SWAC suspends 23 players after postgame fight between Grambling State, Arkansas-Pine Bluff

A postgame fight that spilled over into several individual brawls after Arkansas-Pine Bluff‘s 35-32 win over Grambling State has triggered suspensions from the Southwestern Athletic Conference (SWAC). In total 23 players were suspended. The conference announced the suspensions on Tuesday morning, with nine players from Arkansas-Pine Bluff and 14 players from Grambling State caught up in the mix. The conference noted that “multiple players” were hit with two-game suspensions “due to the severity of their actions,” but the conference did not name individuals. [ $39.99 gets you a FULL year of On3 | Rivals national coverage ] Both schools were fined $25,000 for their involvement in the infractions, which were determined after a thorough investigation and a coordinated review with both schools. “We’re extremely disappointed by the events that transpired during postgame of the Arkansas-Pine Bluff at Grambling State football game,” said SWAC Commissioner Dr. Charles McClelland in a press release. “Acts of that nature have zero place in the Southwestern Athletic Conference and intercollegiate athletics.” “The Conference Office has and will continue to enforce a zero-tolerance policy for all acts deemed to be unsportsmanlike and contrary to the high standard of good sportsmanship we expect from all individuals associated with the athletics programs within our league.” The SWAC certainly had plenty to review after the incident. A 42-second video posted on Twitter by HBCU Sports of the altercation showed at least three separate groups participating in an all-out melee. It began with with Arkansas-Pine Bluff players dancing on the field, to which some Grambling State players appeared to take exception. After a few swings were taken, the melee intensified. Assistants tried mostly unsuccessfully to separate a few individuals, while others took up the fight in different directions. In one case, a player appeared to be dragged to the ground with others on top of him. Multiple helmets came loose in the fracas. As for the game, it was a compelling SWAC contest. Arkansas-Pine Bluff surged into the lead with a touchdown on a 3-yard Jaylen Jennings run midway through the fourth quarter. The team tacked on another touchdown on a 76-yard punt return touchdown by Daedae Allen to take a 35-25 lead. Grambling State would cut into the lead minutes later with a 78-yard touchdown pass from Byron Eaton to Jacobe Robinson, making it 35-32. However, Arkansas-Pine Bluff put together a time-consuming drive and a final play with three seconds remaining for Grambling State came up empty on a multi-lateral attempt, with the play ending near midfield.