Mizzou coach implores fans not to rush the court after victory: ‘We need that money to go to NIL’

By ADAM ZAGORIA

In the waning seconds of No. 15 Missouri’s 110-98 victory over No. 4 Alabama Wednesday night, Mizzou coach Dennis Gates took to the microphone to implore fans not to rush the court.

“Please do not rush the court,” Gates said.

"Please do not rush the court"

Missouri head coach Dennis Gates had to tell the fans to not storm the court after beating No. 4 Alabama pic.twitter.com/m16EcNlU18

— ESPN (@espn) February 20, 2025

Missouri was fined $250,000 after beating then-No. 1 Kansas on Dec. 8 and faces a $500,000 fine for a second offense. In the Southeastern Conference, the fine is paid to the opposing school.

“We need that money to go to NIL,” Gates said, per the AP. “We don’t need to be getting fines out there. But, to safety, I hope that becomes a normal thing when you are excited, which I credit our crowd for being. I just didn’t want us to rush the court and get a fine.”

Photo: Mark Kim

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