Coker suspends 8 Hurricanes for brawl

[Dback Jon]

CORAL GABLES, Fla. (AP) -- Miami coach Larry Coker said Sunday that at least eight Hurricane players will be suspended for their role in a sideline-clearing brawl against Florida International.

The fight came during Miami's 35-0 win Saturday night against Florida International, which plays across town. 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 -- would be suspended.

Coker also suspended safeties Anthony Reddick and Brandon Meriweather and fullback James Bryant.

The lengths of the suspensions have not been determined.

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

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.

But even after reviewing tape, it's impossible to say when tensions began escalating -- although Coker said there was an incident during pregame warmups where an FIU player collided with a Miami player. He declined to identify which players were involved.

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.

FIU's Marshall McDuffie Jr. charged in and kicked Perrelli in the helmet. Miami lineman Derrick Morse jumped onto the Smith-Perrelli pile, FIU's Lionel Singleton followed suit and threw a punch toward the head of the Hurricanes' Calais Campbell -- and benches began to empty.

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.

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

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.

 

[Dback Jon]

Wow - will FIU out-thug Miami?

 

[AZCB34]

It's not enough and quite frankly, the NCAA should step in and levy a huge penalty against both schools in order to set a precedent.

 

[Ryanwb]

It's not enough and quite frankly, the NCAA should step in and levy a huge penalty against both schools in order to set a precedent.

They should take away their bowl eligability for this season.

 

[boisesuns]

They should take away their bowl eligability for this season.

If Miami makes a bowl....

 

[Southpaw]

This will most likely cost Coker his job. The Board of Trustees is meeting today, and the Brawl is on the agenda. It will also cost Don Strock , the FIU HC his job , as it should. Pete Garcia , the assistant AD for Miami, just took over the job as AD at FIU and his first unenviable task has smacked him in the face. Don Strock walked into this game frustrated and wanted this brawl, knowing Miami was a willing participant.

There is absolutely no defense of this fiasco, but sadly it takes 2 to brawl and FIU is getting a free pass.

Larry Coker has just replaced Barry Switzer as the head coach who lost control of his players the most.

Time was the only cure for Miami's ugly national perception and it just got set back ten years, no matter whose fault it was. Just plain stupid and selfish. No excuses.

 

[Southpaw]

If Miami makes a bowl....

Shall we talk about Boise State's narrow escape last night? BCS peformance?????

 

[boisesuns]

Shall we talk about Boise State's narrow escape last night? BCS peformance?????

We didn't have our best game but we did go up against the best passing offense in the country "STAT wise." They normally run 80 plays a game, all of them no huddle and pass at least 65 of them.

You're right, we need to blow out these teams to keep impressing the voters/computers. If we stay in the high teens in the rankings, we will get jumped, by other teams.

Back to Miami. I agree wally that FIU was at fault as well. It does take two to fight. I wonder what led up to that sequence. Did you watch the game? All i've seen is the fight, but usually there something that triggers it before hand.

I had no idea they were talking about Cokers Job in this situation. Miami has to shake the reputation that they seem to live up to.

There was a wide receiver for NMSU last nigt that was shoving players, talking lots of trash and trying to start fights. Turns out he was a transfer from Miami.

Hopfully, the'll be able to move on from this and get things in order over there.

 

[Southpaw]

We didn't have our best game but we did go up against the best passing offense in the country "STAT wise." They normally run 80 plays a game, all of them no huddle and pass at least 65 of them.

You're right, we need to blow out these teams to keep impressing the voters/computers. If we stay in the high teens in the rankings, we will get jumped, by other teams.

Back to Miami. I agree wally that FIU was at fault as well. It does take two to fight. I wonder what led up to that sequence. Did you watch the game? All i've seen is the fight, but usually there something that triggers it before hand.

I had no idea they were talking about Cokers Job in this situation. Miami has to shake the reputation that they seem to live up to.

There was a wide receiver for NMSU last nigt that was shoving players, talking lots of trash and trying to start fights. Turns out he was a transfer from Miami.

Hopfully, the'll be able to move on from this and get things in order over there.

The lead up was a whole bunch of trash talking by both sides. Same old typical running through the pre game Miami huddle by FIU player., which was boring as all Hell, since every one does it. Late hits and cheap shots by FIU. Greg Olsen for Miami was taken off the field with a concussion on the first series when he was kicked in the head ( deliberately ) while on the ground.

Yapping and barking by both sides on every play.

