The fallout from a postgame fight between Howard and North Carolina Central continues with the announced suspension of a coach.
The MEAC office announced that a Howard assistant coach was added to the laundry list of suspensions handed down by the conference, which now totals 37, from the altercation that occurred to last Friday night.
According to Commissioner Sonja Stills, the unnamed assistant coach will be prohibited from participating in Howard’s final game of the season, scheduled for Saturday, against Morgan State University for violating MEAC bylaws.
Howard University did not reveal the identity of the coach after being contacted by HBCU Sports.
During Monday’s MEAC coaches’ videoconference, NC Central coach Trei Oliver and Howard coach Larry Scott were ready to accept accountability for their football teams’ actions.
“I’m very disappointed and embarrassed about our involvement in the altercation,” Oliver said in his opening statement. “There’s no room for that, no reason for fighting. You have 60 minutes. You play hard for 60 minutes, you compete, shake hands, and let’s be done with it.”
Scott said that the lesson his team would learn from Friday’s incident is good sportsmanship.
“At this level, it’s going to get hot, it’s going to get competitive. At the same time, there’s a class about who you are and who you represent,” he said. “Always carry yourself in that fashion first and foremost, and we always talk about the character and class that it takes to have great sportsmanship. That’s what we have to keep at the forefront, no matter what end of the stick you’re on.”
