Miami - Florida International brawl

[Skrappy1]

Anyone actually watch this game? Looks like it was a pretty good brawl, you can see the video "highlights" of the brawl on ESPN.com, it's a java pop-up video though, so I can't link to it.

 

After bench-clearing brawl, Miami polishes off FIU

 

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.

 

[neilfish2]

All I have to say, is that the Miami team is a bunch of F'IN THUGS. That is all they recruit. I want too say more but I would be concidered a racist.....

Edited October 15, 2006 by neilfish2

[Donutrun Jellies]

Didn't FIU sell the right to humiliate its players as part of scheduling this game? Isn't that part of what regular schools give up in order to be patsies on the schedule-padding of powerhouses?

 

Tooooo bad the FIU players didn't understand they'd been thrown to the wolves for profit.

 

Tooooo bad Miami players can't ever seem to find class -- either academically or as athletes, regardless of who's coaching.

 

If either had been true, the play would have been a 15-yard late hit penalty on FIU offsetting the previous penalty for unsportsmanlike conduct on miami ... rather, it becomes a brawl. Yeah, yeah, yeah -- "nobody gets away with disrespecting me" ... "you gotta protect your crib" ... We've heard it before and that rap doesn't rhyme. Shut up and play football -- have some class when you're humiliating a team and part of that is walking away when their frustrations boil, especially if your taunting has led to it.

[Rockerbraves]

Didn't FIU sell the right to humiliate its players as part of scheduling this game? Isn't that part of what regular schools give up in order to be patsies on the schedule-padding of powerhouses?

 

Tooooo bad the FIU players didn't understand they'd been thrown to the wolves for profit.

 

Tooooo bad Miami players can't ever seem to find class -- either academically or as athletes, regardless of who's coaching.

 

If either had been true, the play would have been a 15-yard late hit penalty on FIU offsetting the previous penalty for unsportsmanlike conduct on miami ... rather, it becomes a brawl. Yeah, yeah, yeah -- "nobody gets away with disrespecting me" ... "you gotta protect your crib" ... We've heard it before and that rap doesn't rhyme. Shut up and play football -- have some class when you're humiliating a team and part of that is walking away when their frustrations boil, especially if your taunting has led to it.

 

 

+1

 

Anyone remember last year's Peach Bowl? Miami was involved in this one too and the LSU player involved was from MIAMI?

 

Trash-talking between players grew into a postgame brawl in the LSU tunnel, and Larry Coker, coach of No. 9 Miami, said two of his players were knocked unconscious.

 

There were shoves and punches between players immediately after the game as the teams left the field by the same tunnel. Georgia State Patrol officers intervened, and minutes later Miami's Andrew Bain, apparently dazed, was escorted by officers back out of the tunnel.

 

Coker said Bain and Miami's Khalil Jones were knocked unconscious, and the coach said no players were detained by police. No players were hospitalized.

 

"I don't know what happened and I don't condone it," Coker said.

 

LSU's Jacob Hester, who ran for 70 yards and a touchdown said trash-talking, some involving LSU receiver Dwayne Bowe, a Miami native, began as good-natured fun.

 

"We had a guy who is from Miami who was kidding around with one of his boys," Hester said. "Miami thought it was something serious. They came in the tunnel and they were swinging, but it was just a joke between friends."

Edited October 15, 2006 by Rockerbraves

['canes2004]

We just got back from the game. I'm a little foggy from the drive and the night out last night but all and all it was quite an entertaining evening. We arrived early like we usually do just to hang out, dring beers , check out and take pictures of the players during warm-ups. It's usually pretty laid back and alot of the players will come over to the sidelines and pose for pics, sign stuff etc.. Last night was weird from the start. Both teams were jawing at each other during warm-ups. You could tell that Strock had his team fired up and all the asst. coaches were also really working the FIU players into a frenzy, you know a David vs. Goliath kinda deal, us against them, whatever.

