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3yardsandacloud
Administrator Emeritus
JohnnyCockfight;636641; said:
Hummm, I was going to avoid this topic as the events seem to speak for themselves. I was wondering if and when Robert Reynolds would be brought into the discussion ... I guess I have my answer. Of course you are right in many ways. Robert Reynolds was wrong in his actions and he was only suspended one game. I think your analogy fails from there on. OSU fans and the media in general were outraged by Reynolds actions. Many thought that one game wasn't enough of a punishment for Robert. I'm sure doing a search would reveal many of the stories surrounding the incident, but don't for a second think that OSU fans and the media weren't calling for harsher punishment in Reynolds's case ... they were. The same is true for the Miami/FI brawl. I think the biggest difference to consider is this: Reynolds and Tressel contacted Sorgi and Barry Alvarez to apologize and ask their opinion on a punishment for Robert. Sorgi and Alvarez agreed with the 1 game suspension.
Other things to consider are Miami's history of prior behavior. Robert Reynolds had no history of losing control ... Miami does. Ohio State fans were almost unanimously outraged and embarrassed by Robert Reynolds actions, Miami fans (not all for certain) seem to think this event is what the program needs to return to glory.
I agree that we as a fan base are probably making more of this than it deserves, but comparing the brawl (and Miami's history of such events) to a single individual's lone incident isn't doing justice to either event. I think the best correlation is this:
Fans and Media were NOT happy with just a one game suspension for Robert Reynolds in 2003. Fans and Media are NOT happy with just a one game suspension for those involved in a brawl in 2006. In both cases the unhappiness is directed at the player(s), coach(es), and the conference(s) involved.
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And I disagreed with that decision. Doesn't justify this.
The kids who were kicking and stomping and swinging helmets should be off the team. Certainly more than for one game. My opinion.
Not true. Clemson and South Carolina withdrew themselves from postseason consideration after a "similar act"
Yes I would. Pushing, shoving, and hell even throwing a punch is one thing. Kicking players who are on the turf and swinging your helmet around like a madman are two very different things. Again, this wasn't one player out their acting out; this was a wilding. Suspending players for one game as a result of that fracas is a joke. Especially when the other team involved has doled out stiffer punishments.
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DDN
OSU realizes potential for brawls exists
By Tom Archdeacon
Wednesday, October 18, 2006
COLUMBUS ? The football game between the University of Miami and Florida International that turned into a brawling thug-fest Saturday night at the Orange Bowl has become the hottest topic in sports.
Two videos that captured the sucker punches, kicks and swinging helmets had over 1.7 million viewers on YouTube.com by Tuesday evening. Talk shows, bloggers, newsprint pontificators, everybody has a take ? including the Ohio State Buckeyes.
Asked Tuesday if he'd ever been in a game where he felt something brewing ? somebody about to throw down ? senior defensive end Jay Richardson didn't hesitate:
"I'm in that position every Saturday.
"There's always talk on the field. Little personal battles. I haven't had too many guys try crazy things. Just getting stepped on in the pile, my face mask tugged at, my ankle twisted ... There have been times where there were a couple of punches, little shoves.
"Ted (Ginn Jr.) told me after a punt return there was a big pile up and somebody was trying to get him in the ribs. Times like that you want to jump in and protect another guy, but you've got to know it could escalate. That's being mature. (You) try to be a senior and pull guys away from each other."
Saturday night, few people seemed to think that way.
The game that was to be a neighborhood embrace between two schools just 9 miles apart turned into an ugly border war.
In all, 31 players have been suspended. Two FIU players have been kicked off their team. One Hurricane has been indefinitely moth-balled. There are other punishments ? anger-management classes, community service, maybe more dismissals ? and at season's end look for Miami head coach Larry Coker and FIU's Don Strock both to lose their jobs.
OSU freshman receiver Brian Hartline couldn't fathom his team involved in such a spectacle because of its coach: "The imagination that would ever happen at OSU with Coach (Jim) Tressel on the sideline is just mind boggling. There's no way."
He's probably right, but he's also new and wasn't here for two recent incidents with Wisconsin.
Tressel seemed to refer to one when he recalled being "kind of run over after one of our games" when there "apparently were some middle-of-the-field antics by a very few."
That was two years ago, Richardson said, when Badger players stomped on the Block O after their win and some Bucks retaliated.
The year prior, OSU linebacker Robert Reynolds was caught choking Wisconsin quarterback Jim Sorgi, an act that drew national vilification.
"I remember us having a really long meeting after that," said Richardson, who said Tressel laid down the law about appropriate behavior. Since then the Bucks have been pretty well behaved.
"I don't know if there's a different mentality down (in Miami), but it's pretty troubling," Hartline said. "I assume a lot of those guys knew each other and that had something to do with it."
The guys did know each other, and that's why the game had been made the centerpiece of the "Salute to Florida High School Football Day." Every high school in Florida had been invited to bring its players to the game ? for free ? and 700 area children were in attendance as part of the Join-a-Team, Not-a-Gang community program.
Asked what could be drawn from such a promotional backfire, Tressel shrugged:
"The only thing to take away from that would be a reminder that when you make poor decisions to that magnitude, there's going to be something you're disappointed on for quite some time."
Foot-brawl update
Fallout from Saturday?s melee between Miami (Fla.) and FIU:
Suspensions: FIU kicked two players off the team while 16 have indefinite suspensions.
Miami safety Anthony Reddick, who swung his helmet, had his one-game suspension increased to an indefinite one while 12 other Hurricanes will sit out Saturday?s game at Duke.
No scholarships lost: Miami president Donna Shalala defended the limited sanctions but set a ?zero-tolerance? policy.
Another brawl: After Holy Cross beat Dartmouth in OT, Holy Cross players celebrated on the field?s Dartmouth ?D.?
NCAA reaction: The NCAA said it may help schools and conferences develop a policy to curb on-field violence.
OSU realizes potential for brawls exists
By Tom Archdeacon
Wednesday, October 18, 2006
COLUMBUS ? The football game between the University of Miami and Florida International that turned into a brawling thug-fest Saturday night at the Orange Bowl has become the hottest topic in sports.
Two videos that captured the sucker punches, kicks and swinging helmets had over 1.7 million viewers on YouTube.com by Tuesday evening. Talk shows, bloggers, newsprint pontificators, everybody has a take ? including the Ohio State Buckeyes.
Asked Tuesday if he'd ever been in a game where he felt something brewing ? somebody about to throw down ? senior defensive end Jay Richardson didn't hesitate:
"I'm in that position every Saturday.
