The College Football Thread 2006

[Imran Siddiqui]

Teams do it now anyway to move up the human polls because plenty of voters (as well as fans) just look at the final score. If you are really concerned about running up the score, just put a cap on margin of victory (like a high of 21 point margin per game) instead of jettisoning it completely.

[SlowwHand]

Too bad there's not a way to factor in class.
Running up score, excess personal fouls (see Miami), whatever, and your rating gets docked.

[Imran Siddiqui]

It's called the polls, Sloww .

And frankly, I don't care about 'class' in rating football teams. You can be the biggest jerks ever, but if you kick the crap out of everyone, I'm voting you high up.

[DanS]

It's more political than that. Running up the score on your opponent earns you no friends for the USA Today coaches' poll.

Weis has figured this out with regard to the coaches' poll, and the Fighting Irish are higher in the coaches' poll versus the press poll for the first time in memory in part because of it.

[SlowwHand]

Imran, that went without saying.

[Lord Avalon]

Monday, October 16, 2006
Miami extends Reddick's suspension; FIU dismisses 2

ESPN.com news services

CORAL GABLES, Fla. -- The University of Miami extended the suspension of one player and said further disciplinary measures will be taken in the wake of a sideline-clearing brawl with Florida International.

Sophomore safety Anthony Reddick was suspended indefinitely following further consultation Monday with the Atlantic Coast Conference, the school said. Reddick charged across the field, helmet raised over his head, and slammed it into an opposing player during the melee.

Meanwhile, the Golden Panthers took a much harsher stance -- dismissing two players, Chris Smith and Marshall McDuffie Jr., and extending the suspensions of all other 16 sanctioned players indefinitely.

The 16 suspended FIU players will be placed on athletic probation for the remainder of the academic calendar year, must complete 10 hours of anger management counseling, and will undertake a community service project to educate South Florida youth on appropriate behavior as related to athletics, the Miami Herald reported on its Web site Monday.

"This is certainly embarrassing. It's disgraceful. It's amazing. I've run out of words," FIU coach Don Strock said. "There's no place for it in college football or football period. This is way overboard. I apologize to all the fans of college football for this taking place."

Smith and McDuffie will remain on scholarship at FIU.

One-game suspensions for Reddick and 12 Miami teammates were announced Sunday. Other disciplinary measures for the players may include community service and other unspecified actions, the school said in a statement.

Miami president Donna Shalala said in an open letter that the fight was "outrageous."

"Regardless of who started it, this was an embarrassing display of unsportsmanlike behavior," Shalala wrote. "Fortunately there were no injuries."

The ACC and Miami (4-2) suspended Reddick, Carlos Armour, Chris Barney, James Bryant, Tyrone Byrd, DajLeon Farr, Ryan Hill, Bruce Johnson, Charlie Jones, Brandon Meriweather, Brian Monroe, Derrick Morse and Randy Phillips.

All will miss Saturday's game at winless Duke.

"These suspensions send a clear and definitive message that this type of behavior will not be tolerated," Swofford said.

In addition to McDuffie and Chris Smith, the Sun Belt Conference and FIU (0-7) suspended Michael Alls, Scott Bryant, Roland Clark, Michael Dominquez, John Ellis, Cory Fleming, Reginald Jones, Robert Mitchell, Quintin Newman, Luis Pena, Jarvis Penerton, Julian Reams, Lionell Singleton, Samuel Smith, Mannie Wellington and Chandler Williams.

They'll miss FIU's next game Oct. 28 at Alabama.

"There is no place in higher education for the type of conduct exhibited," Sun Belt commissioner Wright Waters said.

The NCAA, in a statement released Monday, called the fight "wholly unacceptable."

"It is hoped that the actions taken by Miami, FIU and the conferences will send a message that such behavior is not tolerated," the NCAA statement said.

There were many instances of heated words being exchanged during -- and before -- the game.

But shortly after halftime, unsportsmanlike turned into unruly.

Bryant bowed to the crowd after catching a touchdown pass with 9 minutes left in the third quarter. Moments later, Chris Smith wrestled Miami holder Matt Perrelli to the ground and punched him, and McDuffie kicked Perrelli in the helmet.

"For us," FIU athletic director Pete Garcia said, "one incident is one incident too many."

Morse jumped onto the Smith-Perrelli pile, Singleton followed and tried to punch the Hurricanes' Calais Campbell -- and benches began to empty.

"It's a real embarrassment," FIU linebacker Keyonvis Bouie said, "especially for our school. ... I'm just really disgusted with our players and the way we handled the situation."

