College Basketball’s Court Storming Dilemma: New Rules, Big Fines, and Safety Concern

College Basketball Still Trying to Cope with Court Storms

Court storming has long been a staple of college basketball, symbolizing the raw emotion and excitement of underdog victories. However, growing safety concerns and significant fines are forcing schools to rethink how fans celebrate big wins. Vanderbilt University, which has been fined $850,000 by the Southeastern Conference (SEC) this season alone, recently introduced a new policy allowing delayed postgame celebrations to reduce risks and avoid penalties.

Vanderbilt’s Approach: Legalizing Court Storming

Vanderbilt’s fines stem from three incidents this school year: a $100,000 fine for a football field storm in October and $750,000 for two basketball court storms in January. In response, the university implemented a policy that allows fans to storm the court—but only after a one-minute delay to ensure the opposing team and officials can safely leave.

Mark Byington, Vanderbilt Basketball Coach: "If we’re fortunate enough to win, we need a new way to celebrate."

The new policy debuted before Vanderbilt’s recent victory over Texas, and fans respected the delay without incident. However, with Auburn (No. 1 in the AP Top 25) visiting Memorial Gymnasium, the policy faces its toughest test yet.

SEC’s Strict Penalty System

The SEC has the nation’s most severe fines for court and field storming:

• $100,000 for the first offense
• $250,000 for the second
• $500,000 for the third and subsequent offenses

So far in the 2024-25 season, SEC schools have been fined a total of $2.6 million, with Vanderbilt leading the pack. Unlike other conferences, the SEC redirects fines from conference games to the visiting school, meaning rival teams like Tennessee and Kentucky benefit financially from these celebrations.

Safety Concerns and National Debate

Incidents involving players being injured during court storms have heightened calls for change. Last season, collisions with stars Caitlin Clark (Iowa) and Kyle Filipowski (Duke) sparked debates about banning court storming altogether. Duke Coach Jon Scheyer, along with other prominent figures like Bill Self (Kansas) and Mike Krzyzewski, called for stricter rules to protect players.

Jon Scheyer: "That wasn’t a safe environment... I had to shield my players from people running up and getting in their face."

Despite these concerns, no national policy exists. The NCAA leaves the decision to individual conferences, leading to inconsistent approaches across Division I basketball.

Cultural Shift or Enforcement Challenge?

Many schools are exploring creative ways to manage celebrations without eliminating them entirely. Aiden Rutman, senior editor of Vanderbilt’s student newspaper, believes the university’s new policy is a smart compromise.

Rutman: "If students aren’t willing to wait one minute, they’re not real fans. This new approach keeps everyone safe while still allowing for celebration."

Other athletic officials suggest additional measures like enhanced security, designated celebration zones, or delaying fan access for several minutes after the game.

Proposals for the Future

While fines and new rules have reduced the number of incidents, some believe harsher penalties—like forfeiting victories—might be the only way to stop storming entirely. Greg Byrne, Alabama’s athletic director, advocates for this approach.

Byrne: "If we said the home team loses the game for storming, it would stop immediately."

However, others warn that such measures could hurt the game’s passionate atmosphere. Bruce Pearl (Auburn Coach) suggests a middle ground: giving fans controlled access after players have celebrated with them.

Pearl: "I love the passion of court storming. It’s all about the students and these incredible environments. There’s a better way to do it."

Final Take: Balancing Safety and Celebration

As the college basketball season heats up, court storming remains a controversial topic. Schools must find the right balance between preserving the sport’s tradition and ensuring the safety of everyone involved. Vanderbilt’s experiment could offer a blueprint for others to follow, but the debate is far from over.

Key Questions Moving Forward:

• Will other conferences adopt similar delayed-access policies?
• Can stricter penalties truly eliminate the practice?
• How can schools maintain the emotional energy of big wins without compromising safety?

One thing is clear: the stakes are rising, both on and off the court.