NCCU Statements Regarding Post-Game Incident 9-22

[Bro. Askia Musa Afiba]

NCCU Statements Regarding Post-Game Incident on Sept. 22, 2007
web.nccu.edu/athletics

Statement from North Carolina Central University Director of Athletics Bill Hayes regarding post-game incident on Sept. 22, 2007:

"Saturday night's post-game incident was an unfortunate ending to an otherwise wonderful night of college football. the fans of both universities created an outstanding atmosphere of spirit and enthusiasm, while both teams demonstrated tremendous heart and passion in their play on the gridiron.

However, what happened following the game was a great disappointment as the poor judgment and thoughtless actions of a few student-athletes led to an unfortunate and embarrassing altercation between both teams at mid-field.

This type of behavior will not be tolerated and is in no way indicative of this athletics department or this university. We will respond to this matter swiftly and decisively.

Based on our assessment of the situation and after meetings with the coaching staff and student-athletes, we have suspended a student-athlete for this weekend's football contest for his role in the incident. As further information is discovered, we will respond accordingly."

Statement from North Carolina Central University Head Football Coach Mose Rison regarding post-game incident on Sept. 22, 2007:

"After our game Saturday, emotions were running very high; however, we still expected to walk across the field and conduct the traditional handshake. Instead some physical aggression erupted, and thanks to the quick action of the police, was made brief. On behalf of my staff, I will state that I believe we acted immediately and properly, and that our student-athletes responded accordingly to our instructions.

In every level of football I have ever coached, there is always an arch rivalry. These games are exciting to watch and exciting to play and coach. They mean a great deal to the teams, the fans, the institutions, and to the alumni. The challenge to all of us is to channel our excitement and emotions and keep them on a level that honors the sport and the work that goes into it. When the game is over, we need to share our elation in a positive manner. We need to feel our disappointment without taking it out on anybody else. When the game is over, it’s over. That’s the reality of life.

I am committed to discipline within this football program. I have set and enforced standards for our team and will continue to consistently do so. I won’t tolerate unsportsmanlike behavior. We will not just play a bunch of games on a schedule with no substance and character underneath them. My priority is building a football program of strong substance with men of strong character."

Kyle Serba
Assistant Athletics Director for Media Relations
North Carolina Central University
McLendon-McDougald Gym, Room 116
1801 Fayetteville Street
Durham, NC 27707
Phone: [phone]
Fax: [phone]
Cell: [phone]
NCCU Athletics Web Site:
www.nccu.edu/athletics

[Bro. Askia Musa Afiba]

Eagles beat Aggies - Watch Video


VIDEO: Aggie Eagle Brawl From WTVD 11 News

N.C. Central, A&T Players Involved in Post-game Fight

[Bro. Askia Musa Afiba]

From News & Observer Published: Sep 24, 2007 12:30 AM Modified: Sep 24, 2007 02:29 AM
www.newsobserver.com/sports/story/714192.html

Brawl leads N.C. A&T to call off 2008 match
web.nccu.edu/athletics

The fight involving N.C. Central and N.C. A&T players could affect the Eagles' bid to join the MEAC

Michael Biesecker, Staff Writer

GREENSBORO - Future games between bitter rivals N.C. Central University and N.C. A&T State University are in doubt after football players and coaches clashed in a benches-clearing brawl Saturday night.

The latest melee to mar the NCCU-N.C. A&T rivalry started after the final seconds ticked off the clock with NCCU winning 27-22 on a game-saving interception. Players from the Durham university then ran out from their sideline and stomped on the Aggies' bulldog logo painted at the center of the field, taunting the defeated team.

Fists and helmets were soon flying. The fight, which lasted about five minutes, cleared the benches of both teams and involved more than 100 people. It prompted at least one campus police officer to use pepper spray, leaving some players vomiting and gasping.

No criminal charges were filed, and no one was injured. An A&T official blamed NCCU coaches and students for the fight. NCCU said in a written statement that the behavior of both teams was disappointing but would not respond directly to questions.

