NC Central wasn’t playing games at O’Kelly-Riddick Stadium, and the scoreboard proved it with a dominant 26-3 victory over Howard University. But as if the thrashing on the field wasn’t enough, things got heated post-game, erupting into a full-on brawl that now has the NCAA and the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC) conducting investigations.
The brawl broke out Friday night in Durham, North Carolina, moments after NCCU Head Coach Trei Oliver and Howard’s Head Coach Larry Scott exchanged what was supposed to be a sportsmanlike handshake. Instead, fists started flying, and chaos ensued as players from both teams squared off.
Coach Oliver wasted no time distancing his program from the incident.
“That’s not us. That’s not who we are. That won’t be tolerated in my program,” Oliver told reporters emphatically.
Reflecting on past games, Oliver noted:
 “Last year, I didn’t like the vibe at the end of the game, so I told my guys to go to the locker room. I went across the field, shook the coach’s hand, and took the loss. This year, I didn’t see what happened, but that’s not our football team.”
WATCH VIDEO
View this post on Instagram
Â
MEAC and NCAA Investigations Underway
The NCAA is now reviewing the incident to determine if sanctions will be imposed on players or staff involved. A decision is expected by Tuesday. Meanwhile, the MEAC is conducting its own thorough investigation, and Commissioner Sonja Stills has expressed deep disappointment:
“This was a very unfortunate incident, and we are taking it with the utmost seriousness. The MEAC holds its student-athletes, coaches, and staff to the highest standards of sportsmanship and professionalism. We will take appropriate disciplinary action based on our findings.”
MEAC’s official statement is pending until their review is complete.
History of Dominance
Friday night’s game marks NC Central’s 11th win over Howard in their last 12 meetings. Howard’s victory last year broke a nearly three-decade drought dating back to 1994, but it seems the Bison were quickly reminded who runs the MEAC.
