The Big 12 Conference has issued fines to both Texas Tech and Kansas following their football game Saturday, citing violations of the league’s Principles and Standards of Sportsmanship.
The conference announced Wednesday that both universities were fined $25,000. Texas Tech was penalized for repeated instances of fans throwing objects onto the field, while Kansas was fined for comments made by head coach Lance Leipold that the league deemed disparaging toward the conference and a member institution. Leipold also made an inaccurate statement about a pocket knife incident involving a Texas Tech staff member.
“After a formal review, Texas Tech did not take 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. “Coach Leipold’s comments questioned the integrity and professionalism of both the Conference and a member institution. Both actions warranted a financial penalty. The Big 12 Conference prioritizes integrity.”
The fines followed No. 9 Texas Tech’s 42-17 victory over Kansas on Saturday night. Cameron Dickey ran for a career-high 263 yards and two long touchdowns, while the Red Raiders backup quarterback Will Hammond scored twice after replacing injured starter Behren Morton.
Texas Tech has a tradition of fans throwing tortillas onto the playing surface during big games. The tradition was in the news leading up to Saturday’s game, as the university, led by head coach Joey McGuire, urged fans to refrain from participating in the tortilla toss. Those pleas, however, went unheeded.
Texas Tech improved to 6-0 overall and 3-0 in Big 12 play, marking its first appearance as an AP top-10 team since 2013. Kansas dropped to 4-3 on the season.
The Jayhawks hosts Kansas State on Oct. 25. Texas Tech travels to face No. 21 Arizona State, the defending Big 12 champion this Saturday.
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