Miami-FIU Brawl [College Football]

[dada]

Didnt see anyone post this so might as well to see what views anyone has.

Coker: At least eight Canes to be suspended for brawl
ESPN.com news services



CORAL GABLES, Fla. -- At least eight Miami players will be suspended for their role in a sideline-clearing brawl against Florida International, the latest on-field incident to plague the Hurricanes' program.

"I don't have many bad days. This is a bad day."
-- Larry Coker

The fight -- "disgraceful," Miami coach Larry Coker said -- came during Miami's 35-0 win Saturday night over FIU, which is based 9 miles from the Hurricanes' campus in Coral Gables.

It was the first meeting between the teams.

Coker said the five players ejected in the fight -- offensive linemen Derrick Morse and Chris Barney, running back Charlie Jones, and cornerbacks Carlos Armour and Bruce Johnson -- were ejected from the game, drawing automatic suspensions.

After reviewing tape of the incident, Coker decided to levy suspensions against safeties Anthony Reddick and Brandon Meriweather and H-back James Bryant.

The lengths of the suspensions have not been determined. More suspensions are possible, Coker said.

"I don't have many bad days," Coker said Sunday. "This is a bad day."

Miami was involved in a postgame altercation at last year's Peach Bowl against LSU and a pregame incident at Louisville this season.

"We've got a strong grip on this program," Coker said. "Although this is obviously a setback."

Coker was asked why he felt the incident took place. He began his remarks by saying FIU is a cross-town rival and that "you've got players on their team who wanted to be here."

Coker said it all began when an FIU player shoved and taunted a Miami player in pregame warmups.

"When it got away," Coker said, "was when they slam-dunked our holder, grabbed him, lifted him up and threw him to the ground."

Miami Director of Athletics Paul Dee said the school is waiting to review a complete video of the incident.

Dee has spoken with ACC commissioner John Swofford and the Miami president Donna Shalala. He said that discipline will be a joint action with the conference.

Coker added that he did not have a full grasp of the incident from the field yesterday and had a different perspective after watching television replays.

The fight marred what was supposed to be the beginning of a friendly rivalry between two schools with players who grew up battling each other on high school fields in South Florida.

There were many instances of heated words being exchanged from the game's opening minutes, especially after FIU's Chandler Williams -- one of the eight Golden Panthers who'd later be ejected -- dived helmet-first at prone Miami defender Kenny Phillips following a first-quarter interception.

But later, unsportsmanlike turned into unruly -- or worse.

Bryant pointed at the FIU bench and bowed to the crowd after catching a touchdown pass with 9 minutes left in the third quarter -- which earned his suspension, Coker said.

"He needs to get the message," Coker said.

After the Miami extra point put the Hurricanes up 14-0, pushing and shoving broke out among linemen. Moments later, FIU's Chris Smith wrestled Miami holder Matt Perrelli to the ground and punched him in the chin.

With that, the fracas was on.

"It was totally started by FIU," Miami linebacker Jon Beason said Saturday night.

FIU's Marshall McDuffie Jr. kicked Perrelli in the helmet. Morse jumped onto the Smith-Perrelli pile, FIU's Lionel Singleton followed and tried to punch the Hurricanes' Calais Campbell -- and benches began to empty.

"You've got to back up each other," said Miami quarterback Kyle Wright, who acknowledged he grabbed his helmet and went on the field, but it did not appear he was involved in any altercations. "You're not just going to sit out there and let guys get beat up."

Several players appeared to throw punches, including Miami's Bryant, DajLeon Farr and Ryan Hill, and Meriweather was seen attempting to stomp on FIU players. At least two FIU players were seen throwing punches on the far side of the field, and another swung a crutch menacingly.

Meanwhile, Reddick charged across the field, helmet raised high over his head, and slammed it into FIU cornerback Robert Mitchell.

"It was disgraceful. I'm very disappointed," Coker said. "It will be dealt with."

Florida International's ejected players were Williams, Singleton, Smith, McDuffie Jr., fullback John Ellis, linebacker Mannie Wellington, tight end Samuel Smith and defensive end Jarvis Penerton.

Officials from both universities issued public apologies after the game.

"I can promise you," FIU coach Don Strock said, "that this will never happen again."

It's the third on-field incident involving the Hurricanes in their last seven games.

Several Miami players fought with LSU players following the Tigers' 40-3 win in the Peach Bowl, a brawl that quickly escalated into an out-of-control melee in the tunnel leading from the field.

And shortly before the Miami-Louisville game on Sept. 16, virtually the entire Hurricanes' roster jumped on the Cardinals logo at midfield -- an act that was widely viewed as a taunting gesture. Afterward, several Miami players chided teammates for their involvement in that incident.

Information from The Associated Press and ESPN college football reporter Joe Schad was used in this report.




CORAL GABLES, Fla. -- At least eight Miami players will be suspended for their role in a sideline-clearing brawl against Florida International, the latest on-field incident to plague the Hurricanes' program.

The fight -- "disgraceful," Miami coach Larry Coker said -- came during Miami's 35-0 win Saturday night over FIU, which is based 9 miles from the Hurricanes' campus in Coral Gables.

It was the first meeting between the teams.

Coker said the five players ejected in the fight -- offensive linemen Derrick Morse and Chris Barney, running back Charlie Jones, and cornerbacks Carlos Armour and Bruce Johnson -- were ejected from the game, drawing automatic suspensions.

After reviewing tape of the incident, Coker decided to levy suspensions against safeties Anthony Reddick and Brandon Meriweather and H-back James Bryant.

The lengths of the suspensions have not been determined. More suspensions are possible, Coker said.

