Southern University and UAPB brawl leaves SWAC with black eye

Posted by on Sunday, October 16, 2011 · 21 Comments  

Southern University and UAPB brawl

The SWAC is known for its competitive games, but nothing could’ve prepared the SWAC for what happened after the feisty contest between Southern University and University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff.

The game was over with UAPB winning 22-21, and it was time to shake hands. Instead, fists flew with nearly every player from both teams getting a piece of the action. Helmets were knocked off, heads were bashed with helmets … it was just an all out brawl.

The videos are disturbing, which are filled with fans egging the players on or throwing bottles at the Southern players (the game was played at UAPB). It’s an ugly incident and one that gives the SWAC another black eye.

Southern is known for its fighting lifestyle. The most recent major event occurred between Southern and Jackson State University at the SWAC Championships for indoor track in 2008.

But, it’s still unfortunate this incident happened. The SWAC has to do something to help prevent incidents like this one, especially in the age of the digital media. The brawl was very ugly, and it occurred without the refs to help break up the fight, as they had already left the field.

The brawl is a tricky situation to handle. Southern University’s football team is already suspended from postseason play due to low grades. UAPB is in the SWAC West, which is already crippled since Southern is in the same division.

That leaves only three possible teams for Championship contention: Grambling State, Prairie View A&M, and Texas Southern.

The SWAC has to deal with the PR nightmare this situation has created. No matter what decision they make, there’s going to be pundits that think that the punishments are too harsh or too lenient. Plus, they also have to worry about upcoming games to be played at UAPB due to the fans throwing objects at the players.

Whatever the case may be, the SWAC has to act swiftly and justly in order to help curtail events like this. It likely won’t be the last fight on the football field to ever happen, but it shouldn’t become commonplace.

UAPB’s next game, a home game, is against Grambling on Oct. 29. Southern’s next game, a home game, is against Alcorn State on the same date.

About Darryl D. Smith

Darryl D. Smith is an award-winning journalist and photographer. He is a graduate of Grambling State University with a bacehlor's and master's in Mass Communication. He's also an Xbox 360 connoisseur.

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  • smiley24

    This has nothing to do with the SWAC but the idiots at southern university that cannot discipline the so called student athletes they place extra curricular scholarships in thier hands to promote their program. This school is known for this type behavior from the band straight to their athletics. Don’t blame the SWAC focus on su and jackson state for this type behavior.

    • Anonymous

      They are representatives of the SWAC. Everything they do will fall on the SWAC — fortunately and unfortunately.

  • PROUD GOLDEN LION

    HOW DO YOU KNOW THAT THE GUY THAT WAS THROWING THE BOTTLES FROM UAPB?? YOU CANNOT ASSUME ANYTHING!! FROM WHAT I HEARD HE ATTENDS JACKSON STATE BUT WAS AT UAPB’S GAME. I HOPE THEY REALLY THINK THIS THING THROUGH. I TRAVEL MOST OF THE UAPB GAMES AND NOT ONCE HAVE THEY (UAPB) ACTED OUT IN SUCH MATTER. WHAT I CAN SAY WHEN WE TRAVEL TO SU YOU CAN EXPECT TO BE CURSED AT, STUFF THROWN AT YOU, ETC.

    • Anonymous

      They admitted it on Twitter and Facebook. He wasn’t the only one throwing bottles.

  • Gary O. Owens

    The fans throwing objects may have been UAPB fans or they may have been Southern fans. The fans arrested may have been Southern or they may have been UAPB fans and the fight occurred on Southern’s side of the filed.. Those arrested should be barred from sporting events for life with their pictures posted at every gate and ticket booth. I saw many of the UAPB players and Southern players restraining their fellow teammates. The vast majority of UAPB fans remained on the home side away from the fight.

  • Dannelle Walker

    I take issue with the “facts” of this article. In a stadium full of both UAPB and Southern fans, you cannot possibly use the fact that “the game was played at UAPB” to pin the object-throwing to one set unless you physically saw only one set of fans throwing objects. And with the chaos that ensued stadium-wide, I doubt you saw that. Additionally, your quote that “nearly every player got a piece of the action” suggests that every player was fighting, which unless you were on the field, you do not know to be true. Frankly, this article contains many holes. For example, a more credible article would included a quote from a SWAC official on his/her position as to the seemingly recurring brawls. Please stick to fact reporting, not speculation.

    • Anonymous

      If you look on the YouTube video, you will see an UAPB student throwing a water bottle at a student. Also, several students did admit to doing so on Facebook and Twitter. That is not speculation.

      Secondly, the original video I linked was removed (smartly) and it showed nearly every player throwing at least one haymaker. Also, several newscasters said that it was an all-out brawl. Not speculation.

  • Sualum2004

    This article is so biased and typical of a Gram alum. Fighting in athletics has occured at more than just Southern University in the SWAC and in the nation. The problem is not with SU but rather with atheletes in general, professional or otherwise. I agree with the decisions made by the SWAC to suspend those students from play and I believe it sends the right message, but for you to attack SU by saying it is known for it’s fighting lifestye? Give me a break. If that is the case anytime a reporter types something about a black male I can assume you fall into the same category. This article is as ignorant as the person who wrote it. Get it together and don’t fault a university but rather the individuals.

