Tennessee makes arrests related to trash-throwing incident

The University of Tennessee is working swiftly to identify fans that threw trash onto the field of Neyland Stadium Saturday, and its Police Department has already made 18 arrests related to the incident, according to a report by Adam Sparks of Knox News.

In addition to UTPD’s arrests, 47 fans were ejected from the game. Sparks reported that UTPD is still looking through video evidence from the game, including security camera footage, hoping to identify more perpetrators. A Tennessee spokesperson added that more security cameras could be added to Neyland Stadium, particularly facing the student section.

The Tennessee spokesperson added that students will not be permitted to attend future games, should they be linked to the trash throwing incident.

“We are trying to identify people who threw things onto the field last night in order to hold them accountable,” Tennessee Chancellor Donde Plowman said in a statement to Knox News. “Further, athletics is working with UTPD and the Division of Student Life to provide recommendations to me and (athletics director) Danny White related to preventing and deterring bad behavior in the stadium, particularly in our student section.”

Tennessee fans throw trash, pelt Lane Kiffin

Tennessee on Saturday was facing fourth-and-24 late in the fourth quarter, when quarterback Hendon Hooker completed a pass to Jacob Warren close to the first-down mark. The referees’ mark spotted Warren less than a yard short of the first down, and in protest of the call, chaos ensued from Tennessee fans.

Trash was thrown onto the field, primarily from the student section, some of which was aimed at the Ole Miss sideline. Former Tennessee head coach Lane Kiffin, who made his return to Neyland Stadium as the Ole Miss head coach, seemed to be hit with a golf ball in the tirade, which was caught on the ESPN broadcast.

Tennessee cheerleaders were escorted to the locker room to avoid injury, and the Volunteers’ marching band soon followed suit. Ole Miss players, including Kiffin, vacated the bench and took to the playing field, where they were out of the stands’ range. The game was delayed for roughly 20 minutes, and a forfeit warning was issued at Neyland Stadium before play finally resumed.

“The conference has established expectations for behavior and sportsmanship, and the actions of fans at Saturday night’s game were unacceptable under any circumstances,” SEC commissioner Greg Sankey said in a statement. “We are accustomed to intense competition every week, but under no circumstances is it acceptable to endanger the contest participants and disrupt a game.

“We will review existing Conference policies and the Commissioner’s authority to impose penalties and communicate with the leadership at the University of Tennessee – and all of the SEC’s member universities – to make certain this situation is not repeated.”

Sankey and the SEC has not yet imposed any punishment on Tennessee. Commissioner Plowman, who seems to be aiding UTPD in its efforts to make arrests, issued a statement after the contest in which she labeled the behavior sickening.

“I am astonished and sickened by the behavior of some Vol fans at the end of tonight’s game,” Plowman tweeted after the game. “Good sportsmanship must be part of who we are as Volunteers. Behavior that puts student athletes, coaches, visitors, and other fans at risk is not something we will tolerate.”

First-year Tennessee athletic director Danny White also issued a statement, apologizing to the Ole Miss program and fanbase for the incident. Kiffin poked fun at the situation after the game, as only he could.

“I don’t know if I’m more excited we found a way to win or I didn’t get hit with the golf balls they were throwing at me,” Kiffin said. “It is what it is. They’re passionate fans and they’re 100,00 people who came to see a show. It didn’t end up the way they wanted, so it is what it is.”