Probably the most direct factor came after Miami scored it's second TD. James Bryant Miami FB, scored his first time all year, decided to taunt the FIU bench and play to the crowd. He was hit with a 15 yarder unsportsmanlike ( deserved ). On the ensuing PAT, FIU pummelled the placement holder, kicked him in the head on the ground, picked him up and body slammed him. No flag. Then all Hell broke loose . The rest is history. All of the thugs just did their thing from that point on. Fights in the stands. Police on the field. 30 minute delay. 13 players ejected right then . 8 players from FIU and 5 from Miami.

Coker is under huge heat. This may be the one that gets him.

The WR for New Mexico State is Akeem Jolla. He came to Miami, fairly well recruited but couldn't get past 3rd string in 3 years. He used the NCAA hardship exception ( Hurricane Katrina damaged his mother's home in Louisiana ) to transfer to NMSU without sitting out a year. Said he wanted to be closer to home. Figure that one out.

 

[boisesuns]

Sounds like there was plenty that led up to that. Do you think more Miami players should have been suspended? Wansn't it like 18 for FIU? I figured it wasn't all Miami in everything. It seems like some teams really dissrespect them. Maybe it goes both ways, but everything sounded like it got to a boiling point

I heard about the Jolla story last night. That's cool that they let him go play there becuase of his mom. He just seemed to be the one who was trying to start stuff.

 

[Southpaw]

Sounds like there was plenty that led up to that. Do you think more Miami players should have been suspended? Wansn't it like 18 for FIU? I figured it wasn't all Miami in everything. It seems like some teams really dissrespect them. Maybe it goes both ways, but everything sounded like it got to a boiling point

I heard about the Jolla story last night. That's cool that they let him go play there becuase of his mom. He just seemed to be the one who was trying to start stuff.

More Miami palyers were suspended by the University so far.

Posted on Mon, Oct. 16, 2006

UM-FIU FOOTBALL BRAWL
Suspensions handed down for fracas
Three starters are among the 13 Hurricanes who will miss the team's next game for their roles in the melee with FIU players.
BY BRIAN COSTA
[email protected]
START OF SOMETHING BIG: Saturday's brawl resulted in the suspension of 31 players from Miami and FIU.

Saturday's brawl resulted in the suspension of 31 players from Miami and FIU.


Thirteen University of Miami football players received one-game suspensions Sunday night for their involvement in Saturday's bench-clearing brawl with Florida International.

The suspensions, announced in a joint statement from the university and the Atlantic Coast Conference, will leave Miami without three starters from Saturday's game -- safety Brandon Meriweather, right guard Derrick Morse and punter Brian Monroe.

The ruling also will cause depth problems for the defensive secondary and offensive line as the Hurricanes prepare to face Duke on Saturday.

Earlier Sunday, UM coach Larry Coker called the brawl ``disgraceful.''

''That's not college football,'' Coker said. ``It's not what we represent at the University of Miami, and it will not be tolerated.''

The other players suspended were cornerbacks Bruce Johnson, Carlos Armour and Randy Phillips, running back Charlie Jones, offensive linemen Chris Barney and Tyrone Byrd, fullback James Bryant, tight end DajLeon Farr, wide receiver Ryan Hill and safety Anthony Reddick.

Wide receiver Lance Leggett, who threw a running punch at an FIU player toward the end of the brawl, was not suspended.

Coker announced the suspensions of Reddick, Meriweather and Bryant on Sunday morning just based on TV replays after the game. Later in the day, UM and ACC officials reviewed tapes of the incident and reached a joint decision on the other players.

ACC commissioner John Swofford told The Miami Herald he met Sunday with the league's head of officials, Tommy Hunt, to review video of the fight. Swofford said a Sun Belt Conference official also attended the meeting at the ACC's Greensboro, N.C., office, and that the leagues discussed how each would handle the incident.

The Sun Belt Conference and FIU gave the same punishment -- one-game suspensions -- to 18 Golden Panthers players.

When asked for his reaction to what he saw on tape Sunday, Swofford said, ``Disgust. Disappointment. I think anybody that cares about the game, you look at that and you know right off it's something that doesn't belong in college football.''

Saturday's slugfest was the latest in a series of troubling incidents for Miami. The Hurricanes got into a scuffle with LSU after last year's Peach Bowl and exchanged pregame shoves with Louisville last month.

Still, Coker defended himself when asked about his level of control over the program. ''I do have a grip on this program,'' Coker said. ``Don't ever doubt that. Don't ever doubt that.''

