Texas Tech fined $50K by Big 12, seeks fan who pushed UT player after Saturday's game

Texas Tech is being fined $50,000 by the Big 12 Conference for the "field storming incident" that came after the Red Raiders win over No. 22 Texas, while Tech Athletics and the university's police department continue searching for a fan who shoved a UT athlete during the mayhem.

Tech head football coach Joey McGuire also weighed in on the behavior, saying during a Monday media availability that he's hopeful Red Raider fans follow the lead of good sportsmanship and behavior he strives to instill in his players.

On Monday, the Big 12 Conference issued a public reprimand and $50,000 fine of Texas Tech for the field storming incident that occurred at the conclusion of Tech's 37-34 overtime win over UT at Jones AT&T Stadium in Lubbock.

Texas vs Texas Tech football: See all the photos from Saturday's game

“We have a duty to provide a safe game environment,” Big 12 Conference Commissioner Brett Yormark said in a statement. “The Texas Tech Department of Athletics has a written event management policy that, while well thought out, was unsuccessful in ensuring the safety and security of all visiting team student-athletes, officials, coaches and staff. There is zero tolerance for any act that compromises the safety of game participants, and it is of utmost importance that home game management provide adequate security measures for our student-athletes, coaches, game officials and spectators.”

While a Tech Athletics officially initially confirmed to the Avalanche-Journal that Tech’s administrative operating budget would cover the hefty fine, the athletics program later announced that City Bank, a longtime corporate partner, committed to paying the fine for the postgame celebration.

"We are grateful for City Bank and their long-term support of Texas Tech Athletics," Texas Tech athletics director Kirby Hocutt said in a release. "We have passionate fans including our great partners at City Bank and their president Cory Newsom."

McGuire briefly addressed the incident during a regular media availability earlier Monday, before the fine was announced. McGuire said he stresses the importance for his athletes to play with class.

"I think every single person would say that my players play with class, they play the game the way it's supposed to be played, the way they're supposed to act," McGuire said. "I hope that we continue to do that as a football program and be the class of college football. And that's what ... you control what you can control ... I control that because that's what I'm over, and I'm going to make sure I'm pouring into my guys, get them to understand the way you're supposed to play football and, hopefully, that carries over as an example for everybody."

Tech Athletics released a statement early Monday evening in response to the fine and reprimand.

"Texas Tech does not condone any physical altercations between spectators and student-athletes," the statement reads. "This behavior has no place at Texas Tech athletic events. We are committed to providing a safe game environment, and will continue to discuss opportunities to strengthen all operations."

Texas Tech Athletics on Sunday released a screen grab from a video showing a fan pushing a UT football player as fans rushed the field following the game Saturday.

The video, which was circulating on social media Sunday, appears to shows a male fan, who was amongst the crowd of Tech fans rushing the field, running and pushing a UT football player down. Tech Athletics confirmed the video was brought to their attention, and condemned the violence in a social media post Sunday evening, calling for information to help identify the person.

"This behavior is unacceptable and Texas Tech Athletics has turned the matter over to the Texas Tech Police Department," reads the message from Tech Athletics. "We will work together to identify the fan and take further action."

Anyone with information that can assist in identifying the attacker is urged to call the Texas Tech Police Department at 806-742-3931.

This article originally appeared on Lubbock Avalanche-Journal: Texas Tech fined by Big 12, seeks fan who pushed UT player after game