AUSTIN, Texas — The investigation conducted by the University of Texas regarding the bottle-throwing incident that took place during the Texas-Georgia football game in October concluded without identifying or penalizing any individuals involved.

According to a report delivered to the Southeastern Conference (SEC) last month, Texas officials indicated that video footage failed to reveal the identities of those responsible for the disruptive behavior.

The Longhorns are set to face the Bulldogs again in the SEC championship game in Atlanta on Saturday. Their previous encounter in Austin ended with a 30-15 victory for Georgia, during which a frustrated crowd responded to a controversial pass interference call by throwing objects onto the field, temporarily halting the game as officials convened to reevaluate the decision.

This chaotic episode led to a significant fallout, including a $250,000 fine imposed on Texas by the SEC, which also warned that alcohol sales might be prohibited at future events. The conference directed the university to locate those responsible and restrict them from attending all athletic events for the remainder of the academic year.

In his communication with SEC Commissioner Greg Sankey on November 7, Texas Athletic Director Chris Del Conte stated that the university had thoroughly examined all available video and information sources but unfortunately could not identify the individuals involved. He added that any new identifying information would prompt further action.

This report was shared with the public this week, and a university spokesperson mentioned there had been no updates regarding new findings or additional penalties since the document was submitted to the SEC. Attempts to reach Del Conte for further comments went unanswered.

Furthermore, Del Conte informed the SEC that Texas has implemented enhanced security measures, including additional cameras and personnel dedicated to monitoring the student section. The university has also updated its sportsmanship and fan code of conduct as well as introduced digital messaging aimed at promoting positive behaviors among attendees.

The significance of respect, sportsmanship, and fairness was highlighted by Del Conte as essential values that the Texas community strives to uphold, expecting fans to reflect these principles during events.

The SEC has not yet responded to inquiries regarding Texas’s findings.

During the tense moment in the game, with Texas trailing Georgia 23-7, a disputed pass interference ruling negated a possible interception, prompting a torrent of bottles and debris from the student section. The chaos lasted several minutes as officials and stadium staff worked to clear the field.

In response, Texas head coach Steve Sarkisian, who was initially furious about the penalty, made his way across the field to request that fans cease their disruptive actions while the cleanup process was underway.

This interruption allowed game officials to reconsider the penalty, which ultimately frustrated Georgia head coach Kirby Smart. Following the game, Smart commented on the incident by stating, “We’ve set a precedent that if you throw a bunch of stuff on the field and endanger athletes, you’ve got a chance to get your call reversed. That’s unfortunate because, to me, that’s dangerous.”

The SEC expressed its anger over the incident while acknowledging that reversing the penalty was a justified decision. The league condemned the actions of the fans, leading to speculation about whether similar incidents could arise in the future, coupled with a critique of Texas’s proclaimed motto, “What starts here changes the world.”

The SEC instructed Texas to leave no stone unturned in its investigation, utilizing all resources at its disposal, including security footage from the stadium and televised broadcasts, to identify those who threw objects. It mandated that the university provide a detailed account of its findings.

Texas President Jay Hartzell alerted students of the impending inquiry, stating that that the action had “embarrassed Longhorn Nation” and aligned with the SEC’s directives to hold accountable those who misbehaved.

Del Conte had earlier communicated to students that individuals involved would face consequences for their actions.

Historically, the Texas football stadium has had an emergency operations room featuring live feeds from security cameras, which have been utilized to monitor fan behavior. However, in the report prepared for the SEC, it was revealed that neither they nor any investigative teams could pinpoint anyone responsible for the debris-throwing episode.

This 10-page report included reviews of stadium policies and statements from the administration but only offered limited details regarding the investigation itself, which was headed by Derek Trabon from the Office of Emergency Management. The probe involved collaboration with campus police and game operations staff.

Yet, the document did not detail the extent of video analysis conducted, whether any footage captured the act of throwing, or if alternative technologies like facial recognition were considered. The lack of specifics left the inquiry’s inconclusiveness unexplained.

Del Conte reiterated the university’s commitment to accountability and extended an apology to both the University of Georgia and the SEC.