"There's always talk on the field. Little personal battles. I haven't had too many guys try crazy things. Just getting stepped on in the pile, my face mask tugged at, my ankle twisted ... There have been times where there were a couple of punches, little shoves.
"Ted (Ginn Jr.) told me after a punt return there was a big pile up and somebody was trying to get him in the ribs. Times like that you want to jump in and protect another guy, but you've got to know it could escalate. That's being mature. (You) try to be a senior and pull guys away from each other."
Saturday night, few people seemed to think that way.
The game that was to be a neighborhood embrace between two schools just 9 miles apart turned into an ugly border war.
In all, 31 players have been suspended. Two FIU players have been kicked off their team. One Hurricane has been indefinitely moth-balled. There are other punishments ? anger-management classes, community service, maybe more dismissals ? and at season's end look for Miami head coach Larry Coker and FIU's Don Strock both to lose their jobs.
OSU freshman receiver Brian Hartline couldn't fathom his team involved in such a spectacle because of its coach: "The imagination that would ever happen at OSU with Coach (Jim) Tressel on the sideline is just mind boggling. There's no way."
He's probably right, but he's also new and wasn't here for two recent incidents with Wisconsin.
Tressel seemed to refer to one when he recalled being "kind of run over after one of our games" when there "apparently were some middle-of-the-field antics by a very few."
That was two years ago, Richardson said, when Badger players stomped on the Block O after their win and some Bucks retaliated.
The year prior, OSU linebacker Robert Reynolds was caught choking Wisconsin quarterback Jim Sorgi, an act that drew national vilification.
"I remember us having a really long meeting after that," said Richardson, who said Tressel laid down the law about appropriate behavior. Since then the Bucks have been pretty well behaved.
"I don't know if there's a different mentality down (in Miami), but it's pretty troubling," Hartline said. "I assume a lot of those guys knew each other and that had something to do with it."
The guys did know each other, and that's why the game had been made the centerpiece of the "Salute to Florida High School Football Day." Every high school in Florida had been invited to bring its players to the game ? for free ? and 700 area children were in attendance as part of the Join-a-Team, Not-a-Gang community program.
Asked what could be drawn from such a promotional backfire, Tressel shrugged:
"The only thing to take away from that would be a reminder that when you make poor decisions to that magnitude, there's going to be something you're disappointed on for quite some time."
Foot-brawl update
Fallout from Saturday?s melee between Miami (Fla.) and FIU:
Suspensions: FIU kicked two players off the team while 16 have indefinite suspensions.
Miami safety Anthony Reddick, who swung his helmet, had his one-game suspension increased to an indefinite one while 12 other Hurricanes will sit out Saturday?s game at Duke.
No scholarships lost: Miami president Donna Shalala defended the limited sanctions but set a ?zero-tolerance? policy.
Another brawl: After Holy Cross beat Dartmouth in OT, Holy Cross players celebrated on the field?s Dartmouth ?D.?
NCAA reaction: The NCAA said it may help schools and conferences develop a policy to curb on-field violence.
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ABJ
Miami fight stuns Buckeyes players
Ohio State teammates wonder how skirmish escalated out of control
By Marla Ridenour
Beacon Journal sportswriter
COLUMBUS - Ohio State center Doug Datish had his helmet knocked off and was punched in the face four times by Iowa defensive tackle Mitch King this season.
Defensive end Jay Richardson said flanker Ted Ginn Jr. told him that after a punt return, opponents jumped on him and one tried to hit him in the ribs. Richardson said every Saturday he's in a position where he wants to take a swing at someone and that having ``your face mask tugged, maybe an ankle twisted'' in a pileup is common.
But Ohio State players were amazed by the level of violence during Saturday's Miami-Florida International game.
FIU dismissed two players and indefinitely suspended 16, while Miami indefinitely suspended 13. One injured FIU player used his crutch as a club, while one Hurricanes player stomped on opponents and another used his helmet as a weapon.
``I thought it was kind of a wild fiasco,'' Richardson said. ``There's always talking on the field, there's always little personal battles because football is real physical and intense. To let it get that far was a little crazy. I thought maybe they could have done a little better job of keeping those guys separated.''
Redshirt freshman receiver Brian Hartline of GlenOak High School thought it was ``pretty troublesome'' that the situation escalated into violence.
``The first thing that came to my mind was how could that have ever happened,'' Hartline said. ``At no point have I ever thought about taking off a helmet and trying to hit somebody with it or anything like that. (Imagining) that in the 'Shoe with Coach Tressel standing on the sideline is just mind-boggling. There's no way that would ever happen.''
While nothing in coach Jim Tressel's six years at Ohio State can compare, linebacker Robert Reynolds was suspended for one game in 2003 after choking Wisconsin quarterback Jim Sorgi.
``I remember we had a big, long meeting about that and how completely unacceptable that was,'' Richardson said. ``Something like that should never happen on a football field.''
Asked why the Buckeyes have appeared to keep their cool since then, Richardson said, ``We try to be a classy team and we try to recruit guys who are classy individuals who wouldn't be in that kind of situation.''
There was some carryover with the Badgers the next year.
``I vaguely recall they beat us and after the game they were on the Block O doing something and a couple of our guys got into it with them,'' Richardson said.
The second-most publicized OSU altercation in recent years was between teammates. Center LeCharles Bentley sucker- punched offensive tackle Tyson Walter, breaking his nose and teeth, after a workout in February 2000. The incident came to light days before the Outback Bowl that season, when Walter sued Bentley before OSU lost to South Carolina 24-7.
Throwing a punch could have been an option for Datish three games ago. He was lauded by his teammates for not retaliating.
``My helmet gets ripped off, no big deal. I get punched in the face, that will happen,'' Datish said last week. ``But getting punched in the face four times with a guy standing over top of me and the ref saying, `Hey, why don't you stop that?' I was disappointed how that worked out. If I was doing that, I'd expect to be called for a personal foul. I've been called for less than that.''
Asked how he kept calm, Datish said, ``I've gotten personal fouls for retaliation and I know what it's like to come to the sideline and Coach Tressel says something to you, and then Coach (Jim) Bollman says something to you and you get a MA (missed assignment) on it and that's pretty detrimental to your grade,'' Datish said. ``I thought that in my head. Plus the ref was there, and I never thought in my wildest dreams there wouldn't be a penalty.''
Tressel agreed with most national observers who have said the Miami-FIU incident has given college football a black eye.
