I guess the respective players of the University of Miami and Florida International University took Rick Ross’ words to heart when he rapped, “You got to push it to the limit” because both teams got into a fearsome brawl on Saturday. Although I don’t condone physical violence, especially during sporting events, but this was perhaps the best unsanctioned sports fight of all times. Players were body slamming each other, stomping on fallen players, and one guy even took his helmet off, which seems to be dumb in such a big melee, and used it as a weapon.
To add grease to the fire, Miami TV announcer, Lamar Thomas, a former Hurricane player told the TV audience, “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 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.” Thomas was later fired because of his comments.
At least thirty-one players were suspended because of the brouhaha and officials from both schools have made public apologizes. The only persons who appear not to be reprehended are both schools respective coaching staffs. I find that a little problematic because aren’t the coaches the stewards of the team? Isn’t it true that parents entrust coaches with the responsibility of teaching our young adult athletes? The answer to both of these questions is yes and this fight is a perfect example of NCAA coaches not doing their job. They get all the accolades for their player’s success, but shy away from responsibilities for their downfalls. There needs to be more coaching accountability in NCAA sports and coaches should be reprimanded when they let their team spiral out-of-control.
By no means I’m I suggesting that the players are guiltless because they are guilty and they did disgrace the tradition of the Orange Bowl by fighting like hoodlums. They should be punished for their infractions and some procedure should be put in place to heavily dissuade this type of behavior before someone gets seriously hurt.
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Fallout from the Battle of Dade County:
FIU kicked Chris Smith and Marshall McDuffie Jr. off the team for attacking Miami holder Matt Perrelli; however, the will retain their respective scholarships.
Miami safety Anthony Reddick, who swung his helmet as a weapon suspended indefinitely.
Neither team had any players injured during the melee.
Miami ordered 12 suspended players to serve community service.
All suspended FIU players will have to complete 10 hours of anger management counseling, 50 hours of community service, and be on school probation for the remainder of the academic year.
FIU coaches are required to complete community service.
The brawl was the third on-field incident in Miami's past seven games; the Hurricanes also fought with LSU after losing last season's Peach Bowl and trampled Louisville's midfield Cardinals logo before playing there last month, an act widely viewed as taunting.
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