Saturday Night's Savagery
As someone who has read more than her share of pious bullshit from University of Miami President Donna Shalala about how wonderful it is for everyone that UM's football lads are getting a great education and serving as role models and all, I'm eager to see how she will handle -- rhetorically and institutionally -- the latest and loudest instance of team thuggery. How many vicious brawls will it take for her to admit that her university's football program is disgusting? Is there even now -- after three recent on-field riots -- a way for her to spin her way out of this?
Here's a reporter who witnessed the events. His remarks drew reader comments, some of which I'll quote after his piece.
Saturday night’s University of Miami game against FIU was the 137th straight I have covered as the Post’s UM beat writer dating back to 1995.
Never have I seen conduct more reprehensible than what I saw on Saturday night.
Thirteen players were ejected following one of the nastiest brawls college football is likely to ever witness. At least that many players should have left the Orange Bowl in handcuffs.
It’s amazing that no one got seriously hurt or even killed. Among the many acts of thuggery committed were players using helmets as weapons, several instances of players getting stomped on and kicked in the head, and more sucker-punching than you will see in a Mike Tyson fight.
The most obviously egregious actions were those taken by UM defensive backs Anthony Reddick and Brandon Meriweather. Reddick is clearly shown on replays swinging his helmet and viciously whacking an FIU player. Meriweather can be seen taking a running start before stomping on the back of another prone FIU player.
Neither player was ejected, but UM coach Larry Coker announced on Sunday that Reddick and Meriweather, as well as fullback James Bryant, will be suspended for Saturday’s game against Duke because of their goonish behavior.
Coker can do whatever he wants, but a one-game suspension seems awfully kind. If Coker really wanted to send a message, as he claims, he would banish Reddick and Meriweather for far longer because it’s obvious neither player respects the university, their opponents or themselves.
This is not to excuse FIU. If you ask me, they started the entire thing. FIU seemed intent on provoking UM for much of the night and they finally succeeded with nine minutes to play in the third quarter when a Golden Panther player picked up UM holder Matt Perrelli and bodyslammed him into the ground.
Pete Garcia’s first act as FIU’s athletic director today should be to suspend the hoodlums on his football team that aren’t good enough to win a game, but seem pretty adept at firing up a riot.
It may seem unfair, but Coker also shoulders responsibility here. This is the third major incident involving the Hurricanes in their last seven games.
Last December’s Peach Bowl ended with a post-game fight between UM and LSU players that left guard Andrew Bain and receiver Khalil Jones unconscious. Prior to the Louisville game on Sept. 16, UM players stomped on their opponent’s cardinal logo and nearly provoked a fracas.
Now this.
Coker strongly disputed the notion on Sunday that he does not have complete control of his players.
“I do have a grip on this program,” Coker said. “Don’t ever doubt that.”
Anyone watching Saturday night’s savagery has to wonder.
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Reader Comments
We are in our 60s and sit in the west end zone. My wife was scared and I was both amused and amazed.
In both the sports I officiate (soccer and lacrosse) players who leave the bench to participate in an altercation are automatically ejected. Had the refs had the presence to eject them all the game would have been concluded with 6 aside flag football.
Review the tape and notice how little impact the coaching staff on UM has on its players leaving the bench. There must be 40-50 coaches, assistants and trainers on the UM sideline, and no one stepped in the way of a player entering the brawl. I have no idea how much this talent is paid, but no one is earning their pay this season.
If you watched the pre game warm ups closely UM did control its players. Just before the UM team went to the locker room about 25 minutes before kickoff #42 FIU a defensive end danced through the UM huddle. After that he went to the west end to encourage the UM fans by waving his arms. That was provocative behavior not dealt with by the FIU staff or the officials who were present and “observing.”
We certainly have not enjoyed our season tickets as senior citizens, and the 100 mile drive home to Stuart is mostly in silence.
As the mom of a new UM freshman, I certainly hope Donna Shalala, the UM president, holds the coach and athletic director responsible… surely in the first place, the failure lies at the top.
Coker is done. He doesn’t have control of his team. And between this and the thug-like atmosphere surrounding the school for years—-calling the school “The U” instead of its proper name not only sounds stupid but contributes to an atmosphere of thuggery—-it doesn’t seem like Shalala has control of her school or its image, either.
If any fans in the Miami area are surprised by the FIU-Miami brawl you must have your head buried in the sand. Certainly no one else in the country is surprised in the least. UM is recognized everywhere as a band of thugs. The president, athletic director and football coach should lose their jobs. It is that bad! Miami deserves better.
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