Both the MEAC and SWAC conferences respectfully came down hard on two separate post game incidents that occurred last weekend.
An assistant coach from both Howard and North Carolina Central along with a total of 36 players (19 from HU; 17 from NCCU) will miss Saturday’s games after an altercation between the two schools that took place after their game on Friday Nov. 15.
A second incident took place on Saturday Nov. 16 after the Jackson State-Alabama State contest that later resulted in one-game suspensions for seven JSU and nine Alabama State players, along with both schools fined $25,000.
In addition, Alabama State V-P and AD Dr. Jason Cable announced that three of his players sitting out this week’s game also will miss the Thanksgiving Day game against Tuskegee as well.
Both league commissioners released statements on their actions.
“The Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference has a zero-tolerance policy for fighting …,” MEAC Commissioner Sonja Stills noted. “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.”
SWAC Commissioner Charles McClelland also stressed, “We will also continue to enforce a zero-tolerance policy for all acts deemed to be unsportsmanlike and contrary to the high standard of good sportsmanship we expect … Acts of unsportsmanlike conduct have zero place in the sports of intercollegiate athletics and within the Southwestern Athletic Conference.”
The suspensions were announced earlier this week.