``That was not a good scene and it doesn't help college football,'' Tressel said. ``The only thing you could take away from it is a reminder that when you make poor decisions to that magnitude, that's something that you're going to be disappointed in for quite some time. Hopefully a whole bunch of young people took note of that and said, `I better make sure I'm in control.' ''
Miami fight stuns Buckeyes players
Ohio State teammates wonder how skirmish escalated out of control
By Marla Ridenour
Beacon Journal sportswriter
COLUMBUS - Ohio State center Doug Datish had his helmet knocked off and was punched in the face four times by Iowa defensive tackle Mitch King this season.
Defensive end Jay Richardson said flanker Ted Ginn Jr. told him that after a punt return, opponents jumped on him and one tried to hit him in the ribs. Richardson said every Saturday he's in a position where he wants to take a swing at someone and that having ``your face mask tugged, maybe an ankle twisted'' in a pileup is common.
But Ohio State players were amazed by the level of violence during Saturday's Miami-Florida International game.
FIU dismissed two players and indefinitely suspended 16, while Miami indefinitely suspended 13. One injured FIU player used his crutch as a club, while one Hurricanes player stomped on opponents and another used his helmet as a weapon.
``I thought it was kind of a wild fiasco,'' Richardson said. ``There's always talking on the field, there's always little personal battles because football is real physical and intense. To let it get that far was a little crazy. I thought maybe they could have done a little better job of keeping those guys separated.''
Redshirt freshman receiver Brian Hartline of GlenOak High School thought it was ``pretty troublesome'' that the situation escalated into violence.
``The first thing that came to my mind was how could that have ever happened,'' Hartline said. ``At no point have I ever thought about taking off a helmet and trying to hit somebody with it or anything like that. (Imagining) that in the 'Shoe with Coach Tressel standing on the sideline is just mind-boggling. There's no way that would ever happen.''
While nothing in coach Jim Tressel's six years at Ohio State can compare, linebacker Robert Reynolds was suspended for one game in 2003 after choking Wisconsin quarterback Jim Sorgi.
``I remember we had a big, long meeting about that and how completely unacceptable that was,'' Richardson said. ``Something like that should never happen on a football field.''
Asked why the Buckeyes have appeared to keep their cool since then, Richardson said, ``We try to be a classy team and we try to recruit guys who are classy individuals who wouldn't be in that kind of situation.''
There was some carryover with the Badgers the next year.
``I vaguely recall they beat us and after the game they were on the Block O doing something and a couple of our guys got into it with them,'' Richardson said.
The second-most publicized OSU altercation in recent years was between teammates. Center LeCharles Bentley sucker- punched offensive tackle Tyson Walter, breaking his nose and teeth, after a workout in February 2000. The incident came to light days before the Outback Bowl that season, when Walter sued Bentley before OSU lost to South Carolina 24-7.
Throwing a punch could have been an option for Datish three games ago. He was lauded by his teammates for not retaliating.
``My helmet gets ripped off, no big deal. I get punched in the face, that will happen,'' Datish said last week. ``But getting punched in the face four times with a guy standing over top of me and the ref saying, `Hey, why don't you stop that?' I was disappointed how that worked out. If I was doing that, I'd expect to be called for a personal foul. I've been called for less than that.''
Asked how he kept calm, Datish said, ``I've gotten personal fouls for retaliation and I know what it's like to come to the sideline and Coach Tressel says something to you, and then Coach (Jim) Bollman says something to you and you get a MA (missed assignment) on it and that's pretty detrimental to your grade,'' Datish said. ``I thought that in my head. Plus the ref was there, and I never thought in my wildest dreams there wouldn't be a penalty.''
Tressel agreed with most national observers who have said the Miami-FIU incident has given college football a black eye.
``That was not a good scene and it doesn't help college football,'' Tressel said. ``The only thing you could take away from it is a reminder that when you make poor decisions to that magnitude, that's something that you're going to be disappointed in for quite some time. Hopefully a whole bunch of young people took note of that and said, `I better make sure I'm in control.' ''
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CPD
Brawl forces NCAA to reconsider policy
INDIANAPOLIS (AP) ? In the wake of the Miami-FIU brawl, the NCAA says it would consider helping schools and conferences develop a standard policy to curb on-field violence.
Restricting post-game celebrations, such as planting school flags on an opponent's field, and how to deal with players who fight, were some of the suggestions, Ron Stratten, the NCAA's vice president of education services, told The Associated Press on Tuesday.
"We're going to take a look at all of that, and, hopefully, work with the conferences to manage the regular season," said Stratten, who also serves as a liaison to the NCAA's committee on sportsmanship and ethical conduct. "The committee is going to take a look at whether the NCAA can take action to assist them."The NCAA still wants universities and conferences to determine appropriate sanctions for player misconduct, but last weekend's brawl at the Orange Bowl has the NCAA willing to get more involved with schools and leagues.
"The NCAA and the Atlantic Coast Conference have principles of sportsmanship to which the University of Miami is committed," Miami athletic director Paul Dee said. "It is important for us to use opportunities such as these to re-emphasize this commitment to sportsmanship."
The melee during Saturday's game between Miami and Florida International included one Miami player swinging his helmet as a weapon and another stomping on opponents. An FIU player also kicked a Hurricanes player in the head.
On Monday, suspensions for some of the 31 sanctioned players were modified. FIU kicked two players ? Chris Smith and Marshall McDuffie Jr. ? off the team and 16 others will serve indefinite suspensions after originally being told they would miss one game.
Miami safety Anthony Reddick, who swung his helmet at other players, also had his one-game suspension increased to an indefinite one. Twelve other Hurricanes will sit out Saturday's game at Duke and will be required to perform community service.
Stratten applauded the final judgment.
"We are in a place where if nothing is taking place, we want to know why?" Stratten said. "I think what they did, by initially imposing the minimal penalties and then strengthening them, I think the final thing is probably appropriate because they're the ones that have to live with it in their own communities."
The Miami brawl wasn't the only one last weekend.
After Holy Cross beat Dartmouth 24-21 in overtime, Holy Cross players celebrated atop the Dartmouth "D" painted on the field. That caused fists to fly, and college and police officials have said some players could face punishments or arrests.
Those incidents follow another in the NFL, in which Tennessee defensive tackle Albert Haynesworth drew a five-game suspension for stomping on the face of Dallas center Andre Gurode.At past NCAA conventions, some experts have noted professional players often become role models for sportsmanship among players from the college level to the youth ranks, and NFL coaches such as Cincinnati's Marvin Lewis criticized Haynesworth's actions as something nobody should see.
