Tempers flared during matchups over the weekend in the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference, Southwestern Athletic Conference and Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association, resulting in several fights.
Andscape senior HBCU writer Mia Berry, women’s sports reporter Cayla Sweazie, producer Hannah Jones and Rhoden Fellows Assata Allah-Shabazz and Madison Firle discussed the multiple fights and their repercussions for the football programs involved in an Andscape roundtable.
A fight between MEAC rivals Howard University and North Carolina Central University resulted in multiple suspensions. Conference commissioner Sonja Stills announced 19 players and one assistant coach from North Carolina Central (7-3, 3-1 MEAC) have been suspended for the Eagles’ last regular-season game Saturday, when they will face Delaware State University (1-10, 0-4 MEAC). Howard (4-7, 1-3 MEAC) will be without 17 players and an assistant coach for the Bison’s season-ender Saturday against Morgan State University (5-6, 2-2 MEAC).
In the SWAC, punches were thrown after a matchup between Jackson State University (9-2, 7-0 SWAC) and Alabama State University (5-5, 4-3 SWAC), leading to $25,000 fines for both HBCUs. Seven players from Jackson State will miss the Tigers’ game against Alcorn State University (6-5, 5-2 SWAC) on Saturday. Nine players from Alabama State will miss the Hornets’ game against Prairie View A&M University (5-6, 3-4 SWAC) on Saturday.
The CIAA conference championship game between Virginia Union University (8-3, 6-1 CIAA) and Virginia State University (7-4, 6-1 CIAA) ended in an on-field brawl between the two teams. In a statement issued Sunday morning, conference commissioner Jacquie McWilliams-Parker said:
“I am disappointed and heartbroken regarding the behaviors of two of our best teams at the conclusion of our 107th football championship. The conference will investigate and manage per its bylaws and processes for unsportsmanlike behavior and misconduct. It is disappointing that our story and narrative for this championship did not end with the story that should be told as part of the CIAA legacy, leadership and community.”