The brawl started in the third quarter when the Hurricanes took a 14-0 lead on Jon Peattie's extra-point kick. The fight escalated so quickly that it was difficult to point to one altercation as the cause. But players from both teams rushed the field after FIU defensive back Chris Smith pummeled UM holder Matt Perelli.

''They actually slam-dunked our holder,'' Coker said. ``They grabbed our holder and actually did lift him up and threw him to the ground.''

FIU players on Sunday said Hurricanes center Anthony Wollschlager set off the melee when he shoved Golden Panthers defensive back Marshall McDuffie Jr. during the extra point.

But Coker said FIU set the tone for the night when a Golden Panthers player ran through Miami's pregame warm-up area ''talking noise'' and shoved a UM player.

''I think you've got a lot of players from their team frustrated because they're not here, and maybe weren't recruited,'' Coker said. ``As the game started to get away from them, I was very concerned that something like this might happen.''

UM athletic director Paul Dee did not point fingers but called the brawl unfortunate. ''I wish we hadn't reacted the way that we did,'' he said.

The game was the first between the two local schools, and there is another game scheduled for next season. But it is now questionable whether it will be played.

Dee and Coker said they will discuss the matter with university president Donna Shalala and did not want to rush to a decision.

But when asked what UM has to gain from the matchup, Coker said, ``Nothing. A home game. I mean, really, what do we have to gain? The only thing [we gained] now is we've lost several players for the next game at Duke.''

Jolla took advantage of a ruling and Miami let him. Can't figure out how Albuquerque is closer to home than Miami. I am sure he was the one starting stuff. At Miami he was all talk, no production.

 

[boisesuns]

Interesting. I think #19 on Miami who was stomping on people and the other guy who swung his helmet #26 (I think) should be gone for the year. Hopefully some cameras can catch some FIU players, becuase they probably did many bad things themselves.


I see 13 Miami players suspended to 18 from FIU.

 

[Southpaw]

Interesting. I think #19 on Miami who was stomping on people and the other guy who swung his helmet #26 (I think) should be gone for the year. Hopefully some cameras can catch some FIU players, becuase they probably did many bad things themselves.


I see 13 Miami players suspended to 18 from FIU.

#19 is Brandon Merriweather, the guy who earlier shot at the intruder in his backyard. # 26 is Anthony Reddick and there is discussion about ending their years. Merriweather is a senior ( nice senior leadership). Reddick is a Sophomore.
How stupid does one have to be to take off their own helmet in a brawl?

 

[Dback Jon]

Wow - players suspended for the Duke game That is some punishment.


What a joke. Suspensions should have been at least 3 games for most of the players.

 

[Southpaw]

Wow - players suspended for the Duke game That is some punishment.


What a joke. Suspensions should have been at least 3 games for most of the players.

Patience grasshopper. It ain't over. Do you have any questions about FIU players?

BTW, that is the NCAA and ACC rule. Any other punishment would come from within the Universities ( plural ). FIU has done nothing, nada, nyet. Miami's Board of Regents is meeting today to discuss the incident and recommend action. FIU board of Regents will be meeting at Calle Ocho Cafe in Little Havana for Cuban Coffee and snacks to pat each other on the back for a good brawl.

FIU suspnesions were handed down by the Sun Belt Conference.

 

[boisesuns]

#19 is Brandon Merriweather, the guy who earlier shot at the intruder in his backyard. # 26 is Anthony Reddick and there is discussion about ending their years. Merriweather is a senior ( nice senior leadership). Reddick is a Sophomore.
How stupid does one have to be to take off their own helmet in a brawl?

What stinks is that some of the things that happened that LED to the brawl might get overlooked. I think provoking or starting it (some things FIU did as it sounds) deserve some kind of suspension as well.

 

[Dback Jon]

Patience grasshopper. It ain't over. Do you have any questions about FIU players?

BTW, that is the NCAA and ACC rule. Any other punishment would come from within the Universities ( plural ). FIU has done nothing, nada, nyet. Miami's Board of Regents is meeting today to discuss the incident and recommend action. FIU board of Regents will be meeting at Calle Ocho Cafe in Little Havana for Cuban Coffee and snacks to pat each other on the back for a good brawl.

FIU suspnesions were handed down by the Sun Belt Conference.

Do anyone really care about FIU?

And yes, they should be out for at least 3 games as well. They are going to get blown out by Alabama regardless.

 

[Southpaw]

Do anyone really care about FIU?

And yes, they should be out for at least 3 games as well. They are going to get blown out by Alabama regardless.