"I don't have many bad days," Coker said Sunday. "This is a bad day."

Miami was involved in a postgame altercation at last year's Peach Bowl against LSU and a pregame incident at Louisville this season.

"We've got a strong grip on this program," Coker said. "Although this is obviously a setback."

Coker was asked why he felt the incident took place. He began his remarks by saying FIU is a cross-town rival and that "you've got players on their team who wanted to be here."

Coker said it all began when an FIU player shoved and taunted a Miami player in pregame warmups.

"When it got away," Coker said, "was when they slam-dunked our holder, grabbed him, lifted him up and threw him to the ground."

Miami Director of Athletics Paul Dee said the school is waiting to review a complete video of the incident.

Dee has spoken with ACC commissioner John Swofford and the Miami president Donna Shalala. He said that discipline will be a joint action with the conference.

Coker added that he did not have a full grasp of the incident from the field yesterday and had a different perspective after watching television replays.

The fight marred what was supposed to be the beginning of a friendly rivalry between two schools with players who grew up battling each other on high school fields in South Florida.

There were many instances of heated words being exchanged from the game's opening minutes, especially after FIU's Chandler Williams -- one of the eight Golden Panthers who'd later be ejected -- dived helmet-first at prone Miami defender Kenny Phillips following a first-quarter interception.

But later, unsportsmanlike turned into unruly -- or worse.

Bryant pointed at the FIU bench and bowed to the crowd after catching a touchdown pass with 9 minutes left in the third quarter -- which earned his suspension, Coker said.

"He needs to get the message," Coker said.

After the Miami extra point put the Hurricanes up 14-0, pushing and shoving broke out among linemen. Moments later, FIU's Chris Smith wrestled Miami holder Matt Perrelli to the ground and punched him in the chin.

With that, the fracas was on.

"It was totally started by FIU," Miami linebacker Jon Beason said Saturday night.

FIU's Marshall McDuffie Jr. kicked Perrelli in the helmet. Morse jumped onto the Smith-Perrelli pile, FIU's Lionel Singleton followed and tried to punch the Hurricanes' Calais Campbell -- and benches began to empty.

"You've got to back up each other," said Miami quarterback Kyle Wright, who acknowledged he grabbed his helmet and went on the field, but it did not appear he was involved in any altercations. "You're not just going to sit out there and let guys get beat up."

Several players appeared to throw punches, including Miami's Bryant, DajLeon Farr and Ryan Hill, and Meriweather was seen attempting to stomp on FIU players. At least two FIU players were seen throwing punches on the far side of the field, and another swung a crutch menacingly.

Meanwhile, Reddick charged across the field, helmet raised high over his head, and slammed it into FIU cornerback Robert Mitchell.

"It was disgraceful. I'm very disappointed," Coker said. "It will be dealt with."

Florida International's ejected players were Williams, Singleton, Smith, McDuffie Jr., fullback John Ellis, linebacker Mannie Wellington, tight end Samuel Smith and defensive end Jarvis Penerton.

Officials from both universities issued public apologies after the game.

"I can promise you," FIU coach Don Strock said, "that this will never happen again."

It's the third on-field incident involving the Hurricanes in their last seven games.

Several Miami players fought with LSU players following the Tigers' 40-3 win in the Peach Bowl, a brawl that quickly escalated into an out-of-control melee in the tunnel leading from the field.

And shortly before the Miami-Louisville game on Sept. 16, virtually the entire Hurricanes' roster jumped on the Cardinals logo at midfield -- an act that was widely viewed as a taunting gesture. Afterward, several Miami players chided teammates for their involvement in that incident.

Information from The Associated Press and ESPN college football reporter Joe Schad was used in this report.

[KIG1]

It both of their faults, and it was a brutal fight. The bow was uneeded, but you have to control yourself if your Fla INT.

[dada]

Forgot to put an option for both .

I dont understand, what was so offensive about the bow? I mean, he wasnt flipping the bird or imitating taking a poop on their logo or something. Considering how FIU was acting pregame and in the game its almost expected he would do something to basically tell the FIU fans and team to settle themselves after all the taunting that was going on. I've seen guys run over to opposing fans plenty of times and it didnt lead to that kind of brawl after they went after the UM players on the xp. I feel like FIU were looking for trouble to begin with. That coach or whover may be right when he said alot of those guys have a grudge because they wanted to be on that team. All what happened was in no way a necessary response to a bow.

[KIG1]

Well I never said it was disrespectful, it was just uneeded. FIU started it pretty much, but Miami was beating the FIU players more brutally. Brandon Merriweather has slipped in my mock because of his violence. Reddick might not play the rest of the year.

[Fitzy]

i dont follow college football but heres a youtube video:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-CvKD8Wzm1I
wouldnt wanna fight with some of those offensive linemen

[shadowgrin]

another swung a crutch menacingly.

Whoa.

I don't find what's wrong with the bow. It's not as if he was standing on the logo and then bowed to the crowd.

[Jing]

goddamn that escalated quickly.


That guy who swung the helmet on camera.. lucky he just missed the FIU dude's head

[Jugs]

That brawl was nuts.

[---]

I wonder if anyone actually got hurt? They are all padded up and the worst hits I saw one guy take was getting kicked in the head, but he had his helmet on. Still pretty crazy brawl

[koberulz]

Coker said the five players ejected in the fight -- offensive linemen Derrick Morse and Chris Barney, running back Charlie Jones, and cornerbacks Carlos Armour and Bruce Johnson -- were ejected from the game

Translation: the five ejected players were ejected. sheer brilliance of a sentence, that.
and yeah, a suspension for bowing? wtf is that?