A&T athletics director DeLores "Dee" Todd said in an interview Sunday that she will cancel the planned 2008 matchup between the historically black universities, which have a heated rivalry dating to 1924.

Todd said A&T officials will review videotape of the fight and will possibly suspend some Aggies players for the next game on Thursday night against Fayetteville State.

Todd, who watched the melee from the stands, blamed members of the Eagles coaching staff for instigating the brawl.

"A couple of their coaches led them out there and were in the middle," Todd said. "One of the coaches picked up a patch of dirt off the dog and threw it. You know, that's just disrespectful and terribly unsportsmanlike. ... Coaches are your leaders, and if a coach does that, then, you can't really expect the kids to do anything different."

Todd said the NCCU players continued the jeering.

"As our coaches went out to shake hands, the Central kids were giving them the finger and saying, 'You're losers, get used to it,' as they were, you know, flipping them off," Todd said.

In a written release, NCCU's athletics department said it will suspend one player, whom it did not identify, for this Saturday's game against Presbyterian College.

"What happened following the game was a great disappointment as the poor judgment and thoughtless actions of a few student-athletes led to an unfortunate and embarrassing altercation between both teams at midfield," Bill Hayes, NCCU's athletics director, said in a written statement. "This type of behavior will not be tolerated and is in no way indicative of this athletics department or this university. We will respond to this matter swiftly and decisively."

No NCCU official would comment on the incident beyond the written statement, said Kyle Serba, the university's assistant athletics director for media relations.

William Friday, former UNC system president and former co-chair of the Knight Commission on Intercollegiate Athletics, commended A&T athletics director Todd for canceling next year's matchup.

"I thought the immediate action was appropriate," Friday said. "[Fighting] kills the spirit of the occasion. ... There is no place for that kind of fist-fighting in any kind of event."

Friday lumped the fight in with Michael Vick's recent guilty plea to dog-fighting charges and the doping allegations that led to Floyd Landis being stripped of his Tour de France victory.

"We've just got to find a way in sport to right this ship of constant problems we've seen in the last 12 to 18 months. The public is getting tired of it," Friday said.

Fallout from the fight could also have long-range implications for NCCU, which has applied to join the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference. A&T has been a MEAC school since 1970; Todd would not say whether A&T would oppose NCCU's application.

MEAC Commissioner Dennis E. Thomas said Sunday that he was withholding comment until he receives written reports on the incident.

"Not only do we expect the schools in our conference to behave as great sportsmen during the game, but also before and after," Thomas said.

Asked specifically whether NCCU's role in the fight might affect its admission to the conference, Thomas replied: "They're not a member, so I have no comment on that."

Saturday marked the first game between the Aggies and the Eagles since 2005, when the series lapsed. There has been a long history of scuffles at football and basketball games between the two schools, Todd said.

That bad blood re-emerged in Greensboro on Saturday when the NCCU marching band went several minutes over their allotted share of the halftime show, not allowing the Aggies band to take the field and receiving loud boos from the hometown crowd. The Aggies band was forced to cut its performance short to avoid a delay-of-game penalty.

The NCCU band continued playing from the stands for much of the rest of the game, even during the plays.

During the postgame fisticuffs, campus safety officers from both schools waded into the fray. Photos of the fight taken by a photographer with the Greensboro News & Record appear to show a uniformed N.C. Central police officer aiming blasts of pepper spray into the faces of Aggies players.

It was not immediately known whether A&T officers also used pepper spray.

"The spray seemed to be aimed more at our players," Todd said Sunday.

Chief Willie R. Williams Sr. of the NCCU police said that he was not at the game and had not seen the photos but that his department typically conducts reviews of all uses of force to ensure its officers act appropriately.

Saturday's loss to the Eagles extended A&T's losing streak to 20 games, currently the nation's longest. Todd said the brawl besmirched the good reputations of both universities.

"I'm disappointed and embarrassed," she said. "But you just don't come to people's schools and disrespect them. It's a football game. Everybody played a great game. That's what it should be about. This other stuff is nonsense."