They should if they want to discuss the " problem " fairly.

 

[Dback Jon]

Updated: Oct. 17, 2006, 2:53 AM ET
Miami extends Reddick's suspension; FIU dismisses 2ESPN.com news services


CORAL GABLES, Fla. -- The University of Miami extended the suspension of one player and said further disciplinary measures will be taken in the wake of a sideline-clearing brawl with Florida International.


Sophomore safety Anthony Reddick was suspended indefinitely following further consultation Monday with the Atlantic Coast Conference, the school said. Reddick charged across the field, helmet raised over his head, and slammed it into an opposing player during the melee.


Meanwhile, the Golden Panthers took a much harsher stance -- dismissing two players, Chris Smith and Marshall McDuffie Jr., and extending the suspensions of all other 16 sanctioned players indefinitely.

The 16 suspended FIU players will be placed on athletic probation for the remainder of the academic calendar year, must complete 10 hours of anger management counseling, and will undertake a community service project to educate South Florida youth on appropriate behavior as related to athletics, the Miami Herald reported on its Web site Monday.


"This is certainly embarrassing. It's disgraceful. It's amazing. I've run out of words," FIU coach Don Strock said. "There's no place for it in college football or football period. This is way overboard. I apologize to all the fans of college football for this taking place."


Smith and McDuffie will remain on scholarship at FIU.


One-game suspensions for Reddick and 12 Miami teammates were announced Sunday. Other disciplinary measures for the players may include community service and other unspecified actions, the school said in a statement.


Miami president Donna Shalala said in an open letter that the fight was "outrageous."


"Regardless of who started it, this was an embarrassing display of unsportsmanlike behavior," Shalala wrote. "Fortunately there were no injuries."


The ACC and Miami (4-2) suspended Reddick, Carlos Armour, Chris Barney, James Bryant, Tyrone Byrd, DajLeon Farr, Ryan Hill, Bruce Johnson, Charlie Jones, Brandon Meriweather, Brian Monroe, Derrick Morse and Randy Phillips.


All will miss Saturday's game at winless Duke.


"These suspensions send a clear and definitive message that this type of behavior will not be tolerated," Swofford said.


In addition to McDuffie and Chris Smith, the Sun Belt Conference and FIU (0-7) suspended Michael Alls, Scott Bryant, Roland Clark, Michael Dominquez, John Ellis, Cory Fleming, Reginald Jones, Robert Mitchell, Quintin Newman, Luis Pena, Jarvis Penerton, Julian Reams, Lionell Singleton, Samuel Smith, Mannie Wellington and Chandler Williams.


They'll miss FIU's next game Oct. 28 at Alabama.


"There is no place in higher education for the type of conduct exhibited," Sun Belt commissioner Wright Waters said.


The NCAA, in a statement released Monday, called the fight "wholly unacceptable."


"It is hoped that the actions taken by Miami, FIU and the conferences will send a message that such behavior is not tolerated," the NCAA statement said.


There were many instances of heated words being exchanged during -- and before -- the game.


But shortly after halftime, unsportsmanlike turned into unruly.


Bryant bowed to the crowd after catching a touchdown pass with 9 minutes left in the third quarter. Moments later, Chris Smith wrestled Miami holder Matt Perrelli to the ground and punched him, and McDuffie kicked Perrelli in the helmet.


"For us," FIU athletic director Pete Garcia said, "one incident is one incident too many."


Morse jumped onto the Smith-Perrelli pile, Singleton followed and tried to punch the Hurricanes' Calais Campbell -- and benches began to empty.


"It's a real embarrassment," FIU linebacker Keyonvis Bouie said, "especially for our school. ... I'm just really disgusted with our players and the way we handled the situation."


Several players from both sides appeared to throw punches. Meriweather was seen attempting to stomp on FIU players, while an injured Golden Panther swung a crutch menacingly at several Miami players.


The suspensions come at a terrible time for Miami, which has six ACC games remaining -- and probably needs five wins to even have a chance at playing for the conference title.


Yes, Miami is playing winless Duke next. But the Hurricanes will play that game without their best kick returner (Johnson), their second-best running back (Jones), two key secondary members (Meriweather and Randy Phillips), their right guard (Morse) and their punter (Monroe).



Plus, starting right tackle Jason Fox and linebacker Jon Beason were injured in Saturday's game. While Fox's availability for the Duke game isn't known, Beason is expected to miss at least three weeks with a torn ACL, ESPN's Joe Schad reports. Beason, one of Miami's best defensive players, was not injured in the brawl.


