Texas A&M fined for fans rushing field, league reviewing postgame altercation

BATON ROUGE — It was a manic Monday at the Southeastern Conference office.

The league office fined Texas A&M $50,000 on Monday morning for violations of the "access to competition area policy" after the Aggies' 74-72, seven-overtime, win over No. 7 LSU Saturday night because fans poured out onto the field.

The SEC is still looking into an altercation involving LSU director of player personnel Kevin Faulk, who is a former LSU and New England Patriots star running back, Cole Fisher, who the SEC referred to as a "staff member" on the A&M side, Texas A&M receivers coach Dameyune Craig and LSU offense analyst Steve Kragthorpe.

"The conference remains in contact with the participating institutions related to the reported postgame altercation between football staff members and has re-emphasized the expectations for sportsmanship before, during and after SEC athletic contests," a release said.

Kragthorpe said he was punched in the chest by Fisher, who is a nephew of Texas A&M head coach Jimbo Fisher and was credentialed on the A&M sideline during the game. Videos show Faulk hitting Cole Fisher after Faulk said he saw Fisher hit Kragthorpe in the chest. Kragthorpe was diagnosed with Parkinson's disease in 2011 and has a neurostimulator, or pacemaker, attached in his chest.

More: LSU's Kevin Faulk involved in postgame skirmish

Kragthorpe speaks:'I didn't appreciate getting punched in my pacemaker'

Another video shows Kragthorpe might have been shoved, not punched by Fisher, though it is unclear in the very wide shot if it was a hard shove, which could be interpreted as a punch. The video also shows LSU safety John Battle hitting Cole Fisher along with Faulk.

Later Monday, Fisher released a statement himself, saying that the "matter has been addressed internally" and that he, along with administrators from Texas A&M, have been working in concert with the SEC and LSU in examining the videos from the field.

"It's unfortunate this situation happened," Faulk told the USA TODAY Network on Sunday. "It got out of hand. But I was just behaving as my mom and dad raised me. This guy hit Coach Kragthorpe in the chest. I just stepped in."

Kragthorpe, a former assistant coach at LSU (2011 and '12) and at Texas A&M (1997-2000, 2010), said he was walking across the field to say hello to friends on the A&M staff when he saw A&M receivers coach Dameyune Craig running toward LSU coaches, including head coach Ed Orgeron, while cussing and jawing.

"I went up to Dameyune and said, 'Hey, Dameyune, get out of here. You won. You don't need to be doing that. Move along,'" Kragthorpe, who knew Craig from Craig's time as LSU's receivers coach in 2016, told the USA Today Network on Sunday.

Shortly after being promoted from interim coach to head coach after the 2016 regular season, Orgeron fired Craig.  

"Then out of nowhere, I got nailed (by Cole Fisher)," Kragthorpe said. "I didn't go down, but I clutched over. I was like, 'Damn, he got me right in my pacemaker.' Then it started fluttering like he jostled it."

Kragthorpe, who was checked out by Texas A&M doctors and emergency medical personnel after the game, saw his neurologist in Baton Rouge on Monday after Kragthorpe said the neurologist called him to make an appointment after he heard about the incident at the game.

"I feel OK, but not as good as I was. I feel like he tore something in there. I can feel a pull," Kragthorpe said.

Kragthorpe was contacted Monday after his doctor visit, but said only, "I've been advised not to comment."

When asked if he was advised by a lawyer, by LSU, or both, Kragthorpe said, "No comment."

Kragthorpe hinted at legal action on Sunday when he said Texas A&M could be held responsible if his pacemaker was damaged or if he was injured by Cole Fisher as a representative of A&M.

Follow the Lafayette Daily Advertiser's Glenn Guilbeau on Twitter @LSUBeatTweet.