But Stratten thinks what occurred last weekend was more the result of culture than trend.
"I think it's more in how they look at power and intimidation, and a lot of young people look at that as a physical thing," Stratten said. "You see that from guys who grow up in that kind of environment."
In response to previous concerns, the NCAA has offered sportsmanship seminars at its annual convention, urged schools to adopt standards regarding fan behavior, and provided leadership conferences for nearly 3,000 student-athletes.
Stratten said some schools, such as Ohio State, even educated fans on their expected behavior at games. Stratten believes that led to a decrease in fan incidents, which the NCAA considered its toughest behavioral issue just three years ago after a spate of incidents broke out during Rivalry Week around Thanksgiving.
The next step, Stratten believes, is that the NCAA take a more proactive approach with athletes, coaches and officials.
"At Miami, you had someone gesturing to the crowd after scoring a touchdown and taunting, and the official might have thought that stopped when he threw a flag," Stratten said. "But on the next play, there was retaliation for that. I think we have to do some things to let people know about the culture itself, and many coaches and officials don't understand that."
So the NCAA is prepared to lend a hand.
"What kids need to know is, 'How do I show and vent my frustration, and are the consequences clear to me, and are those kids willing to risk that,'" Stratten said. "There's a lot of good kids and some bad kids, and we always make excuses for talent."
Brawl forces NCAA to reconsider policy
INDIANAPOLIS (AP) ? In the wake of the Miami-FIU brawl, the NCAA says it would consider helping schools and conferences develop a standard policy to curb on-field violence.
Restricting post-game celebrations, such as planting school flags on an opponent's field, and how to deal with players who fight, were some of the suggestions, Ron Stratten, the NCAA's vice president of education services, told The Associated Press on Tuesday.
"We're going to take a look at all of that, and, hopefully, work with the conferences to manage the regular season," said Stratten, who also serves as a liaison to the NCAA's committee on sportsmanship and ethical conduct. "The committee is going to take a look at whether the NCAA can take action to assist them."The NCAA still wants universities and conferences to determine appropriate sanctions for player misconduct, but last weekend's brawl at the Orange Bowl has the NCAA willing to get more involved with schools and leagues.
"The NCAA and the Atlantic Coast Conference have principles of sportsmanship to which the University of Miami is committed," Miami athletic director Paul Dee said. "It is important for us to use opportunities such as these to re-emphasize this commitment to sportsmanship."
The melee during Saturday's game between Miami and Florida International included one Miami player swinging his helmet as a weapon and another stomping on opponents. An FIU player also kicked a Hurricanes player in the head.
On Monday, suspensions for some of the 31 sanctioned players were modified. FIU kicked two players ? Chris Smith and Marshall McDuffie Jr. ? off the team and 16 others will serve indefinite suspensions after originally being told they would miss one game.
Miami safety Anthony Reddick, who swung his helmet at other players, also had his one-game suspension increased to an indefinite one. Twelve other Hurricanes will sit out Saturday's game at Duke and will be required to perform community service.
Stratten applauded the final judgment.
"We are in a place where if nothing is taking place, we want to know why?" Stratten said. "I think what they did, by initially imposing the minimal penalties and then strengthening them, I think the final thing is probably appropriate because they're the ones that have to live with it in their own communities."
The Miami brawl wasn't the only one last weekend.
After Holy Cross beat Dartmouth 24-21 in overtime, Holy Cross players celebrated atop the Dartmouth "D" painted on the field. That caused fists to fly, and college and police officials have said some players could face punishments or arrests.
Those incidents follow another in the NFL, in which Tennessee defensive tackle Albert Haynesworth drew a five-game suspension for stomping on the face of Dallas center Andre Gurode.At past NCAA conventions, some experts have noted professional players often become role models for sportsmanship among players from the college level to the youth ranks, and NFL coaches such as Cincinnati's Marvin Lewis criticized Haynesworth's actions as something nobody should see.
But Stratten thinks what occurred last weekend was more the result of culture than trend.
"I think it's more in how they look at power and intimidation, and a lot of young people look at that as a physical thing," Stratten said. "You see that from guys who grow up in that kind of environment."
In response to previous concerns, the NCAA has offered sportsmanship seminars at its annual convention, urged schools to adopt standards regarding fan behavior, and provided leadership conferences for nearly 3,000 student-athletes.
Stratten said some schools, such as Ohio State, even educated fans on their expected behavior at games. Stratten believes that led to a decrease in fan incidents, which the NCAA considered its toughest behavioral issue just three years ago after a spate of incidents broke out during Rivalry Week around Thanksgiving.
The next step, Stratten believes, is that the NCAA take a more proactive approach with athletes, coaches and officials.
"At Miami, you had someone gesturing to the crowd after scoring a touchdown and taunting, and the official might have thought that stopped when he threw a flag," Stratten said. "But on the next play, there was retaliation for that. I think we have to do some things to let people know about the culture itself, and many coaches and officials don't understand that."
So the NCAA is prepared to lend a hand.
"What kids need to know is, 'How do I show and vent my frustration, and are the consequences clear to me, and are those kids willing to risk that,'" Stratten said. "There's a lot of good kids and some bad kids, and we always make excuses for talent."
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Shalala, Coker: Penalties fair, justified
College football notebook
THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
CORAL GABLES, Fla. - Shaking her fist for emphasis, Miami president Donna Shalala said sanctions levied against 13 players for their role in a sideline-clearing brawl were fair, justified and strong enough to satisfy the university.
All that came with one big caveat: Miami athletes simply can never fight again, she said.
"This university will be firm and punish people who do bad things," Shalala said. "But we will not throw any student under the bus for instant restoration of our image or our reputation. I will not hang them in a public square. I will not eliminate their participation at the university. I will not take away their scholarships."
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Miami officials have enacted a new rule that any athlete who fights will be dismissed from that team, a "new standard ... zero tolerance" policy. That, along with 12 one-game suspensions, one indefinite suspension and orders that all players involved in Saturday night's brawl with Florida International do community service, is sufficient punishment, Shalala said.
Two Miami players involved in the melee, sophomore Anthony Reddick and senior Brandon Meriweather, apologized for their roles. Reddick swung his helmet as a weapon, while Meriweather was seen stomping on FIU players.
