AUSTIN (KXAN) — Texas Longhorns head football coach Steve Sarkisian and University of Texas Athletics Director Chris Del Conte have a simple message ahead of Saturday’s home game against Florida.
“Stay in the game.”
Texas Athletics released a video Thursday with Sarkisian and Del Conte calling on UT students to show good sportsmanship after an incident during the most recent home game grabbed national headlines.
On Oct. 19, Texas lost its first game of the season in a highly anticipated showdown with then-No. 5 Georgia. The Bulldogs shut down then-No. 1 Texas’ potent offense for a 30-15 win, however, UT students also shut down the game for a moment in the third quarter.
After a penalty on Texas wiped away a Georgia turnover, UT students threw water bottles and other trash on the field. The game was paused for about five minutes as stadium staff and Texas cheerleaders cleaned up the trash strewn across the northeastern portion of the field near the student section.
During the clean-up, officials ultimately decided to wipe away the penalty on Texas, which allowed the interception and return to stand, putting the Longhorns in prime scoring opportunity. Texas scored two plays later to cut the deficit to a one-score game at 23-15.
The incident resulted in the Southeastern Conference handing out a $250,000 fine to the university. The conference demanded UT make every attempt to find and ban any fans deemed responsible for throwing trash on the field.
“The throwing of debris and resulting interruption of play that took place Saturday night cannot be part of any SEC event,” SEC commissioner Greg Sankey said following the game.
UT officials issued a public apology to the officiating crew, the University of Georgia and the SEC.
In Thursday’s video, Sarkisian asked for students to “be good sports at all times,” while Del Conte said “bad behavior will not be tolerated.”
“Be loud, be passionate and be good sports so you can stay in the game,” Sarkisian said in the video.
“You’re the very best students, you represent this great institution. Stay in the game. Let the behavior of cheering loud, creating great atmosphere dictate who we are,” Del Conte said.
Saturday’s 11 a.m. game against Florida will be the first Texas home game since the trash-throwing situation.
Billy Gates contributed to this story.