By MIKE POTTER, The Herald-Sun
N.C. Central and North Carolina A&T may or may not meet on the football field next season.
Apparently, everyone will just have to wait a few days to find out.
After the teams' postgame fight Saturday night after NCCU won 27-22 at Aggie Stadium, A&T athletics director Dee Todd reportedly told The News & Observer that she didn't want the Eagles and Aggies to play in 2008.
Chancellors Charlie Nelms of NCCU and Stanley Battle of N.C. A&T spoke by telephone concerning the situation, and they released a joint statement Monday evening.
"Presently, we have not made a decision regarding the future athletic events between our teams but we are jointly collaborating as sister institutions to decide the best course," Battle and Nelms said in the statement (the entire text is on Page D5). "The primary factor in making our final decision will be our responsibility to our students."
Earlier Monday, Battle said he will release a statement "later on this week concerning when N.C. A&T plans to play the return game against N.C. Central."
"The North Carolina A&T logo was stomped following a very spirited football game, where athletes competed vigorously on Saturday night," according to an official statement released by the Aggies' athletics department. "We regret the conflict that ensued, for this is not indicative of what we represent. The teams were immediately separated. N.C. A&T Police and Public Safety officials were on the scene. No one was hurt.
"Please keep in mind, this is an isolated incident. No charges have been filed to this point. N.C. A&T and N.C. Central have had a long relationship as athletic rivals in many different sports. Saturday's brief incident is in no way indicative of the prestigious and proud history of both universities. Both schools have produced some of the most famous, distinguished and brightest citizens in our society today. Therefore, in the end, our common ground and number one mission is educating young people."
Todd also was quoted as saying: "A couple of their coaches led them out there and were in the middle. One of the coaches picked up a patch of dirt off the dog [logo on the field] and threw it. You know, that's just disrespectful and terribly unsportsmanlike. ... Coaches are your leaders, and if a coach does that, then, you can't really expect the kids to do anything different."
When contacted Monday afternoon, NCCU head coach Mose Rison said his coaching staff acted appropriately during the incident and referred to a written statement that was released Sunday night.
"On behalf of my staff, I will state that I believe we acted immediately and properly, and that our student-athletes responded accordingly to our instructions," Rison said, adding he planned no further comment on the postgame incident.
The Eagles improved to 4-1 with the victory Saturday night and stretched A&T's losing streak to 20 games -- the longest in the Football Championship Subdivision. NCCU has won two straight in the 83-year-old series, which was not contested in 2006.
After the end of the contest, which was sealed by Eric Ray's interception at the goal line in the closing seconds, there was a fight at midfield involving perhaps a couple of dozen players. A line of several NCCU players had been dancing at midfield when several A&T players took exception and began pushing and shoving before punches were thrown.
The altercation ended after less than two minutes, dispersed by pepper-spray wielding campus police from both schools. No fans were involved, no one was arrested and no one was seriously injured.
One unnamed NCCU player is serving a team-imposed one-week suspension for his part in the scuffle.
A&T is a member of the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference, while NCCU currently competes as an independent. MEAC commissioner Dennis Thomas said his conference can sanction players for misbehavior associated with non-conference games.
"The situation is still being investigated," Thomas said. "We will have a comment when the investigation is complete."
N.C. Central and North Carolina A&T may or may not meet on the football field next season.
Apparently, everyone will just have to wait a few days to find out.
After the teams' postgame fight Saturday night after NCCU won 27-22 at Aggie Stadium, A&T athletics director Dee Todd reportedly told The News & Observer that she didn't want the Eagles and Aggies to play in 2008.
Chancellors Charlie Nelms of NCCU and Stanley Battle of N.C. A&T spoke by telephone concerning the situation, and they released a joint statement Monday evening.
"Presently, we have not made a decision regarding the future athletic events between our teams but we are jointly collaborating as sister institutions to decide the best course," Battle and Nelms said in the statement (the entire text is on Page D5). "The primary factor in making our final decision will be our responsibility to our students."
Earlier Monday, Battle said he will release a statement "later on this week concerning when N.C. A&T plans to play the return game against N.C. Central."
"The North Carolina A&T logo was stomped following a very spirited football game, where athletes competed vigorously on Saturday night," according to an official statement released by the Aggies' athletics department. "We regret the conflict that ensued, for this is not indicative of what we represent. The teams were immediately separated. N.C. A&T Police and Public Safety officials were on the scene. No one was hurt.
"Please keep in mind, this is an isolated incident. No charges have been filed to this point. N.C. A&T and N.C. Central have had a long relationship as athletic rivals in many different sports. Saturday's brief incident is in no way indicative of the prestigious and proud history of both universities. Both schools have produced some of the most famous, distinguished and brightest citizens in our society today. Therefore, in the end, our common ground and number one mission is educating young people."
Todd also was quoted as saying: "A couple of their coaches led them out there and were in the middle. One of the coaches picked up a patch of dirt off the dog [logo on the field] and threw it. You know, that's just disrespectful and terribly unsportsmanlike. ... Coaches are your leaders, and if a coach does that, then, you can't really expect the kids to do anything different."
When contacted Monday afternoon, NCCU head coach Mose Rison said his coaching staff acted appropriately during the incident and referred to a written statement that was released Sunday night.
"On behalf of my staff, I will state that I believe we acted immediately and properly, and that our student-athletes responded accordingly to our instructions," Rison said, adding he planned no further comment on the postgame incident.
The Eagles improved to 4-1 with the victory Saturday night and stretched A&T's losing streak to 20 games -- the longest in the Football Championship Subdivision. NCCU has won two straight in the 83-year-old series, which was not contested in 2006.
After the end of the contest, which was sealed by Eric Ray's interception at the goal line in the closing seconds, there was a fight at midfield involving perhaps a couple of dozen players. A line of several NCCU players had been dancing at midfield when several A&T players took exception and began pushing and shoving before punches were thrown.
The altercation ended after less than two minutes, dispersed by pepper-spray wielding campus police from both schools. No fans were involved, no one was arrested and no one was seriously injured.
One unnamed NCCU player is serving a team-imposed one-week suspension for his part in the scuffle.
A&T is a member of the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference, while NCCU currently competes as an independent. MEAC commissioner Dennis Thomas said his conference can sanction players for misbehavior associated with non-conference games.
"The situation is still being investigated," Thomas said. "We will have a comment when the investigation is complete."
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