BRAWL PART II: Miami and FIU weren't the only college football teams involved in a brawl last weekend - players from Dartmouth and Holy Cross fought at the end of their game when the teams lined up for postgame handshakes. The fighting started on Dartmouth's Memorial Field after Holy Cross won 24-21 in overtime Saturday.
After Holy Cross players celebrated atop the Dartmouth "D" painted on the field, fights broke out between the teams when the Division I-AA teams lined up for customary handshakes.
Witnesses said some players were thrown to the ground and kicked. Coaches, campus security and police broke it up.
Shalala, Coker: Penalties fair, justified
College football notebook
THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
CORAL GABLES, Fla. - Shaking her fist for emphasis, Miami president Donna Shalala said sanctions levied against 13 players for their role in a sideline-clearing brawl were fair, justified and strong enough to satisfy the university.
All that came with one big caveat: Miami athletes simply can never fight again, she said.
"This university will be firm and punish people who do bad things," Shalala said. "But we will not throw any student under the bus for instant restoration of our image or our reputation. I will not hang them in a public square. I will not eliminate their participation at the university. I will not take away their scholarships."
OAS_AD('ArticleFlex_1');
Miami officials have enacted a new rule that any athlete who fights will be dismissed from that team, a "new standard ... zero tolerance" policy. That, along with 12 one-game suspensions, one indefinite suspension and orders that all players involved in Saturday night's brawl with Florida International do community service, is sufficient punishment, Shalala said.
Two Miami players involved in the melee, sophomore Anthony Reddick and senior Brandon Meriweather, apologized for their roles. Reddick swung his helmet as a weapon, while Meriweather was seen stomping on FIU players.
BRAWL PART II: Miami and FIU weren't the only college football teams involved in a brawl last weekend - players from Dartmouth and Holy Cross fought at the end of their game when the teams lined up for postgame handshakes. The fighting started on Dartmouth's Memorial Field after Holy Cross won 24-21 in overtime Saturday.
After Holy Cross players celebrated atop the Dartmouth "D" painted on the field, fights broke out between the teams when the Division I-AA teams lined up for customary handshakes.
Witnesses said some players were thrown to the ground and kicked. Coaches, campus security and police broke it up.
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Coaches React to brawl
In the aftermath of an ugly brawl between Miami and Florida International that resulted in the ejection of 13 players and the suspension of 31, the Big Ten coaches chimed in with their opinions during Tuesday's teleconference.
There have been a few instances of fighting in the Big Ten this season, most notably between Michigan State and Illinois, but none have come close to the level of Saturday's fight.
"You hope kids will go out and play football and have a little respect for each other," Penn State coach Joe Paterno said. "If you go out there and taunt, what's the purpose? When an opponent plays hard and plays tough, you shouldn't resent it. Whatever happened to start the fight, it certainly doesn't belong in college football. It's a shame."
In response to the incident, every Big Ten coach addressed their teams about handling emotions and demonstrating sportsmanship.
A total of 13 Miami players have been suspended, while 16 Florida International players have been suspended indefinitely and two have been kicked off the team.
"I admire the initiative they've taken with their suspensions," Purdue coach Joe Tiller said. "Things like this reflect poorly on sports in general. There's no place for this in college football or anywhere else."
Coaches React to brawl
In the aftermath of an ugly brawl between Miami and Florida International that resulted in the ejection of 13 players and the suspension of 31, the Big Ten coaches chimed in with their opinions during Tuesday's teleconference.
There have been a few instances of fighting in the Big Ten this season, most notably between Michigan State and Illinois, but none have come close to the level of Saturday's fight.
"You hope kids will go out and play football and have a little respect for each other," Penn State coach Joe Paterno said. "If you go out there and taunt, what's the purpose? When an opponent plays hard and plays tough, you shouldn't resent it. Whatever happened to start the fight, it certainly doesn't belong in college football. It's a shame."
In response to the incident, every Big Ten coach addressed their teams about handling emotions and demonstrating sportsmanship.
A total of 13 Miami players have been suspended, while 16 Florida International players have been suspended indefinitely and two have been kicked off the team.
"I admire the initiative they've taken with their suspensions," Purdue coach Joe Tiller said. "Things like this reflect poorly on sports in general. There's no place for this in college football or anywhere else."
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Morning Journal
Footbrawl is an eye-opener for Buckeyes
By JON SPENCER
For The Advocate
COLUMBUS -- In his wildest imagination, Ohio State receiver Brian Hartline can't picture a re-enactment of last week's helmet-clubbing, head-stomping brawl between Miami and Florida International taking place in a game involving the Buckeyes.
"The first thing that came to my mind was, 'How could that ever have even happened?'" Hartline said Tuesday as talk easily drifted from Saturday's home game against 31-point underdog Indiana.
"At no point have I ever thought about taking off a helmet and trying to hit somebody with it or anything like that. To imagine that that could ever happen in the 'Shoe with coach (Jim) Tressel standing on the sidelines is just mind-boggling. There's just no way that would ever happen."
The closest Ohio State came to embarrassing itself in that fashion was after a 24-13 loss at home to Wisconsin in 2004. Tressel said he "kind of got run over a little bit" during a brief midfield skirmish between some of the players.There had been a history of bad blood between the two schools, involving dancing on each others logo and an ugly incident in Wisconsin's 17-10 victory in 2003. During that game, cameras caught OSU linebacker Robert Reynolds jamming his fingers into the neck of quarterback Jim Sorgi in a pile while the Badgers were in the process of snapping the defending champion Buckeyes' 19-game winning streak.
Reynolds was suspended by Ohio State for one game and made an appearance with his wife at Tressel's weekly media luncheon to make a public apology for his actions.
"I remember us having a long talk about how completely unacceptable that was," senior defensive end Jay Richardson said. "Something like that should never happen on the field.
"We've been pretty cool when it comes to that stuff. We try to be a classy team and recruit classy individuals and guys who wouldn't be in that kind of situation."
Apparently, former OSU offensive linemen Tyson Walter and LeCharles Bentley didn't get that memo from the previous coaching regime. The week of the Outback Bowl at the end of the 2000 season, Walter sued Bentley for facial injuries suffered during an altercation after a winter conditioning session earlier that year. Walter reportedly sought $2 million but was awarded $6,000.
The fight was more costly to then-coach John Cooper, whose perceived lack of control contributed to his firing.
So far, the fallout from the Miami-Florida International melee has been the dismissal of two FIU players, the indefinite suspension of Miami's helmet-wielding Anthony Reddick and one game suspensions for 28 other players.
