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How Clemson football fans, who run on field after every home game, will be impacted by new ACC rule
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- How Clemson football fans, who run on field after every home game, will be impacted by new ACC rule
CLEMSON — Clemson football fans will have to wait a little longer to gather at the paw at Memorial Stadium this season.
ACC commissioner Jim Phillips announced July 22 that the league is modifying its safety requirements for field and court storming for football and basketball games. He said schools are required to develop event security plans, which will include a review from a third-party entity, to ensure the protection of participants, coaches, officials and other personnel.
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Spectators will be allowed to enter the field or court after the visiting teams and officials have "safely" exited the field of play. The conference has introduced a fine structure if this policy is broken: $50,000 for the first offense, $100,000 for the second and $200,000 for the third time. The timelines for fines will reset every two years, and the money will go toward the ACC's scholarship fund.
Clemson has allowed fans to come on the field after every home game to gather around the center of the field and sing the alma mater. A team spokesperson said Clemson will continue its tradition, but it will be modified.
"The ACC's revised sportsmanship policy provides an important framework for all institutions to evaluate and enhance their safety procedures for fans, teams, and game officials in line with other major conferences and venues," the spokesperson said. "Clemson is in the process of finalizing our updated protocol in accordance with this policy.
"Our approach acknowledges the significance of gathering at the paw on Frank Howard Field at Memorial Stadium, and we intend to allow for its continuation once visiting teams and personnel have safely exited the field. We ask our fans for their cooperation in this matter beginning this fall."
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The change follows other Power 4 conferences like the SEC. It has a fine structure in place for "any field or court rush that occurs when the visiting team and/or game officials are still on the playing surface." The first violation is a $100,000 fine, the second is a $250,000 fine and the third and so on is $500,000.
Clemson basketball's Brad Brownell on court-storming rule change
Clemson basketball fans stormed Littlejohn Coliseum's court after upset wins vs. Kentucky and Duke last season.
MORE: 5 Clemson football players with something to prove for Tigers, Dabo Swinney in 2025 season
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This caused Duke coach Jon Scheyer to express concerns over player safety . Tigers coach Brad Brownell thinks the policy change was needed too.
"Player safety is vital, so I can understand why we're doing it," Brownell said. "Obviously, those are memories that students and players cherish. That's hard. In our sport, it just happens so quickly."
Brownell added a change for basketball could be getting the visiting team off the court in 30 seconds, then allowing students to come to experience the moment with players. He said it won't be as organic but it would avoid dangerous situations.
Vanderbilt implemented a postgame court-storming policy last season after being fined a total of $750,000 for students storming the court after home wins against Tennessee and Kentucky. It has a one-minute countdown clock that will appear on the video board after the conclusion of basketball games to allow the court to be clear first.
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Derrian Carter covers Clemson athletics for The Greenville News and the USA TODAY Network. Email him at dcarter@gannett.com and follow him on X, formerly known as Twitter, @DerrianCarter00
This article originally appeared on Greenville News: Clemson football: Fans storming field policy changed by ACC for 2025
