Mike
Well-known member
These two teams need to be eliminated from college football for a few years and send a message:
MIAMI (AP) -- South Florida's newest rivalry has already overheated.
Miami beat Florida International 35-0 Saturday night in a game marred by a wild brawl in the third quarter that had fists flying, helmets swinging and even crutches being used as weapons.
In all, 13 players were ejected -- eight from FIU, five from Miami, and each will likely face one-game suspensions. Officials from both conferences, the Atlantic Coast and Sun Belt, are expected to review the game tape to determine if additional sanctions are necessary.
"It was something that neither of us wanted," Miami coach Larry Coker said.
Kyle Wright had three touchdown passes for the Hurricanes (4-2), who set a season-high for points against a Division I-A opponent. Lance Leggett had two touchdown catches for Miami.
It was the first meeting between the programs, whose campuses are 9 miles apart and have rosters almost entirely filled with players from Miami-Dade and Broward counties, the two largest in South Florida. Tensions were high throughout the night, with several occurrences of heated words being exchanged after plays ended.
But those verbal jousts were nothing compared with what happened with 9:00 left in the third.
"It was a great game," FIU quarterback Josh Padrick said, "until 9 minutes left in the third quarter."
James Bryant caught a 5-yard touchdown pass from Wright, then drew a 15-yard flag for unsportsmanlike conduct. After making the catch, he appeared to point at the FIU (0-7) bench, then took a theatrical bow toward the stands.
"It's not our fault," said Miami's Kenny Phillips, who had an interception. "Whatever it was, it wasn't us."
Moments later, Jon Peattie kicked the extra point and the melee began; replays showed an FIU player crashing into Miami holder Matt Perrelli. Pushing among players quickly turned into punches, both sidelines quickly emptied and several fights broke out.
"I have no idea how it happened," FIU coach Don Strock said.
The brawl lasted about five minutes, and it took officials several more minutes to sort out the penalties. More than two dozen uniformed police officers came onto the field, trying to end the fights, and at least one incident of fan fighting broke out in the Orange Bowl stands.
"Shocked, anger, both, all the emotions," Coker said when asked what he felt watching the melee. "College football doesn't need it, FIU doesn't need it and certainly we don't need it. It's just not the way we wanted this game to unfold. Obviously we're very happy with the win but we didn't want the altercation."
Police officers, including some wearing helmets, continued to surround the perimeter of the field for the remainder of the game.
Florida International's ejected players were wide receiver Chandler Williams, defensive backs Lionell Singleton, Chris Smith and Marshall McDuffie Jr., fullback John Ellis, linebacker Mannie Wellington, tight end Samuel Smith and defensive end Jarvis Penerton.
"Whatever penalty is handed down, especially from us, we're going to make it the most severe," Strock said. "We don't condone that. It's embarrassing."
The ejected Miami players were offensive linemen Derrick Morse and Chris Barney, running back Charlie Jones, and cornerbacks Carlos Armour and Bruce Johnson.
"This won't be a big negative on the University of Miami," Coker said. "I'll put it that way."
Wright said "there was a little bit of talking back and forth" in the 2½ quarters before the fight, but said he didn't envision a scenario where tensions would get that high.
But he added that he believed FIU was the side primarily at fault during the fight.
"It's something they started," Wright said. "And our guys finished it. ... They're going home with a 35-0 loss and they're 0-7."
Police did not immediately announce if any fans were arrested. A holding area was set up at the Orange Bowl to detain anyone ejected and Miami Police had between 80 and 100 officers at the game, officials said.
Shortly after the game, new FIU athletic director Pete Garcia -- who left his associate AD post at Miami this past week to join the Golden Panthers -- issued an apology on behalf of the university and its president, Mitch Madique.
Garcia added that he would evaluate what happened before deciding whether to continue the rivalry.
"They were gracious enough to grant us these games," Garcia said. "They didn't have to and this is how we repay them. I don't care whose fault it is. At FIU we don't condone this kind of behavior."
Wright was 14-of-22 for 117 yards for Miami, which won its season-best third straight game. Leggett (seven catches) and Sam Shields (five) each had 77 receiving yards for the Hurricanes.
Chris Zellner also had a touchdown catch for Miami, and Derron Thomas' 11-yard TD run late in the fourth quarter capped the scoring.
Miami's defense held FIU to 114 yards in recording its first shutout win since Sept. 18, 2004 -- a 48-0 win over Louisiana Tech.
Julian Reams had 21 carries for 45 yards to lead FIU. Josh Padrick completed 12 of 25 passes for 86 yards for the Golden Panthers.