"It was a wild fiasco that got out of hand," Richardson said. "There's always talking on the field, little personal battles because football is a physical game. But to let it get that far was a little crazy. I think they could have done a better job of separating those guys."
Richardson was asked if he's ever found himself in a position where emotions could boil over.
"I'm in that position every Saturday," he said, half-jokingly. "After a couple of pushes and shoves, you might want to jump in to protect the other guys, and you know the situation could escalate. You have to be mature and try to pull guys away from the action rather than add fuel to the fire."
Richardson remembered one Ted Ginn Jr. punt return this season when someone gave Ginn a shot in the ribs at the bottom of the pile. The week after the victory at Iowa, receiver Anthony Gonzalez revealed center Doug Datish got punched in the face three or four times after having his helmet ripped off by an Iowa lineman.
Datish didn't retaliate because he thought the official would throw a flag.
"I haven't had too many guys trying to get crazy with me in my four years," Richardson said. "I've been stepped on in a pile, had my facemask tugged at and maybe an ankle twisted, but that kind of stuff is going to happen."
It goes without saying Saturday's terrifying scene in the Orange Bowl never should happen.
"It's a reminder to all student-athletes who play the game that you're very visible," Tressel said. "When you make a mistake of that magnitude, it's going to be blasted far and wide, and the embarrassment is great. For the rest of us, it was a good learning opportunity."
Footbrawl is an eye-opener for Buckeyes
By JON SPENCER
For The Advocate
COLUMBUS -- In his wildest imagination, Ohio State receiver Brian Hartline can't picture a re-enactment of last week's helmet-clubbing, head-stomping brawl between Miami and Florida International taking place in a game involving the Buckeyes.
"The first thing that came to my mind was, 'How could that ever have even happened?'" Hartline said Tuesday as talk easily drifted from Saturday's home game against 31-point underdog Indiana.
"At no point have I ever thought about taking off a helmet and trying to hit somebody with it or anything like that. To imagine that that could ever happen in the 'Shoe with coach (Jim) Tressel standing on the sidelines is just mind-boggling. There's just no way that would ever happen."
The closest Ohio State came to embarrassing itself in that fashion was after a 24-13 loss at home to Wisconsin in 2004. Tressel said he "kind of got run over a little bit" during a brief midfield skirmish between some of the players.There had been a history of bad blood between the two schools, involving dancing on each others logo and an ugly incident in Wisconsin's 17-10 victory in 2003. During that game, cameras caught OSU linebacker Robert Reynolds jamming his fingers into the neck of quarterback Jim Sorgi in a pile while the Badgers were in the process of snapping the defending champion Buckeyes' 19-game winning streak.
Reynolds was suspended by Ohio State for one game and made an appearance with his wife at Tressel's weekly media luncheon to make a public apology for his actions.
"I remember us having a long talk about how completely unacceptable that was," senior defensive end Jay Richardson said. "Something like that should never happen on the field.
"We've been pretty cool when it comes to that stuff. We try to be a classy team and recruit classy individuals and guys who wouldn't be in that kind of situation."
Apparently, former OSU offensive linemen Tyson Walter and LeCharles Bentley didn't get that memo from the previous coaching regime. The week of the Outback Bowl at the end of the 2000 season, Walter sued Bentley for facial injuries suffered during an altercation after a winter conditioning session earlier that year. Walter reportedly sought $2 million but was awarded $6,000.
The fight was more costly to then-coach John Cooper, whose perceived lack of control contributed to his firing.
So far, the fallout from the Miami-Florida International melee has been the dismissal of two FIU players, the indefinite suspension of Miami's helmet-wielding Anthony Reddick and one game suspensions for 28 other players.
"It was a wild fiasco that got out of hand," Richardson said. "There's always talking on the field, little personal battles because football is a physical game. But to let it get that far was a little crazy. I think they could have done a better job of separating those guys."
Richardson was asked if he's ever found himself in a position where emotions could boil over.
"I'm in that position every Saturday," he said, half-jokingly. "After a couple of pushes and shoves, you might want to jump in to protect the other guys, and you know the situation could escalate. You have to be mature and try to pull guys away from the action rather than add fuel to the fire."
Richardson remembered one Ted Ginn Jr. punt return this season when someone gave Ginn a shot in the ribs at the bottom of the pile. The week after the victory at Iowa, receiver Anthony Gonzalez revealed center Doug Datish got punched in the face three or four times after having his helmet ripped off by an Iowa lineman.
Datish didn't retaliate because he thought the official would throw a flag.
"I haven't had too many guys trying to get crazy with me in my four years," Richardson said. "I've been stepped on in a pile, had my facemask tugged at and maybe an ankle twisted, but that kind of stuff is going to happen."
It goes without saying Saturday's terrifying scene in the Orange Bowl never should happen.
"It's a reminder to all student-athletes who play the game that you're very visible," Tressel said. "When you make a mistake of that magnitude, it's going to be blasted far and wide, and the embarrassment is great. For the rest of us, it was a good learning opportunity."
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Sporting News
Brawl could put Miami in world of hurt with recruits
October 17, 2006
There seems to be two parties when it comes to college football logic. There's Miami (Fla.) and there's the rest of the country.
In Miami's world, helmet swinging and leg stomping during a brawl are not reasons for concern. Such things, televised and replayed repeatedly, do not threaten the job security of a coach who should already be gone. And it warrants a one-game suspension for players involved, players who likely want to hit themselves with helmets and stomp their own legs for missing the annual Miami-Duke thriller. And finally, the brawl is just the way things are done for the Hurricanes. You talk smack on our turf, prepare to get slugged.
And you thought things were ugly when Miami was destroyed by Louisville or when the 'Canes eeked out a victory over Houston? The worst was yet to come.
The Miami family sticks together like the mob. Comcast Sports SouthEast color man Lamar Thomas, a former player from the combat gear days, gleefully exclaimed: "You come into our house, you should get your behind kicked. You don't come into the Orange Bowl playing that stuff. You can't come over to our place talking noise like that. You'll get your butt kicked. I was about to go down the elevator and get into that thing."
Good job, Lamar. Go get 'em.
Monday, former Miami wideout Michael Irvin told a national media outlet that the players involved deserved more than a one-game suspension. But Irvin said but he didn't agree with critics who believe Brandon Meriweather (stomper) and Anthony Reddick (helmet swinger) should be gone for the rest of the season. Irvin also said that the program doesn't need fixing; he simply said that the 'Canes needed to win games and these incidents won't happen. Ya think, Mike? That will solve all these issues?