(Staff writers Sam LaGrone and Jaymes Powell Jr. contributed to this report.)

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Staff writers Sam LaGrone and Jaymes Powell Jr. contributed to this report.

[Bro. Askia Musa Afiba]

Article published Sep 24, 2007 From The Greensboro News & record

N.C. A&T's football series against N.C. Central in peril after scuffle

After a post-game brawl Saturday, the Aggies might cancel their football series with N.C. Central.

By Rob Daniels
Staff Writer

GREENSBORO -- Almost immediately after its return from a one-year hiatus, the football series between N.C. A&T and N.C. Central is again imperiled. Disturbed by Saturday's postgame fight, an incident apparently instigated by Eagles players, officials at A&T have discussed canceling the schools' scheduled 2008 meeting and will take up the topic again today when Chancellor Stanley F. Battle convenes his regular cabinet meeting this morning, an athletics administrator said Sunday.

Associate athletics director Wheeler Brown said the issue is on the agenda in light of events late Saturday night. Moments after Central's 27-22 win, some Eagles ran to midfield and jumped -- intentionally and derisively, A&T said -- on the Aggie logo, an intense-looking bulldog. That irritated the Aggies, who had just lost their 20th straight game. Players clashed, threw punches and were ultimately dispersed when A&T police officers interceded with pepper spray, players and coaches said. Players from both teams vomited after coming in contact with the irritant, commonly used by police in crowd control.

Saturday's contest, the 79th in the history of a series that began in 1924, was the first on either campus since 1992. The institutions signed a contract to play in Aggie Stadium in 2007 and at a site of Central's choosing in 2008, but the fight has clouded that.

"We feel our kids were provoked," Brown said. "We're not condoning what happened by any means."

Central athletics director Bill Hayes said Sunday he has suspended one unnamed player for one game and may mete out further punishment if necessary. On Friday night, Hayes was among four legendary former coaches whom A&T honored for their service to the school. Owner of the most wins in Aggie football history, he was fired following the 2002 season, and he became AD at Central, his alma mater, shortly thereafter.

Both schools issued carefully and passively worded statements about Saturday's fight.

"The N.C. A&T logo was stomped following a very spirited football game where athletes competed vigorously," A&T's missive said. "We regret the conflict that (ensued), for this is not indicative of what we represent. The teams were immediately separated. A&T Police & Public Safety officials were on the scene. No one was hurt.

"This is an isolated incident. No charges have been filed at this point pending further investigation led by Police and Public Safety Chief Richard Holden. Additional information will be disseminated per Chief Holden's investigation.

"N.C. A&T and NCCU have had a long relationship as athletic rivals for many years. In the end, our common ground and number one mission is educating young people."

Dee Todd, A&T's athletics director, did not respond to telephone calls seeking comment.

Eagles coach Mose Rison did not address whether his players initiated the melee. He praised them for what he termed their quick acceptance of directives to stop whatever had been started.

"After our game Saturday, emotions were running very high; however, we still expected to walk across the field and conduct the traditional handshake," Rison said. "Instead, some physical aggression erupted, and thanks to the quick action of the police, was made brief. On behalf of my staff, I will state that I believe we acted immediately and properly, and that our student-athletes responded accordingly to our instructions.

"In every level of football I have ever coached, there is always an arch rivalry. These games are exciting to watch and exciting to play and coach. They mean a great deal to the teams, the fans, the institutions, and to the alumni. The challenge to all of us is to channel our excitement and emotions and keep them on a level that honors the sport and the work that goes into it. When the game is over, we need to share our elation in a positive manner. We need to feel our disappointment without taking it out on anybody else."

The incident is the latest chapter in an on-again, off-again series between the schools.

The institutions began the rivalry in 1924 and met every year from 1945-92. After skipping 1993 over unspecified contractual disagreements, they resumed in 1994 but took the game to N.C. State's Carter-Finley Stadium, where it remained through 2005. In 2002, they turned over administration of the event to the Capital Area Sports Foundation, a tax-exempt arm of Raleigh municipal government that still hasn't paid them in full for the 2005 game. A&T cited the foundation's breach of contract in declining to play the Eagles in 2006, but Central's decision to seek full NCAA Division I status and to apply for MEAC membership compelled a renewal of the rivalry.