 

Well as the game started the talking kept getting worse and worse. Alot of cheap shots and "late" hits by both teams for sure but the FIU players were really trying to take it to the 'Canes players. I guess they figured if we can't win the game, let's win the fight. Usually when you play weaker opponents, the games are boring, but on every down, there was action after the wistle. This is where I have the most issues with. The refs totally let the game and all the other crap get out of hand. There should of been ejections well before the brawl. If you ever go to a big rivalry game like UM/FSU or FL/GA, the refs are usually right on it and make sure everyone knows if you f*ck around, you'll be shown the showers early. In this game they totally let the extra stuff happen too often until it just blew up. Luckily for me it did happen. I think we were just about to get snagged for blowing a doob by security when it all went down. Obviously they were distracted and we became an after thought.

 

I was hoping for a pic with Strock after the game, but I'll have to wait on that one.

[Bushey]

The Canes are a bunch of low life trash talking, gun toting, wannabe gangsters competely devestated by poor decisions in every facet of recruiting. This is the only fight they have in them. If Coker isn't fired this week I will be surprised. Suspend every player that took part and put them where they belong. On the street with their homeys and their 40's. I am sure they will find their niche in life in prison. What a tired act they are. Florida International? Is that an online school? Miami - Known for partying and where old people go in the winter, not football.

Edited October 15, 2006 by Bushey

[Primetime9287]

Good Job Miami.

['canes2004]

The Canes are a bunch of low life trash talking, gun toting, wannabe gangsters competely devestated by poor decisions in every facet of recruiting. This is the only fight they have in them. If Coker isn't fired this week I will be surprised. Suspend every player that took part and put them where they belong. On the street with their homeys and their 40's. I am sure they will find their niche in life in prison. What a tired act they are. Florida International? Is that an online school? Miami - Known for partying and where old people go in the winter, not football.

 

 

Your an idiot. Miami NOT known for football? The NCAA and the NFL is loaded with so much South Florida talent it's ridiculous. As far as puting the kids back on the streets with their "homeys" there are poor black inner city youths on EVERY college and professional team. The 'Canes have all kinds of talent playing in the NFL but I guess it's a big secret where they come from. Wow, just plain genius!

[neilfish2]

The NCAA should drop Miami Football.....nothing but a bunch of THUGS....

[Luger]

You can act like idiots if you win, but beign a oh poopyty team and acting like this is ridiculous.

 

Coker must go.

 

And frankly all the ex-Miami NFL guys need to stop hanging around too. This program needs to be cleaned up.

[Skrappy1]

Coker must go.

 

And frankly all the ex-Miami NFL guys need to stop hanging around too. This program needs to be cleaned up.

 

Yeah, check out the article/link below. Here are a couple of parts I found interesting:

"I was very concerned about this and we addressed it a lot of times throughout the week," Coker said. "As the game started to get away from them, I was very, very concerned that something like this might happen."

 

Coker's concern may have been heightened after several other recent Miami incidents. It's the third on-field incident involving the Hurricanes in their last seven games. And there's been plenty of off-the-field ones, too.

 

• 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.

 

• 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, several Miami players chided teammates for their involvement in that incident.

 

• A Miami player was shot outside his home shortly before training camp began in what players contend was a robbery attempt. Meriweather returned fire at the alleged assailants. Police said he acted legally.

 

• Wide receiver Ryan Moore, who was sent home from the Peach Bowl for violating team rules, was suspended for the first two games of 2006 for other violations. He 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 of them all, a melee that was out of hand within seconds of starting.

 

Despite all that, Coker -- who has been under fire from alumni and Miami fans throughout the season, and whose job security seems to be a constant source of speculation around Coral Gables -- bristled at the suggestion that he doesn't have control of his team.

 

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

 

Hmmm...so you were concerned there might be an incident like this, and you specifically addressed it with your team "lots of times throughout the week." Something as ugly as this still goes down, but yet you have control over the team and this much should never be doubted? Can't you see the contradiction there Larry boy?

 

FWIW, 31 players combined were suspended today for their roles in the brawl. I'm certain they all deserved it, but still surprised at the number of guys involved.

 

http://sports.espn.go.com/ncf/news/story?id=2627372

Edited October 16, 2006 by Skrappy1

['canes2004]

It's obvious that Coker has lost control of his team, the program and maybe even reality. Here is a post game quote from Coker:

 

``I think that it will affect the image of our program greatly, but in a positive way . . . I think that when they see the video and they see how it was handled they will be impressed with our players.'

 

 

Time to bring back Butch.

