman that hasn't played, was pushed and when he turned around..the Vandy fan got in his face screaming and he decked him...knocked him out cold...:laugh: Yea...those Vandy guys are really smart...push and talk smack to 6'6" athlete...

The Vandy coach also took a swipe at Noah during the game...I'm surprised this hasn't gotten more press...the ball went out of bounds by the Vandy bench...as Noah when to get the ball, the Vandy coach picked the ball up, and as Noah reached for it, Stallings swiped his hands away...said later that he was just tryin' to "stoke" up his team. Either way, he'll get his in the tournament.

[PuddingTime]

Umm...Noah is a player. Stallings is a coach. You don't just grab at a ball in his hands, especially when it's HIS court and he's an elder. Noah has issues. Like trying to fight one of our cheerleaders. He's a punk and has no class.

[Bburton86]

The Vandy coach also took a swipe at Noah during the game...I'm surprised this hasn't gotten more press...the ball went out of bounds by the Vandy bench...as Noah when to get the ball, the Vandy coach picked the ball up, and as Noah reached for it, Stallings swiped his hands away...said later that he was just tryin' to "stoke" up his team. Either way, he'll get his in the tournament.


The ball was already in his hands. Noah shouldn't have tried to get it.

[GatorHunter]

The ball was already in his hands. Noah shouldn't have tried to get it.

Noah's playing in the game...Stallings isn't. Noah has the right to take the ball to inbound it...Stallings had no right touching the ball. And further more, Stallings sure is heck didn't have the right to "swat" at a player.

[GatorHunter]

Umm...Noah is a player. Stallings is a coach. You don't just grab at a ball in his hands, especially when it's HIS court and he's an elder. Noah has issues. Like trying to fight one of our cheerleaders. He's a punk and has no class.

It isn't Stallings' court...it's Vandys. Noah was playing in the game...Stallings had no right touching the ball and delaying the game...and he certainly didn't have the right to "swat" at Noah for reaching for the ball....who cares if he's an "elder". They were playing in a game...on a insanely designed court where the teams are situated at the ends...Stallings needs to stick to coaching and stay out of the game. As far as the UK cheerleader...she deserved to get slapped! Of course, Noah didn't touch her...but if some bimbo sticks a pom-pom in my face, it's gonna get slapped away too...talk about lack of class. Those 5 in row sting don't they, Puddin'...:laugh:

[Cianne]

Noah's playing in the game...Stallings isn't. Noah has the right to take the ball to inbound it...Stallings had no right touching the ball. And further more, Stallings sure is heck didn't have the right to "swat" at a player.

Noah had no right to touch Stallings either. Both were wrong.

[Gator2753]

Umm...Noah is a player. Stallings is a coach. You don't just grab at a ball in his hands, especially when it's HIS court and he's an elder. Noah has issues. Like trying to fight one of our cheerleaders. He's a punk and has no class.

Yeah right. We already had the Naoh/cheerleader discussion. She started it by rubbing her little pom poms in his face. All he did was swat them away and didnt even make contact with the girl. Most of the members agreed it was nothing either way. Move on man.

[gatorunvrsty]

Noah had no right to touch Stallings either. Both were wrong.

Noah didn't touch Stallings. Noah reached for the ball once, and Stallings pulled it away, like a child who won't share a toy. Then Noah reached for it a second time, and Stallings swatted his arms. The officials had to take it away from Stallings. At Vandy, the players and coaches are at the ends of the court, by the baskets. Vandy had just scored, and Noah was just trying to get the ball, and inbound it. The coach has no right to even touch the ball during play, much less prevent a player from inbounding until his team gets back on defense. Everything I've read on the situation says they should have been penalized for game interference, and that what Stallings did was the most childish thing they'd ever seen in college athletics.

[gatorunvrsty]

The ball was already in his hands. Noah shouldn't have tried to get it.

The coach isn't allowed to have the ball in his hands during play.

[CockNBlythewood]

"its Mah Ball." "no Its Mine!"