The teams are scheduled to play again Oct. 6, 2007 at the Orange Bowl.
MIAMI (AP) -- South Florida's newest rivalry has already overheated.
Miami beat Florida International 35-0 Saturday night in a game marred by a wild brawl in the third quarter that had fists flying, helmets swinging and even crutches being used as weapons.
In all, 13 players were ejected -- eight from FIU, five from Miami, and each will likely face one-game suspensions. Officials from both conferences, the Atlantic Coast and Sun Belt, are expected to review the game tape to determine if additional sanctions are necessary.
"It was something that neither of us wanted," Miami coach Larry Coker said.
Kyle Wright had three touchdown passes for the Hurricanes (4-2), who set a season-high for points against a Division I-A opponent. Lance Leggett had two touchdown catches for Miami.
It was the first meeting between the programs, whose campuses are 9 miles apart and have rosters almost entirely filled with players from Miami-Dade and Broward counties, the two largest in South Florida. Tensions were high throughout the night, with several occurrences of heated words being exchanged after plays ended.
But those verbal jousts were nothing compared with what happened with 9:00 left in the third.
"It was a great game," FIU quarterback Josh Padrick said, "until 9 minutes left in the third quarter."
James Bryant caught a 5-yard touchdown pass from Wright, then drew a 15-yard flag for unsportsmanlike conduct. After making the catch, he appeared to point at the FIU (0-7) bench, then took a theatrical bow toward the stands.
"It's not our fault," said Miami's Kenny Phillips, who had an interception. "Whatever it was, it wasn't us."
Moments later, Jon Peattie kicked the extra point and the melee began; replays showed an FIU player crashing into Miami holder Matt Perrelli. Pushing among players quickly turned into punches, both sidelines quickly emptied and several fights broke out.
"I have no idea how it happened," FIU coach Don Strock said.
The brawl lasted about five minutes, and it took officials several more minutes to sort out the penalties. More than two dozen uniformed police officers came onto the field, trying to end the fights, and at least one incident of fan fighting broke out in the Orange Bowl stands.
"Shocked, anger, both, all the emotions," Coker said when asked what he felt watching the melee. "College football doesn't need it, FIU doesn't need it and certainly we don't need it. It's just not the way we wanted this game to unfold. Obviously we're very happy with the win but we didn't want the altercation."
Police officers, including some wearing helmets, continued to surround the perimeter of the field for the remainder of the game.
Florida International's ejected players were wide receiver Chandler Williams, defensive backs Lionell Singleton, Chris Smith and Marshall McDuffie Jr., fullback John Ellis, linebacker Mannie Wellington, tight end Samuel Smith and defensive end Jarvis Penerton.
"Whatever penalty is handed down, especially from us, we're going to make it the most severe," Strock said. "We don't condone that. It's embarrassing."
The ejected Miami players were offensive linemen Derrick Morse and Chris Barney, running back Charlie Jones, and cornerbacks Carlos Armour and Bruce Johnson.
"This won't be a big negative on the University of Miami," Coker said. "I'll put it that way."
Wright said "there was a little bit of talking back and forth" in the 2½ quarters before the fight, but said he didn't envision a scenario where tensions would get that high.
But he added that he believed FIU was the side primarily at fault during the fight.
"It's something they started," Wright said. "And our guys finished it. ... They're going home with a 35-0 loss and they're 0-7."
Police did not immediately announce if any fans were arrested. A holding area was set up at the Orange Bowl to detain anyone ejected and Miami Police had between 80 and 100 officers at the game, officials said.
Shortly after the game, new FIU athletic director Pete Garcia -- who left his associate AD post at Miami this past week to join the Golden Panthers -- issued an apology on behalf of the university and its president, Mitch Madique.
Garcia added that he would evaluate what happened before deciding whether to continue the rivalry.
"They were gracious enough to grant us these games," Garcia said. "They didn't have to and this is how we repay them. I don't care whose fault it is. At FIU we don't condone this kind of behavior."
Wright was 14-of-22 for 117 yards for Miami, which won its season-best third straight game. Leggett (seven catches) and Sam Shields (five) each had 77 receiving yards for the Hurricanes.
Chris Zellner also had a touchdown catch for Miami, and Derron Thomas' 11-yard TD run late in the fourth quarter capped the scoring.
Miami's defense held FIU to 114 yards in recording its first shutout win since Sept. 18, 2004 -- a 48-0 win over Louisiana Tech.
Julian Reams had 21 carries for 45 yards to lead FIU. Josh Padrick completed 12 of 25 passes for 86 yards for the Golden Panthers.
The teams are scheduled to play again Oct. 6, 2007 at the Orange Bowl.