Suddenly, what could have been an easy game doesn't look so easy anymore.


Meanwhile, FIU would have been a big underdog at Alabama anyway, but now will visit the Crimson Tide without nearly half of its regular starting lineup.


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


It's the latest in a disturbing series of incidents for Miami in recent months.


• Several Miami players fought with LSU players following the Tigers' 40-3 Peach Bowl win.


• Shortly before the Miami-Louisville game Sept. 16, virtually the entire Hurricanes' roster jumped on the Cardinals logo at midfield, an act widely viewed as a taunting gesture. Afterward, some Miami players chided teammates for that incident.


• A Miami player, Willie Cooper, was shot outside his home shortly before training camp began in what players contend was a robbery attempt. Meriweather returned fire; police said he acted legally.


• Wide receiver Ryan Moore, who was suspended for the Peach Bowl for violating team rules, then suspended again for other infractions, is expected to be charged this week with misdemeanors stemming from an August fight with a woman. He hasn't played this season.


And now, perhaps, comes the worst blow.


Still, Miami coach Larry Coker -- who has been under fire all season and whose job security seems to be a constant source of speculation -- bristled when asked if he has control of his team.


"I do have a grip on this program," Coker said. "Don't ever doubt that. Don't ever doubt that."


About two dozen members of the University of Miami board of trustees met for two hours on Monday morning, spending the last 30 minutes discussing Saturday's ugly brawl with Florida International and the future of Hurricanes coach Larry Coker.

According to the trustee who attended the meeting, President Donna Shalala said: "Nobody's job is in jeopardy now."

Shalala, the trustee said, is standing by her committment to Coker, at least through this season, adding that the fight was "embarrassing" but "not cause for dismissal."

 

[Dback Jon]

Looks like FIU is stepping up the punishments - OK Miami - if you don't do anything else, your program should be shut down by the NCAA.

 

[Southpaw]

Looks like FIU is stepping up the punishments - OK Miami - if you don't do anything else, your program should be shut down by the NCAA.

How about Clemson and South Carolina's brawl. Ooops, that didn't make anyone's headlines.

 

[Dback Jon]

How about Clemson and South Carolina's brawl. Ooops, that didn't make anyone's headlines.

Sure it did - even a thread on here.

 

[Southpaw]

Sure it did - even a thread on here.

Should they have been shut down?

 

[Dback Jon]

Should they have been shut down?

This was the first incident for both schools, not the fiftieth. And both schools declined bowl invitations. Miami is a program out of control, and backers like you are blind to it.

 

[Southpaw]

This was the first incident for both schools, not the fiftieth. And both schools declined bowl invitations. Miami is a program out of control, and backers like you are blind to it.

Wow Jon. Where do you get all of the hate? No where on this thread have I
"backed them". Show me where I did. You have shown a hatred for Miami for a long time. Whatever. My only point is that a whole bunch of people are in a frenzy, over a media driven hype job. The punishment fits the crime quite well. The ACC is satisfied. The NCAA is satisfied.

I have a real good idea where the hate comes from for some , but ain't taking a guess where yours comes from. Your label of Miami is "out of control" is quite overboard.

BTW, FIU has done nothing extraordinary. Their punishments were quite adequate, when the intricacies of the brawl are dissected. The man handing down the self imposed punishment for FIU, was a long time employee of the U of M athletic department, who took the job at FIU last week. So he must have learned something while at Miami.

Any discussions I have had with other Miami fans down here would indicate that I thought the whole incident reeked, but I will flat ass tell you it is totally overblown. No one on that field was carried off on a stretcher. Not even taken for medical attention. It had the potential to be a lot worse. It was about 50 football players playing the testosterone game and nothing more.

BTW, 50th. Please. If you don't think incidents are going on all over the place, not just brawls on TV, then you are being quite naive. If you are basing this on the LSU Peach Bowl then you are being hypocritical. 12 LSU players put 2 Miami players in the hospital after assaulting them in the tunnel after the game. There was absolutely no punishment for those players from LSU. No biggie, though, huh.

Miami didn't need to participate in a brawl and won't ever again unless they want permanent suspension as laid down by Administration. I wonder how many other schools have a similar official policy in place. Do you.

P.S. Lamar Thomas who was the 2nd voice on the national telecast was terminated for inflammatory comments during the telecast. This is the same Thomas who played for Miami years ago, but has been rebuffed by Miami as an assistant coach candidate because of his character. I guess Miami got something right, and CSS didn't.