ACC commissioner John Swofford handed out the pesky one-game suspensions, but Miami president Donna Shalala said she was satisfied with the penalties.
But after much media scrutiny and an outcry for harsher punishment, Miami and the ACC suspended Reddick indefinitely. You get the feeling that if Swofford turned a blind eye to the incident, Miami would have likely done the same.
If there's a humorous spin to this story, perhaps it's the irony involved. At the game in which the brawl broke out were more than 700 inner-city youths were invited thanks to a program called "Join a Team, Not a Gang." Hmmmm.
The fallout from this will be ugly. Coach Larry Coker will be gone by season's end, and most of his staff will go with him. And while players interested in Miami don't seem to be fazed by the brawl, parents are.
"My brother called me and told me he'd disown me if I sent his nephew to Miami now," said the mother of one of the Hurricanes' top defensive targets who wished to remain anonymous. "It's still his choice, but I doubt Miami will get past the family."
"I am not comfortable sending my son into that environment," said another parent of a top Miami target on the condition of anonymity. "The program seems to have lost control and it's going to take quite a turnaround to fix things."
Perhaps former Hurricane Andrew Berry, whose son Damien is committed to the Hurricanes but looking around a bit, summed it up best.
"As a former player, it disturbs me greatly," said Berry, who is now a minister. "That's not what it's about wearing the U. There's a line you don't cross and it was crossed. It puts a black mark next to the program again. I know it can be turned around and I'm confident it will be, but there have to be some tough decisions made."
Parents of recruits will be making those tough decisions on whether Miami is the place for their sons.
Brawl could put Miami in world of hurt with recruits
October 17, 2006
There seems to be two parties when it comes to college football logic. There's Miami (Fla.) and there's the rest of the country.
In Miami's world, helmet swinging and leg stomping during a brawl are not reasons for concern. Such things, televised and replayed repeatedly, do not threaten the job security of a coach who should already be gone. And it warrants a one-game suspension for players involved, players who likely want to hit themselves with helmets and stomp their own legs for missing the annual Miami-Duke thriller. And finally, the brawl is just the way things are done for the Hurricanes. You talk smack on our turf, prepare to get slugged.
And you thought things were ugly when Miami was destroyed by Louisville or when the 'Canes eeked out a victory over Houston? The worst was yet to come.
The Miami family sticks together like the mob. Comcast Sports SouthEast color man Lamar Thomas, a former player from the combat gear days, gleefully exclaimed: "You come into our house, you should get your behind kicked. You don't come into the Orange Bowl playing that stuff. You can't come over to our place talking noise like that. You'll get your butt kicked. I was about to go down the elevator and get into that thing."
Good job, Lamar. Go get 'em.
Monday, former Miami wideout Michael Irvin told a national media outlet that the players involved deserved more than a one-game suspension. But Irvin said but he didn't agree with critics who believe Brandon Meriweather (stomper) and Anthony Reddick (helmet swinger) should be gone for the rest of the season. Irvin also said that the program doesn't need fixing; he simply said that the 'Canes needed to win games and these incidents won't happen. Ya think, Mike? That will solve all these issues?
ACC commissioner John Swofford handed out the pesky one-game suspensions, but Miami president Donna Shalala said she was satisfied with the penalties.
But after much media scrutiny and an outcry for harsher punishment, Miami and the ACC suspended Reddick indefinitely. You get the feeling that if Swofford turned a blind eye to the incident, Miami would have likely done the same.
If there's a humorous spin to this story, perhaps it's the irony involved. At the game in which the brawl broke out were more than 700 inner-city youths were invited thanks to a program called "Join a Team, Not a Gang." Hmmmm.
The fallout from this will be ugly. Coach Larry Coker will be gone by season's end, and most of his staff will go with him. And while players interested in Miami don't seem to be fazed by the brawl, parents are.
"My brother called me and told me he'd disown me if I sent his nephew to Miami now," said the mother of one of the Hurricanes' top defensive targets who wished to remain anonymous. "It's still his choice, but I doubt Miami will get past the family."
"I am not comfortable sending my son into that environment," said another parent of a top Miami target on the condition of anonymity. "The program seems to have lost control and it's going to take quite a turnaround to fix things."
Perhaps former Hurricane Andrew Berry, whose son Damien is committed to the Hurricanes but looking around a bit, summed it up best.
"As a former player, it disturbs me greatly," said Berry, who is now a minister. "That's not what it's about wearing the U. There's a line you don't cross and it was crossed. It puts a black mark next to the program again. I know it can be turned around and I'm confident it will be, but there have to be some tough decisions made."
Parents of recruits will be making those tough decisions on whether Miami is the place for their sons.
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Muck
Enjoy Every Sandwich
Donna Shalala said:
"...and most importantly there's no way in hell I'll lose out on the revenue caused by missing a bowl due to their absence!!"
Interesting that she didn't seem to notice that while FIU booted two players off the team....they are still on scholarship & have full access to all of the academic programs the school provides. They are just no longer allowed to participate with the football program.
In my experience a public fist shake or finger waggle is automatic admission of being full of shit.
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No need to shell out money... VT & Miami meet up later this year.OSUsushichic;636063; said:
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I say go with the NBA rule. Any players who leave the bench get suspended for a game. That would help prevent things like this from happening in the future. <=22 guys fighting would be easier to manage than 120. I'd love to see a team like Cryami play next week with 23 players half of which are walkons. :p
I was in a situation several years ago where we had just gotten screwed over in a heartbreaker against Akron. One of our guys was laying on the ground and one of the pussy-ass Akron players who probably didn't even play leans over and starts to talk smack. My buddy jumps up and takes off after the little smack talking pussy. This easily could have gone Miami/FIU, but most of the players like myself tried to break it up rather than join in. I'd say Miami and FIU reached the critical mass of thugs on the field and paid the price.
I was in a situation several years ago where we had just gotten screwed over in a heartbreaker against Akron. One of our guys was laying on the ground and one of the pussy-ass Akron players who probably didn't even play leans over and starts to talk smack. My buddy jumps up and takes off after the little smack talking pussy. This easily could have gone Miami/FIU, but most of the players like myself tried to break it up rather than join in. I'd say Miami and FIU reached the critical mass of thugs on the field and paid the price.
