The Big 12 came to a decision to enforce a $100,000 fine and a 15-yard penalty on the second instance of items thrown on the field, Texas Tech athletics director Kirby Hocutt said in a Zoom meeting Thursday.
The decision the same week Texas Tech was fined $25,000 for not taking 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.
Previously, the second occurrence resulted in the removal of the accused fan and an announcement made by the home team’s head coach. Furthermore, the penalty zone will now be the full playing enclosure rather than just the field of play.
“The stakes just got a lot higher,” Hocutt said. “You get one chance.”
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Hocutt said the decision was made at the discretion of Yormark, with no communication to the conference’s athletic directors or presidents.
Texas Tech is the primary target of the new ruling based on its longstanding tradition of throwing tortillas at the opening kickoff. Fans have extended the tradition past then, which led to the concern.
In the meeting, Hocutt fielded questions from student organizations that presented solutions. One suggestion was to move the Texas Tech bench to the student section sideline. Hocutt said there is no plan for that, despite the Pac-12 adopting it.
“I do think it would take away from some of the home-field advantage that has been synonymous with Texas Tech football,” Hocutt said.
Saturday was the first time Texas Tech was officially penalized for items thrown on the field. Hocutt said 12-15 fans were removed from Jones AT&T Stadium because of it.
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