The Big 12 said Kansas coach Lance Leipold made an “inaccurate statement” when he claimed a staffer was hit by a pocketknife thrown from the stands during Texas Tech’s home win over KU.
The conference said it had fined both Texas Tech and Kansas $25,000 following the Red Raiders’ 42-17 home victory.
“Tech’s fine is for repeated instances of objects being thrown onto the playing surface, while Kansas has been fined for disparaging comments about the conference and a member institution, and an inaccurate statement regarding a pocketknife by head coach Lance Leipold.”
Leipold said after the game that a staffer had been hit, though he declined to say if the person was injured or not. TV station KCBD in Lubbock confirmed that a closed pocketknife had been found on the field during Saturday’s game and that video reviewed from the stadium had been turned into the Big 12.
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According to the Lubbock Avalanche-Journal, which obtained the review that Tech sent to the Big 12, video footage showed the knife was picked up off the field by a KU player and handed to a staffer.
“It’s supposed to be for safety and things like that, and it’s a culture that’s been accepted to a point and hasn’t changed,” Leipold said about the Big 12’s rule against fans throwing objects on the field and Tech fans’ tradition of throwing tortillas Saturday night. “Eventually somebody’s going to be seriously hurt, unfortunately.”
Wednesday afternoon, Leipold said he accepted the Big 12’s ruling.
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“I appreciate the Big 12 Conference’s thorough review of events that took place during our game last Saturday at Texas Tech,” Leipold said in a statement. “I accept their findings and ultimate ruling. I had an emotional reaction in the aftermath of the game and acknowledge that I need to be better.”
After the game, The Lawrence Journal-World, citing a KU spokesperson, said that Tech’s second penalty of the game for fans throwing objects onto the field “was a direct result of the thrown pocketknife” and that the spokesperson said it was a Swiss Army-style knife.”
“After a formal review, Texas Tech did not take sufficient steps to prevent and deter the repeated throwing of objects onto the field and team bench areas,” Big 12 commissioner Brett Yormark said in a statement. “Coach Leipold’s comments questioned the integrity and professionalism of both the conference and a member institution. Both actions warranted a financial penalty. The Big 12 Conference prioritizes integrity and will have no further comment on the matter.”
Saturday’s game was the first time Tech had gotten a penalty for fans throwing objects onto the field. With Big 12 rules stipulating that fans get a warning on the first offense, Tech has tried to tell fans to refrain from throwing tortillas after the opening kickoff.