Example of NCAA Suspension for fighting after game

[aggiejazz]

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE CONTACT:

Friday, December 13, 2002 Laronica L. Conway
Assistant Director of Media Relations

317/917-6115




NCAA DIVISION I-AA FOOTBALL COMMITTEE REPRIMANDS, SUSPENDS WESTERN KENTUCKY UNIVERSITY AND WESTERN ILLINOIS UNIVERSITY PLAYERS



INDIANAPOLIS---The NCAA Division I-AA Football Committee has suspended five members of the Western Kentucky University football team and eight members of the Western Illinois University football team for their participation in an altercation that occurred after the conclusion of the 2002 NCAA Division I-AA quarterfinal game in Macomb, Illinois. In addition, seven student-athletes from Western Kentucky and six from Western Illinois received public reprimands. Also, one student-athlete was banished from further participation in any future NCAA Division I-AA championships.

Specifically, the incident began during a post-game celebration that occurred after Western Kentucky defeated Western Illinois, 31-28.

Antonio Thomas and Shawn McCrimmon of Western Kentucky and Jason McWilliams, Chris McNutt, Mike Tetzel, James Rennick, Jason Baksas and Chad Daun of Western Illinois each received a one-game suspension for striking or punching other individuals. The suspension will prohibit the players from participating in the next championship game they would be eligible to participate in this year or in future years.

Alex Dukes, Darius McCrimmon and Montaze Trumbo of Western Kentucky and Ryle Irish and Doran Yilla of Western Illinois each received a two-game suspension for kicking a defenseless individual or striking an individual with their helmets. The suspension will prohibit the players from participating in the next two championship games they would be eligible to participate in this year or in future years.

Cris Riviere of Western Kentucky has been banished from participation in any future NCAA Division I-AA Football Championship due to his blatant unsportsmanlike conduct.

The committee also issued a public reprimand to the following players due to the fact that their conduct, although not blatantly unsportsmanlike, contributed to the severity of the situation:

Western Kentucky Western Illinois
Jerome Reaves Stacy Coleman
Trent Willis Quinlan Porter
Brian Lowder Ray Dukes
Anthony Bates Terrence Hall
Bryan Adams Travis Glasford
Jon Drummond Johnny Lormile
Tyrone Mareko

"The incident that occurred last Saturday brought disgrace to the Division I-AA Football Championship and the sport of college football," said Joe Sterrett, chair of the committee and athletics director at Lehigh University. "We felt compelled to take strong action in what we believe would be in the best interest of the championship and the sport."

The committee also reviewed the institutional responsibility that exists with the conduct of any athletic contest and particularly NCAA championship competition. The committee was concerned that due to the number of individuals involved and the severity of the observed behaviors that there was a sufficient lack of institutional control. The committee will continue its review of this issue and reserves the authority to impose institutional sanctions at a later date.

Members of the NCAA Division I-AA Football Committee include: E.W. Dennison, Murray State University; Wayne Hogan, University of Montana; Jim Miller, University of Richmond; Gregory Burke, Northwestern State University; Joseph Sterrett, chair, Lehigh University; Roachel Laney, Appalachian State University; and Perk Weisenburger, Illinois State University.

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LLC:mel

[aggiejazz]

If you read the rules it seems like the penalty for fighting is only one half of a football game either the present game if it occur in the first half or one half of the next game if it occurs in the second half.


SECTION 5. Fighting
ARTICLE 1. a. Before the game, squad members in uniform or coaches shall not participate in a fight (Rule 2-32-1).
During the first half, players shall not participate in a fight.

PENALTY—15 yards from the basic spot or the succeeding spot, first down for Team B fouls if the first down is not in conflict
with other rules, and disqualification for the remainder of
the game [S7, S27 or S38, and S47].

b. During the half-time intermission, squad members in uniform or coaches shall not participate in a fight.
During the second half, players shall not participate in a fight.

PENALTY—15 yards from the basic spot or the succeeding spot, first down for Team B fouls if the first down is not in conflict
with other rules, and disqualification for the remainder of
the game and the first half of the next game [S7, S27 or S38,
and S47]. For fights that occur in the last game of a season,
squad members in uniform, coaches and players with
eligibility remaining will serve fight-related suspensions
during the first game of the next season for which they are
eligible.

c. During either half, coaches or substitutes shall not leave their team area to participate in a fight, nor shall they participate in a fight in their team area.

PENALTY—15 yards from the succeeding spot, first down for Team B fouls if the first down is not in conflict with other rules, and
disqualification for the remainder of the game and for the
next game [S7, S27 or S38, and S47]. For fights that occur
in the last game of a season, coaches and substitutes with
eligibility remaining will serve fight-related suspensions
during the first game of the next season for which they are
eligible.

ARTICLE 2. a. If the squad member, coach or player is disqualified for fighting a second time during that season, he shall be disqualified for that game and suspended for the remainder of the season. b. If a second fighting suspension occurs in the final game of a season, he shall be suspended for the first game of the next season for which he is eligible. This suspension is considered to be his first fight of that season.

ARTICLE 3. The referee will notify (in writing) his assigning agency of all disqualifications for fighting. The assigning agency becomes responsible for implementation of the penalty.