To most college football fans, Saturday night's brawl between Miami and Florida International was no surprise. After all, those two schools are just full of thugs, right?
Sometimes, reputations can make a situation bigger than it actually is. This isn't one of those times. The actions that took place on Saturday were downright thuggish.
The melee occurred after a touchdown reception by Miami's James Bryant. Afterward, he taunted FIU by pointing at its bench before bowing to the crowd. Things seemed to be under control as the Hurricanes attempted the extra point, but FIU's Chris Smith wrestled with Miami holder Matt Perrelli after the play. Then all hell broke loose.
Players punched other players and Miami safety Brandon Meriweather did his best Albert Haynesworth impression as he stomped on a FIU player's back. And the most tasteless act was Miami cornerback Anthony Reddick swinging his helmet at Golden Panthers players.
This is just one incident in the long line that have occurred at "The U," since the departure of Butch Davis before the 2001 season.
The following have happened under Miami coach Larry Coker's watch in just the last 10 months:
n After LSU beat Miami 40-3 in the Peach Bowl, several Miami players fought with LSU players.
n Virtually the entire Hurricanes' roster jumped on the Cardinals' logo at midfield before the Miami-Louisville game on Sept. 16.
n Safety Willie Cooper was shot outside his home before training camp began in what players contend was a robbery attempt. Fellow safety Meriweather returned fire; police said he acted legally.
n Wide receiver Ryan Moore is expected to be charged this week with misdemeanors stemming from an August fight with a woman. Moore was suspended in January for violating team rules, then suspended again for other infractions. He has yet to play this season.
As Regis Philbin would say: "It's outta control."
And now, the embattled Coker is feeling heat from both the fans and the university, though he still doesn't see it that way.
"I do have a grip on this program," Coker told the Associated Press after Saturday's game. "Don't ever doubt that. Don't ever doubt that."
Sorry, Larry, but there are these little things called facts that are getting in the way of your story.
Coker has pulled the Miami program down to where it used to be before his predecessor, Davis, took the job in 1996. In Davis' five years at the helm, he brought the 'Canes out of probation and cleaned up the program for the most part, bringing some respectability back to the university.
Sure, there were incidents here and there under Davis, but nothing like the magnitude of what happened before and after his tenure.
The ACC didn't help matters this week, as it suspended 13 Miami players for only one game -- a matchup with "powerhouse" Duke. The punishment is ridiculous. This was one of the most embarrassing moments in the history of college football, and it should be treated as such.
The NCAA and/or Miami should step in and suspend all players involved for the rest of the season, with the chance that each player could lose his scholarship. In Reddick's case, he should be dismissed from the university.
And for Miami itself, another three-to five-year probation, and maybe implementing the death penalty -- an NCAA policy that forbids a university from fielding a certain team for up to two seasons. The only other time the death penalty has been handed down was in 1987-88, when Southern Methodist University was found to have made about $61,000 in payments to athletes from funds provided by a booster, with the approval of university officials.
Even with the severity of the incident painfully obvious, Miami seems to be dealing with this as if it were any other infraction.
On Monday, about two dozen members on Miami's board of trustees met for two hours. The board spent the last 30 minutes discussing Saturday's ugly brawl, and the future of Coker, according to ESPN.com.
ESPN.com also reported that according to a trustee who attended the meeting, President Donna Shalala said "Nobody's job is in jeopardy now."
Shame on Shalala. And shame on Miami for not making a statement by cutting this problem off at the head.
Game of the Week
After a devastating loss last week, I've picked myself up and I'm ready to make another prediction.
This week we travel to Big 12 country for a look at a renewed rivalry. After a few disappointing years, Nebraska looks like it is back to at least being competitive within the conference. So Saturday's matchup with Texas will go a long way in deciding if the Cornhuskers are all the way back. The game will be a similar measuring stick to Penn State's win against Ohio State last year.
Colt McCoy and the Longhorns offense will be too much for Nebraska.
Texas 31, Nebraska 21