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BuckeyeBill
All-American
From TheBrushback.com
Link
College Football Game Marred By Unbelievably Cool Brawl
MIAMI--A vicious sideline-clearing brawl broke out in the third quarter of a game between Florida-International and the Miami Hurricanes Saturday, resulting in the suspension of 31 players. The thrilling, heart-stopping melee featured beatings, stompings, helmet-swinging, and even the use of a crutch as a weapon, marring an otherwise lame 35-0 rout by the Hurricanes.
Fans in attendance were shocked and entertained by the violent carnage.
"I've never seen anything like that before," said 19-year-old FIU sophomore Jenn Ferrell. "I think it all started when one of our guys tackled Miami's holder after an extra point. Then it just snowballed. I saw one player bludgeoning another player with a helmet, and I saw three Miami guys stomping on one of our guys while he was on the ground. Oh my God it was so awesome. It was kind of like what a baseball fight would be like, if baseball was played by guys who should be in jail."
"Canes fan in attendance were also stunned by the display of hatred and brutality.
"Holy shit. I can't believe what I just saw," said Miami junior Derrick Jentz, 20. "It was total chaos. People were actually trying to hurt each other, and in some cases, kill each other. This is a black eye for college football. It's also the single greatest game I've ever attended in my life. Whenever the term "black eye for college football" is applied, that usually means something awesome happened."
Prior to the fight, the game was filled with pushing and shoving, but nothing good until Miami's James Bryant scored a third quarter touchdown and bowed to the FIU crowd, earning a flag for unsportsmanlike conduct. On the ensuing point after attempt, an FIU player delivered a cheap shot against Miami holder Matt Perrelli. Soon after, the brawl was underway.
Hurricane players blamed Florida International for the fight.
"Hey, we were just defending ourselves," said quarterback Kyle Wright. "They're the ones that started it. They were trash talking us the whole game, then they made that cheap shot on Perrelli. We were shocked. A cheap shot? Who do they think they are, us? We will deliver the cheap shots and we will do the trash talking, and we will do the stomping on people. We had to send that message to FIU. Now we've got our swagger back, which will serve us well in the Gaylord Hotels Music City Bowl."
After the fight, both coaches apologized for their players' actions. Miami coach Larry Coker called the incident "disgraceful" and promptly suspended eight players who were involved in the fracas.
"There's no excuse for that kind of thing," said Coker. "I don't care who started it. All I know is that it should never have been taken that far. There was one guy out there beating people with a crutch. That's just sick. I mean, I suppose it was cool in a visceral, adrenaline pumping sort of way, but it's still bad for the game. Everybody knows fans don't like violence and bloodshed. That kind of thing just drives them away."
Florida International suspended 18 players after the fight. A tiny school from the Sun Belt Conference, FIU felt a game against the Hurricanes, their South Florida neighbors, would help create a friendly rivalry. Now they're having second thought about ever playing the Hurricanes again.
"This was supposed to be a friendly rivalry between two teams in the same region," said coach Don Strock. "Nobody had any idea it would turn out like this. We're not even in the same league as those guys. They recruit players from all over the country, while we recruit players from our own campus. Of course, both teams are to blame for this fiasco. We just didn't expect Miami to be such assholes. Did you see that guy bowing to the crowd after the touchdown? Dude, we're like a high school team. Get a clue. That would be like someone from Ohio State taking a bow after scoring a touchdown against the Hurricanes."
Link
College Football Game Marred By Unbelievably Cool Brawl
MIAMI--A vicious sideline-clearing brawl broke out in the third quarter of a game between Florida-International and the Miami Hurricanes Saturday, resulting in the suspension of 31 players. The thrilling, heart-stopping melee featured beatings, stompings, helmet-swinging, and even the use of a crutch as a weapon, marring an otherwise lame 35-0 rout by the Hurricanes.
Fans in attendance were shocked and entertained by the violent carnage.
"I've never seen anything like that before," said 19-year-old FIU sophomore Jenn Ferrell. "I think it all started when one of our guys tackled Miami's holder after an extra point. Then it just snowballed. I saw one player bludgeoning another player with a helmet, and I saw three Miami guys stomping on one of our guys while he was on the ground. Oh my God it was so awesome. It was kind of like what a baseball fight would be like, if baseball was played by guys who should be in jail."
"Canes fan in attendance were also stunned by the display of hatred and brutality.
"Holy shit. I can't believe what I just saw," said Miami junior Derrick Jentz, 20. "It was total chaos. People were actually trying to hurt each other, and in some cases, kill each other. This is a black eye for college football. It's also the single greatest game I've ever attended in my life. Whenever the term "black eye for college football" is applied, that usually means something awesome happened."
Prior to the fight, the game was filled with pushing and shoving, but nothing good until Miami's James Bryant scored a third quarter touchdown and bowed to the FIU crowd, earning a flag for unsportsmanlike conduct. On the ensuing point after attempt, an FIU player delivered a cheap shot against Miami holder Matt Perrelli. Soon after, the brawl was underway.
Hurricane players blamed Florida International for the fight.
"Hey, we were just defending ourselves," said quarterback Kyle Wright. "They're the ones that started it. They were trash talking us the whole game, then they made that cheap shot on Perrelli. We were shocked. A cheap shot? Who do they think they are, us? We will deliver the cheap shots and we will do the trash talking, and we will do the stomping on people. We had to send that message to FIU. Now we've got our swagger back, which will serve us well in the Gaylord Hotels Music City Bowl."
After the fight, both coaches apologized for their players' actions. Miami coach Larry Coker called the incident "disgraceful" and promptly suspended eight players who were involved in the fracas.
"There's no excuse for that kind of thing," said Coker. "I don't care who started it. All I know is that it should never have been taken that far. There was one guy out there beating people with a crutch. That's just sick. I mean, I suppose it was cool in a visceral, adrenaline pumping sort of way, but it's still bad for the game. Everybody knows fans don't like violence and bloodshed. That kind of thing just drives them away."
Florida International suspended 18 players after the fight. A tiny school from the Sun Belt Conference, FIU felt a game against the Hurricanes, their South Florida neighbors, would help create a friendly rivalry. Now they're having second thought about ever playing the Hurricanes again.
"This was supposed to be a friendly rivalry between two teams in the same region," said coach Don Strock. "Nobody had any idea it would turn out like this. We're not even in the same league as those guys. They recruit players from all over the country, while we recruit players from our own campus. Of course, both teams are to blame for this fiasco. We just didn't expect Miami to be such assholes. Did you see that guy bowing to the crowd after the touchdown? Dude, we're like a high school team. Get a clue. That would be like someone from Ohio State taking a bow after scoring a touchdown against the Hurricanes."
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