Several players from both sides appeared to throw punches. Meriweather was seen attempting to stomp on FIU players, while an injured Golden Panther swung a crutch menacingly at several Miami players.

The suspensions come at a terrible time for Miami, which has six ACC games remaining -- and probably needs five wins to even have a chance at playing for the conference title.

Yes, Miami is playing winless Duke next. But the Hurricanes will play that game without their best kick returner (Johnson), their second-best running back (Jones), two key secondary members (Meriweather and Randy Phillips), their right guard (Morse) and their punter (Monroe).

Plus, starting right tackle Jason Fox and linebacker Jon Beason were injured in Saturday's game. While Fox's availability for the Duke game isn't known, Beason is expected to miss at least three weeks with a torn ACL, ESPN's Joe Schad reports. Beason, one of Miami's best defensive players, was not injured in the brawl.

Suddenly, what could have been an easy game doesn't look so easy anymore.

Meanwhile, FIU would have been a big underdog at Alabama anyway, but now will visit the Crimson Tide without nearly half of its regular starting lineup.

"I can promise you," Strock said, "that this will never happen again."

It's the latest in a disturbing series of incidents for Miami in recent months.

• Several Miami players fought with LSU players following the Tigers' 40-3 Peach Bowl win.

• Shortly before the Miami-Louisville game Sept. 16, virtually the entire Hurricanes' roster jumped on the Cardinals logo at midfield, an act widely viewed as a taunting gesture. Afterward, some Miami players chided teammates for that incident.

• A Miami player, Willie Cooper, was shot outside his home shortly before training camp began in what players contend was a robbery attempt. Meriweather returned fire; police said he acted legally.

• Wide receiver Ryan Moore, who was suspended for the Peach Bowl for violating team rules, then suspended again for other infractions, is expected to be charged this week with misdemeanors stemming from an August fight with a woman. He hasn't played this season.

And now, perhaps, comes the worst blow.

Still, Miami coach Larry Coker -- who has been under fire all season and whose job security seems to be a constant source of speculation -- bristled when asked if he has control of his team.

"I do have a grip on this program," Coker said. "Don't ever doubt that. Don't ever doubt that." []

About two dozen members of the University of Miami board of trustees met for two hours on Monday morning, spending the last 30 minutes discussing Saturday's ugly brawl with Florida International and the future of Hurricanes coach Larry Coker.
According to the trustee who attended the meeting, President Donna Shalala said: "Nobody's job is in jeopardy now."

Shalala, the trustee said, is standing by her committment to Coker, at least through this season, adding that the fight was "embarrassing" but "not cause for dismissal."

Information from The Associated Press and ESPN's Joe Schad was used in this report.

http://sports.espn.go.com/ncf/news/story?id=2628493

[DanS]

Miami says its one-game suspensions against a winless Duke team have set a new standard for discipline.

http://sports.espn.go.com/ncf/news/story?id=2629429

I guess even I'm a little surprised at the extent of Miami's shamelessness. FIU is taking the appropriate approach.

[SlowwHand]

I'm now a fan of FIU.

"This is certainly embarrassing. It's disgraceful. It's amazing. I've run out of words," FIU coach Don Strock said. "There's no place for it in college football or football period. This is way overboard. I apologize to all the fans of college football for this taking place."

Probation? Anger management?
Quite the other end of the spectrum from Miami.

[Eroberer]

I agree with the comments that I've seen, that Miami doesn't want to throw anyone under the bus for this. A lot of people here seem to want this group of kids to be punished for the actions of past Miami groups. I completely disagree with this position.

[SlowwHand]

No, personally I want a street gang off the field.

[Guynemer]

Poly poll so far:

1. Ohio State (7) 70
2. Michigan 57
3. West Virginia 38
4. Texas 37
5. Louisville 35
6. USC 33
7. Cal 28
8. Tennessee 27
9. Florida 18
10. Notre Dame 12

ARV: Auburn 11, Clemson 8, LSU 7, Arkansas 4.


updated with MRT's ballot

[MRT144]

1. osu
2. michigan
3. wvu
4. usc
5. louisville
6. texas
7. cal
8. tennesee
9. florida
10. clemson

[Donegeal]

Originally posted by Eroberer
I agree with the comments that I've seen, that Miami doesn't want to throw anyone under the bus for this. A lot of people here seem to want this group of kids to be punished for the actions of past Miami groups. I completely disagree with this position.

Your right! I think they should be punished for the past Miami groups like the one from earlier this year that got into two brawls!

[mrmitchell]

running up the score

No class.

If margin of victory is considered it should be capped at 13 points.

[Drake Tungsten]

USC 50 - 14 Arkansas

Running up the score