[Muggsy]

Gangbangers with talent.

[Bushey]

Your an idiot. Miami NOT known for football? The NCAA and the NFL is loaded with so much South Florida talent it's ridiculous. As far as puting the kids back on the streets with their "homeys" there are poor black inner city youths on EVERY college and professional team. The 'Canes have all kinds of talent playing in the NFL but I guess it's a big secret where they come from. Wow, just plain genius!

 

 

Miami - The city of gigantic insects and reptiles

[Luger]

As a Miami Alumni, the fall of this program is nothing short of shocking.

 

Schiano save us.

[Coffeeman]

Coker is done. Why wait til the end of the season?

[Glabra]

The 'M' is outta control!

 

Thanks to Joe Theismann for this nugget

 

I think they ought to instill some type of credibility and discipline to the 'M' as guys want to refer to it.

 

[Donutrun Jellies]

Nice to see FIU jump right up with some serious consequences -- Miami has done more than what I expected they would, but not what FIU has done. Coker's assertations that he has a grip on the program sure ring hollow -- especially if he specifically sensed something like this was coming during the week prior AND addressed it and it STILL happened ... But is firing the coach enough? FIU "fired" players -- dismissed them. For Miami, it's time to discard the thugs, leave that "U" culture behind, and clean up the program.

Edited October 16, 2006 by Donutrun Jellies

[LosGatosEnFuegos]

Thank god Lamar Thomas got fired. I couldn't believe I was hearing that cr@p. Then he has the nerve to say that he "got caught up in the moment" and doesn't condone fighting! Get a job!

[Rockerbraves]

TV analyst Lamar Thomas, a former Miami player, was fired by the Comcast Sports SouthEast Network for his commentary during the brawl, which broke out in the third quarter.

 

Thomas was anything but a neutral observer, making the following comments:

 

``Now, that's what I'm talking about. You come into our house, you should get your behind kicked. You don't come into the OB [Orange Bowl] playing that stuff. You're across the ocean over there. You're across the city. You can't come over to our place talking noise like that. You'll get your butt beat. I was about to go down the elevator to get in that thing."

 

It got worse.

 

``I say, why don't they just meet outside in the tunnel after the ballgame and get it on some more?" Thomas said. ``You don't come into the OB, baby. We've had a down couple years, but you don't come in here talking smack. Not in our house."

 

Thomas went on ESPN radio yesterday to do some damage control, saying that he got caught up in the moment, but it was not enough to save his job.

 

[spain]

Its a black thang! Whitey just dont get it!

[Coffeeman]

Its a black thang! Whitey just dont get it!

 

 

Thank goodness. Of course, its our fault as whities that they feel the need to demand respect from everyone, including each other, based on what we did to them for centuries, up until about 1963. I'm preparing to get gunned now....

[GWPFFL BrianW]

Suspended indefinately! They ought to be kicked off the damn team, and yes Coker should be fired, he has completely lost control of these thugs. It started at the Peach Bowl last year, and lets face it, Miami has a long history of this kind of crap. It's just another case of a big time program thinking (rightfully so evidentally) they can get away with anything, and are above the NCAA.

[Rockerbraves]

Suspended indefinately! They ought to be kicked off the damn team, and yes Coker should be fired, he has completely lost control of these thugs. It started at the Peach Bowl last year, and lets face it, Miami has a long history of this kind of crap. It's just another case of a big time program thinking (rightfully so evidentally) they can get away with anything, and are above the NCAA.

 

 

It actually started in 1986

 

The Hurricanes stormed into the '86 Season with emotion and attitude. This 'Cane team will always be one of the most memorable among Hurricane fans. With players like Testaverde, Highsmith, Irvin, and Blades on offense and Jerome Brown, Danny Stubbs, George Mira Jr. and Bennie Blades on defense in is no wonder the Hurricanes rolled through the regular season undefeated. When Miami got off the plane at the '87 Fiesta Bowl in Army Fatigues it sent a message to Penn State...

 

Penn State responded to that message by dealing the 'Canes 14-10 loss.

[neilfish2]

I don't know if anyone else heard the Pres. from Miami on Mike & Mike this morning, she said she doesn't see the difference between a punch and a person taking there cleat and using it as a weapon...

 

What a Moran.....