By KRISTIAN POPE, The News Journal
N.C. brawl shouldn't deter DSU-UD push.
DOVER -- Delaware State football coach Al Lavan said Tuesday he understands the tensions that led to a postgame fight between players from North Carolina A&T and North Carolina Central last Saturday.
"There is disdain, but there's respect [for the opposition]," said Lavan, in his fourth season at DSU after being an assistant coach at, among other stops, Colorado State, Washington and Georgia Tech. Those programs play annual in-state rivals in what often can become the most important game of the season.
"It's almost a contradiction," Lavan said. "There's a healthy disdain for the guy you're playing. I mean, guys who are injured are suddenly healthy enough to play.
"I've never experienced anything like [the A&T-Central fight], but there are some serious emotions involved in rivalry games. There are no guarantees that won't happen again."
Lavan, who said he learned of the A&T-Central incident Monday, said that despite the emotions of an in-state rivalry he still would like to see the Hornets play the University of Delaware in a regular-season football game.
The two schools have played each other in most sports, but never in football.
The issue drew national attention last week after an ESPN.com column by UD graduate and former Sports Illustrated reporter Jeff Pearlman.
"On the playground, no one asks you where you're from," Lavan said. "If we play the game, we play it. If we don't, we don't. But, to me, it's very simple."
Lavan said an in-state rivalry is among the best features of college football. He said some of his fondest memories of coaching and playing at Colorado State came from facing the University of Colorado.
He said coaches must instill in their players the sportsmanship needed in rivalry situations to prevent misconduct on the field.
"It's how you approach it," Lavan said. "There are no guarantees. Anything can happen. But I'd be shocked if something like that happened [in a UD-DSU game]."
North Carolina A&T, a Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference member from Greensboro, has a longstanding football rivalry with North Carolina Central, located in Durham. The teams have played each other nearly every season since 1924, which also was the first year DSU fielded a team.
According to published reports, some North Carolina Central players initiated an altercation after their team's 27-22 victory at North Carolina A&T when they danced on A&T's midfield logo and then tore up pieces of the field.
Reports said police used pepper spray to subdue some players, leading some to vomit on the field.
In the aftermath, North Carolina A&T athletic director Dee Todd said the school is considering canceling next year's game between the teams.
Second-year A&T coach Lee Fobbs said he believed the two schools could move on and not have to eliminate the game.
"I learned a little more of the rivalry as the year went on and prior to the game, but that's rivalry football," Fobbs said.
Said North Carolina Central coach Mose Rison: "We've moved on, and we're looking forward to playing Presbyterian this weekend."
On Tuesday, MEAC commissioner Dennis Thomas said he would analyze the circumstances surrounding the brawl before taking any action. He would not say if the league would intervene in order to keep the game from being canceled.
North Carolina Central, a provisional NCAA Division I-AA program, has petitioned to join the MEAC on a probationary basis beginning next year.
DSU senior defensive end Kelly Rouse said the tensions surrounding a potential DSU-UD game would be similar to what he expects Saturday when the Hornets play at 13th-ranked Hampton.
Rouse said the passion generated between North Carolina A&T and North Carolina Central is inevitable.
"That's got to go somewhere," Rouse said.
N.C. brawl shouldn't deter DSU-UD push.
DOVER -- Delaware State football coach Al Lavan said Tuesday he understands the tensions that led to a postgame fight between players from North Carolina A&T and North Carolina Central last Saturday.
"There is disdain, but there's respect [for the opposition]," said Lavan, in his fourth season at DSU after being an assistant coach at, among other stops, Colorado State, Washington and Georgia Tech. Those programs play annual in-state rivals in what often can become the most important game of the season.
"It's almost a contradiction," Lavan said. "There's a healthy disdain for the guy you're playing. I mean, guys who are injured are suddenly healthy enough to play.
"I've never experienced anything like [the A&T-Central fight], but there are some serious emotions involved in rivalry games. There are no guarantees that won't happen again."
Lavan, who said he learned of the A&T-Central incident Monday, said that despite the emotions of an in-state rivalry he still would like to see the Hornets play the University of Delaware in a regular-season football game.
The two schools have played each other in most sports, but never in football.
The issue drew national attention last week after an ESPN.com column by UD graduate and former Sports Illustrated reporter Jeff Pearlman.
"On the playground, no one asks you where you're from," Lavan said. "If we play the game, we play it. If we don't, we don't. But, to me, it's very simple."
Lavan said an in-state rivalry is among the best features of college football. He said some of his fondest memories of coaching and playing at Colorado State came from facing the University of Colorado.
He said coaches must instill in their players the sportsmanship needed in rivalry situations to prevent misconduct on the field.
"It's how you approach it," Lavan said. "There are no guarantees. Anything can happen. But I'd be shocked if something like that happened [in a UD-DSU game]."
North Carolina A&T, a Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference member from Greensboro, has a longstanding football rivalry with North Carolina Central, located in Durham. The teams have played each other nearly every season since 1924, which also was the first year DSU fielded a team.
According to published reports, some North Carolina Central players initiated an altercation after their team's 27-22 victory at North Carolina A&T when they danced on A&T's midfield logo and then tore up pieces of the field.
Reports said police used pepper spray to subdue some players, leading some to vomit on the field.
In the aftermath, North Carolina A&T athletic director Dee Todd said the school is considering canceling next year's game between the teams.
Second-year A&T coach Lee Fobbs said he believed the two schools could move on and not have to eliminate the game.
"I learned a little more of the rivalry as the year went on and prior to the game, but that's rivalry football," Fobbs said.
Said North Carolina Central coach Mose Rison: "We've moved on, and we're looking forward to playing Presbyterian this weekend."
On Tuesday, MEAC commissioner Dennis Thomas said he would analyze the circumstances surrounding the brawl before taking any action. He would not say if the league would intervene in order to keep the game from being canceled.
North Carolina Central, a provisional NCAA Division I-AA program, has petitioned to join the MEAC on a probationary basis beginning next year.
DSU senior defensive end Kelly Rouse said the tensions surrounding a potential DSU-UD game would be similar to what he expects Saturday when the Hornets play at 13th-ranked Hampton.
Rouse said the passion generated between North Carolina A&T and North Carolina Central is inevitable.
"That's got to go somewhere," Rouse said.
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