In a thrilling game against Alabama, Missouri’s head coach, Dennis Gates, urged fans not to storm the court following the victory. Gates explained that rushing the court could result in large fines for the university, which they cannot afford. A previous violation had already cost the department $100,000. Gates highlighted the need for financial resources to support their NIL initiatives:

“We need that money to build NIL. We don’t need to be getting fines out there.”

The university had faced significant fines in the past, and Gates’ intervention may have saved them from incurring another, allowing fans to celebrate from the stands instead of facing repercussions.