Greg Sankey addresses SEC's stance on field storming, Jermaine Burton allegations

As Alabama Crimson Tide wide receiver Jermaine Burton is under scrutiny this week after videos taken from the Tennessee field storming appear to show the Georgia transfer physically lashing out at two Vols fans, SEC commissioner Greg Sankey discussed the conference’s stance on field storming at the men’s hoops media days.

“I don’t think there’s clarity around what’s happened, but let’s back up,” Sankey said. “This is not an indictment of a fan base. We worked last week in advance and the University of Tennessee athletics program had a plan in place to manage. And then you have a last-second field goal and the emotion.

“But it goes back further, I’ll go back to the mid-2000s when we first adopted a policy that’s very clear: stay off the field. And if there are field incursions, then there are fines and it escalates. That has not deterred people. Last year, we had three different circumstances when fans were on the field. We have warned that that creates problems.”

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Sankey pointed to other instances of fans injured in field-storming situations, naming Utah, Fort Worth and Appalachian State as recent examples. The Tennessee program received a $100,000 fine for the incursion but as the incidents and fines pile up, Sankey can do little but reiterate the conference’s policy.

“We’ve been clear over and over that not being on the field afterward is the right approach,” Sankey said. “We can celebrate in the stands, you can have great joy, congratulations to Josh and his team on a great win and a great season that’s still in front of them. We want that excitement and that intensity. But we don’t want to put people in proximity. And what we saw is not unique.”

Nick Saban issues statement on Burton

Alabama put out a statement from head coach Nick Saban on Wednesday regarding Burton and the allegations against him.

“We are aware of the situation with Jermiane Burton as he was exiting the field Saturday,” Saban said in a press release. “We are currently working to gather more information.”

Saban came out unscathed Saturday night in Knoxville but still called it a “difficult situation.”

“Yeah, I did,” Saban said during Wednesday’s SEC coaches teleconference when asked if he left Neyland Stadium healthy. “It was a pretty difficult situation. I had about three bruises (after Texas A&M) and I don’t have any after this one.”