The Eagles had hoped to have a deal with the MEAC by now, but nothing has been finalized. Brown said the conference effectively placed all expansion plans on hold some time ago.

Contact Rob Daniels at 373-7028 or

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[hawkeye]

It appears that the resolution to this situation is going to be dictated by some folks outside of the institutions. We both have new Chancellors who know that their superiors are watching their leadership on this.

I'm not sure why W. Friday opinions has to be quoted, unless it's to send a message.

[Bornthrilla]

Central is like school during Christmas break: no class.

[Aggie Monster]

The part that really pisses me off is that the News and OBSERVER(Raleigh's newspaper) has us front page today. On a f'ing Monday!! They just had to give it to us. I'm writing a letter to somebody, chewing somebody's a$$ out. i know it wont mean nothing, but I got to do it. NCCU gets a small paragraph on the norm, but gets front page of the entire newspaper on a damn Monday.

Dont cancel the game Dee, it was a great game, but do hand down some strict punishments on both sides. NCCU showed no class.

[treese]

Coach Mose Rison, you... say you just walking to shake hands, not true......... There was two coaches jumping up and down with the nccu players!!WITH MIDDLE FINGERS UP!!!! So the no class birds can take that story and YOU KNOW THE REST!!!


AND YOUR BAND..........NO CLASS........!

[Aggie Monster]

I would LOVE to see those pics. Somebody had to get them fools on tape doing that? Rison is only covering for his boys. Anyone there knows that wasn't the case.

[aggieman007]

The fight was not that bad The press and the media is making it a big deal. The Greenville News has the story of the fight in the Sport section in today paper here ? Which all you here about here is Clemson and USC? Anything negative about HBCU Always HITS THE PAPER!

[Aggie Monster]

NCCU has no class, EVER! I remember in Hayes last season the player threw the ball in the stands at A&T's band after scoring a TD. He was actually a bitter A&T transfer. The fight could have been a lot worse. Not sure if the pepper spray actually helped or hurt more. Without it the fight may have lasted longer, but the pics look bad.

[DOOMS]

That was in Small's second season and the player was Brad Hinton.

The pics look terrible. It was in very poor taste that they were printed.

If Dee cancels the game (I doubt she does) she will be fired. I guarantee it.

[dj98]

(If Dee cancels the game (I doubt she does) she will be fired. I guarantee it.)

If she cancels the NCCU game she REALLY does not have a clue or understand what this rively means to both schools......... She is soooooooooooo got damn stupid if she cancels!!!!!!!!!

[Maxell]

Political pressure is a beyotch.

[The Professor]

Yeah, I have read everything from the 3 major sites, (this one, meacfans, onnidian) and one thing people are not understanding is this.

A&T is a brand. A company if you will. And at all costs, it must be protected. The fight, brawl, or whatever is a black eye to A&T. And it's really not important what happened but the action that takes place. This story has now broke national news on SI.com. So now, we ( as an university) have to make a statement that this will not tolerated.

Be mad at Mrs. Todd if you want to but she has to do something. Too sit back and act like this just a feather in the wind would be a disater. Stopping the 2008 game is a big step but what we tend to forget is that we are goverened by the UNC system. And what they say goes. They made UNC and State play ECU, so why don't you think they can stop our game. This issue is bigger than NCCU. It's bigger than A&T. Hell, its bigger than the MEAC.

What this has now become is an example of the leadership of our universities and UNC system. And their action or lack there of will not only determine coaches jobs, AD jobs, but chancellors or Mr. Bowles himself.

Politicial pressure is a beyotch, and that's now what this is. So please don't be mad at the outcome because it's out of our hands. Mrs. Sanders, my 5th grade science, said a deep statment when I was in her science class that I understood once I got older. " For every action, there is an equal and opposite reaction.I'm not just talking about science but life itself "