By Rob Daniels, Greensboro News-Record
A brawl followed the end of N.C. A&T's loss to N.C. Central on Saturday in Greensboro.
After a post-game brawl Saturday, the Aggies might cancel their football series with N.C. Central.
GREENSBORO -- Almost immediately after its return from a one-year hiatus, the football series between N.C. A&T and N.C. Central is again imperiled. Disturbed by Saturday's postgame fight, an incident apparently instigated by Eagles players, officials at A&T have discussed canceling the schools' scheduled 2008 meeting and will take up the topic again today when Chancellor Stanley F. Battle convenes his regular cabinet meeting this morning, an athletics administrator said Sunday.
Associate athletics director Wheeler Brown said the issue is on the agenda in light of events late Saturday night. Moments after Central's 27-22 win, some Eagles ran to midfield and jumped -- intentionally and derisively, A&T said -- on the Aggie logo, an intense-looking bulldog. That irritated the Aggies, who had just lost their 20th straight game. Players clashed, threw punches and were ultimately dispersed when A&T police officers interceded with pepper spray, players and coaches said. Players from both teams vomited after coming in contact with the irritant, commonly used by police in crowd control.
Saturday's contest, the 79th in the history of a series that began in 1924, was the first on either campus since 1992. The institutions signed a contract to play in Aggie Stadium in 2007 and at a site of Central's choosing in 2008, but the fight has clouded that.
"We feel our kids were provoked," Brown said. "We're not condoning what happened by any means."
Central athletics director Bill Hayes said Sunday he has suspended one unnamed player for one game and may mete out further punishment if necessary. On Friday night, Hayes was among four legendary former coaches whom A&T honored for their service to the school. Owner of the most wins in Aggie football history, he was fired following the 2002 season, and he became AD at Central, his alma mater, shortly thereafter.
Both schools issued carefully and passively worded statements about Saturday's fight.
"The N.C. A&T logo was stomped following a very spirited football game where athletes competed vigorously," A&T's missive said. "We regret the conflict that (ensued), for this is not indicative of what we represent. The teams were immediately separated. A&T Police & Public Safety officials were on the scene. No one was hurt.
"This is an isolated incident. No charges have been filed at this point pending further investigation led by Police and Public Safety Chief Richard Holden. Additional information will be disseminated per Chief Holden's investigation.
"N.C. A&T and NCCU have had a long relationship as athletic rivals for many years. In the end, our common ground and number one mission is educating young people."
Dee Todd, A&T's athletics director, did not respond to telephone calls seeking comment.
Eagles coach Mose Rison did not address whether his players initiated the melee. He praised them for what he termed their quick acceptance of directives to stop whatever had been started.
"After our game Saturday, emotions were running very high; however, we still expected to walk across the field and conduct the traditional handshake," Rison said. "Instead, some physical aggression erupted, and thanks to the quick action of the police, was made brief. 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.
"In every level of football I have ever coached, there is always an arch rivalry. These games are exciting to watch and exciting to play and coach. They mean a great deal to the teams, the fans, the institutions, and to the alumni. The challenge to all of us is to channel our excitement and emotions and keep them on a level that honors the sport and the work that goes into it. When the game is over, we need to share our elation in a positive manner. We need to feel our disappointment without taking it out on anybody else."
The incident is the latest chapter in an on-again, off-again series between the schools.
The institutions began the rivalry in 1924 and met every year from 1945-92. After skipping 1993 over unspecified contractual disagreements, they resumed in 1994 but took the game to N.C. State's Carter-Finley Stadium, where it remained through 2005. In 2002, they turned over administration of the event to the Capital Area Sports Foundation, a tax-exempt arm of Raleigh municipal government that still hasn't paid them in full for the 2005 game. A&T cited the foundation's breach of contract in declining to play the Eagles in 2006, but Central's decision to seek full NCAA Division I status and to apply for MEAC membership compelled a renewal of the rivalry.
The Eagles had hoped to have a deal with the MEAC by now, but nothing has been finalized. Brown said the conference effectively placed all expansion plans on hold some time ago.
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