ACC fines Florida State $50K for field-storming incident after upset of Alabama

The Atlantic Coast Conference fined Florida State $50,000 on Monday for a violation of the league’s event security policy aimed at curtailing field- and court-storming incidents after Seminoles fans flooded the field Saturday to celebrate an upset win over No. 8 Alabama.

Florida State is the first ACC school to be fined under a conference policy announced earlier this summer. First offenses incur a $50,000 fine. The fine doubles on the second offense, and a third offense draws a $200,000 fine.

The money collected goes to a postgraduate scholarship fund to help ACC athletes further their education.

The ACC’s new rule follows the lead of the SEC, which implemented a similar policy over the last two seasons due to concerns about player and fan safety.

The SEC had been using escalating fines, starting with $100,000 for a first offense. This past offseason, the policy was changed to make all fines $500,000 for field- or court-storming violations, but a school will not be subject to a fine if it prevents any fan contact with opposing players and staffers or officials.

Florida State knocked off Alabama 31-17 on Saturday at Doak Campbell Stadium. Coming off a 2-10 season, the Seminoles were about a two-touchdown underdog against the Crimson Tide. Alabama has seen opponents’ fans storm the field in each of its last 11 road losses.

Boston College transfer Tommy Castellanos, who had called out the Tide during the summer, led Florida State to the victory and then put his trash talk on T-shirts.

Under the ACC’s policy, spectators can enter the playing field after the visiting team and officials have exited.

(Photo of Florida State fans storming the field after a win over Alabama on Saturday: Butch Dill / Getty Images)