    • Anonymous

      You should research Southern’s history in fighting in athletics. There are numerous accounts saying that Southern’s athletes — especially in football — are quick to throw hands. Do I like the fact that it’s true? No. But is it true? Yes. The fact that I’m a Grambling alum has nothing to do with this article. I would chastise Grambling — and have before — in the same situation.

      As far as being called ignorant, I’ve been called way worse.

      • Sualum2004

        I understand that SU atheletes fight, but my point was they do that same at GRAM, LSU, in the NFL and such, so why make such horrible statements about SU? it makes no sense and as a young black male, I would expect better. Rather than speaking badly about SU, you should speak about bad conduct in general. Your article is biased and you should know better. If I were like you, I could say that everytime I see a black male I should hold my purse tighter, pray he doesn’t rape or kill me and make no direct eye contact.

        • Anonymous

          The article is about Southern University and UAPB. I didn’t speak badly about just SU. UAPB was also mentioned in the article. I never said ALL Southern athletes fight. I never said ALL UAPB athletes fight. I never said ALL HBCU athletes fight. You’re nitpicking about one thing instead of understanding the purpose about the article.

          Does this fight leave the SWAC with a black eye? Yes. ESPN even covered the fact that the SWAC suspended 41 players for their post-game brawl. That’s rare and nearly unheard of. That’s a black eye, and that’s what Southern and UAPB will be accredited with.

          • Sualum2004

            What I’m saying and the point you keep avoiding is that atheletes in general fight, this article should be broader. This shouldn’t leave SU, UAPB or the SWAC with a black eye, but atheletes in general. They should be held to a higher standard. This is an individuals fault not a university or an atheletic department. SU and UAPB both have codes of conduct and those rules were broken. Futhermore, I don’t know what you mean when you say you never said ALL SU athletes fight, because clearly your article states, “Southern is known for its fighting lifestyle.” What does that mean? If I’m reading your article I would assume that means that SU students like to fight.

          • Anonymous

            Again…there was no need to be broader. The article focuses strictly on Southern and UAPB. If this was written in a general sense, I could understand your point. But, it is focusing on — what was then — a recent action. It’s not an exposé on collegiate athletic fights.

            As I’ve stated before, numerous fan reports from schools other than Grambling say that Southern U. loves to pick a fight after games. It’s not something I’m fabricating.

            By the way, a statement that says “Southern is known for its fighting lifestyle” doesn’t mean that ALL athletes fight. I’ve heard people say that “Grambling is known for its winning lifestyle” or the “Dallas Cowboys are known as America’s team.” Does this mean that everything associated with Grambling is a winner? No. Does this mean that everyone has the Dallas Cowboys as their team? No.

            Please stop nitpicking.

  • HDSHETLONTXSOALUM

    GOOD ARTICLE D. AS ALWAYS, KEEP IT UP

    • Anonymous

      Thank you!

  • Petty Kerry

    Did you see the Brawl on live tv on ESPN last night of the UCLA & Arizona game?

  • Petty Kerry

    I have read a negative comments on SU, get your facts right because not all schools in the SWAC, PAC 10 nor any other conferences in the NCAA. So back off the Southern Jaguars!!!!

  • Petty Kerry

    Everyone precious teams in the NCAA in these conferences as well as the SWAC is not perfect angels. GSU players didnt do Coach Robinson right before he retired. (Read up & research my people) UCLA & Arizona proves that the big schools has problems too during games, right in the second quarter of that game, on tv, wow!

    • Anonymous

      I never said anyone was an angel. I never said that any school was perfect. Where are you getting this from? I know about how Grambling treated Eddie G. Robinson during his “retirement”, and if I were blogging then, I would’ve gotten on them about it.

      As far as the UCLA and Arizona game, that is also a black eye to their conference. Their brawl isn’t worse or less worse than Southern and UAPB. Both brawls are sad and have no place in collegiate sports — although it was entertaining seeing a fake ref run on the field before the UCLA-Arizona brawl.

  • hategsu

    I hope UAPB beat grambling . Grambling is always overrate. even with doug williams

  • Keiya Robinson

    I usually do not comment on blogs, but this really infurriates me because of one person’s biased opinion!!!!! Mr. Smith, if you are going to state the so called facts, please use direct quotations from the sources that you are using. I watched the video,and how can you make the determination that “everyone” threw haymakers!!!! You stated that someone that was there told you that they witnessed all football players get a piece of the action. REALLY!!!! I am a sports fan, as well as an alumni of SU, and it is ridiculous for you to write such a biased artice, but what can you expect from a GSU Alum or fan for that matter? Now just think about the statement that I just made about GSU Alum or fans. That’s a pretty braod generalization isn’t it? It is not fair for me to catorgorize everyone from GSU in the same category as you based on your rediculous article. Everyone from SU does not fight, or engages in picking fights. I have gone to numerous Bayou Classic games, and after events, and have seen with my own two eyes Grambling fans start crap with SU fans, so what????? Some of my good friends graduated from Gram, and I do not make idiotic statements to them becasue of the stupidity of some of the choices that players, or other fans make. Anfd for the person that said that people from SU are idoits, I happen to be a very successful in my career, so an idiot I am not! So please be careful of what you say, and who you say it about! i do not hear anyone speaking on the fact when Gram lost their accredidation. Every College or University goes through it’s ups and downs at some point or another. If some came in your face and swung on you, would you just walk away, or would your normal human reflexes kick in and would you swing back???? Keep it real Mr. Smith!!!!!! Were you there??????