North Carolina Central University and Howard University will both be without more than 15 players for their respective college football games this weekend. The MEAC issued 36 suspensions after a nasty, bench-clearing fight broke out during the postgame handshake line on Saturday.
However, it is a mystery as to who on the Eagles and Bison were punished because the conference did not release any names.
N.C. Central defeated Howard 26-3 at home to get one step closer to the FCS Playoffs. Unfortunately, the winning team’s on-field celebration spilled over toward the losing team’s exit. According to unconfirmed reports, the gate was locked so the Bison could not get off of the field and return to its locker room. The Eagles went over to talk their talk, which got out of hand in a hurry.
Some fairly harmless pushing and shoving very quickly escalated to punches thrown.
Postgame fight between North Carolina Central & Howard University pic.twitter.com/0GFgDLdTSt
— HBCU Premier Sports & More (@HBCUSports1) November 16, 2024
Security ran over to the end zone and supposedly used mace and/or pepper spray to help deescalate the situation. That is also unconfirmed. However, it took approximately 10 minutes to clear the scene in full.
North Carolina Central head coach Trei Oliver addressed the matter during the weekly MEAC Football Coaches Conference on Monday afternoon.
There’s no room for that. There’s no reason to be fighting or anything like that. You have 60 minutes…go ahead and play hard for 60 minutes. Compete, shake hands, and let’s let’s go ahead and be done with it.
But we have our opportunity play on national television and be able to display our brand, two great universities. And I think a great conference. And I think that we let our university down, conference down and all of HBCU. We have an opportunity to play on national television. But I’m apologetic for whatever actions our guys had with the altercation.
— Trei Oliver
The conference handed down its suspensions on Monday night after taking time to review the footage.
The Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference has a zero-tolerance policy for fighting, as it directly violates the values of sportsmanship, respect, and integrity that define our Conference. We are committed to maintaining a safe and respectful environment for all student-athletes, coaches, and fans. Any actions that compromise these principles will result in serious consequences. We expect all participants in MEAC athletic events to conduct themselves with dignity and uphold the high standards that reflect the spirit of the MEAC.
— MEAC Commissioner Sonja Stills
A total of 36 student-athletes have been suspended. 17 from Howard. 19 from North Carolina Central. One assistant coach for the Eagles has also been suspended for violating the MEAC Constitution and Bylaws.
Fortunately, North Carolina Central’s upcoming college football opponent is terrible. Delaware State is 1-10 this season. All of the suspensions should not impact the outcome, which is crucial for the MEAC if it wants to make the FCS postseason. Should the Eagles lose, the conference will not have have a representative in the playoffs. And if they do somehow manage to lose, it’s because of the brawl with the Bison.