An assistant coach and 36 football players have been suspended following a brawl between the North Carolina Central University and Howard University football teams.
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, Nov. 15 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.”
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MEAC announce suspensions after brawl
On Monday, the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC) announced the suspension of one assistant coach and 19 players from NCCU, along with 17 players from Howard.
“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,” said MEAC Commissioner Sonja Stills.
“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.”
NCCU Chancellor Karrie G. Dixon released the following statement:
“The altercation is not only deeply disappointing but also stands in stark contrast to North Carolina Central University’s (NCCU) core values. Such disruptive behavior is unacceptable, and we are committed to conducting a full investigation and taking appropriate disciplinary action to ensure accountability.”
