SWAC staggers fight suspensions

— Repercussions from a postgame fight with Southern University of Baton Rouge won’t be felt as harshly for Arkansas-Pine Bluff on Saturday.

But the Golden Lions will be without some players for an additional game after the Southwestern Athletic Conference chose to stagger the suspensions of 25 players Tuesday.

The SWAC announced Tuesday afternoon that 12 UAPB players will be suspended for Saturday’s game against Grambling State at Golden Lion Stadium, 12 for a Nov. 5 game against Alabama State and six for a game at Mississippi Valley State on Nov. 12.

Originally, the SWAC suspended 25 UAPB players for Saturday’s game and five for that game and against Alabama State for using what it described as “excessive force” during a fight between both teams following UAPB’s 22-21 victory Oct. 15.

The SWAC ruled the five UAPB players who were suspended two games must serve those immediately, and the 20 one-game suspensions were divided alphabetically.

The SWAC’s release said it was honoring the request of both schools to stagger the penalties and was considering the “safety and welfare” of the players.

“Let me reiterate, however, these suspensions send a clear and definitive message that this type of behavior will not be tolerated,” SWAC Commissioner Duer Sharp said.

The league also lifted the suspension of Southern linebacker Corry Roy after “it was confirmed that Roy did not participate in the altercation,” but 15 Southern players will still serve at least a onegame suspension.

The number of suspended players, now at 40, is still a record doled out by the SWAC.

UAPB Athletic Director Lonza Hardy Jr. said in a statement that he was pleased the league granted the request of the schools and that the UAPB players involved also will participate in community service and anger management sessions.

“This has been a learning experience for all of our student-athletes, and I know that they regret their actions,” Hardy said. “I am happy that this matter can now be put to rest and that they can move forward with being the positive role models that they have been in the past.”

Following Tuesday’s practice, UAPB Coach Monte Coleman said he was relieved to know what players he’ll have Saturday and which players he won’t, even though he would have preferred the suspensions be spread out over the final four games instead of three.

“I’m just glad it’s done,” Coleman said. “I think we’re better off. ... We’re preparing just like we normally prepare. So far the tempo has been the same, and the thing we want to do is prepare whoever we’ve got starting this week for this particular ballgame.”

Grambling State Coach Doug Williams, a former Washington Redskins teammate of Coleman’s, told a Louisiana newspaper Monday that he’s disappointed the SWAC adjusted the suspensions.

“[The fight] was a black eye for the conference, and now they’re talking about a reprieve?” Williams told the Shreveport Times. “They went out there and fought as a group. They didn’t go out there 10 at a time and fight. They did the crime. They should do the time.”

Coleman said Tuesday he hadn’t heard of Williams’ comments but didn’t take offense.

“That’s Doug’s opinion,” Coleman said.

Take a seat

The Southwestern Athletic Conference chose Tuesday to spread out suspensions stemming from a postgame fight between Arkansas-Pine Bluff and Southern University of Baton Rouge over three games. Previously, the 25 UAPB players serving at least a one-game suspension all would have missed Saturday’s game against Grambling State. Below is a list of which players will sit out which games.

VS. GRAMBLING STATE

WHEN Saturday SUSPENDED WR Dezmond Beverly*, WR Devontaa Bryant, RB Stephen Jones, OL Lyron McClenney, LB Chukwaso Oputa, RB Justin Billings, LB Joe Dalton, WR Cordara Frazier, WR Mose Frazier, DB Brandon Fulton, DB Kendrick Gray, LB DB Jherron Harris.

VS. ALABAMA STATE

WHEN Nov. 5 SUSPENDED WR Dezmond Beverly*, WR Devontaa Bryant, RB Stephen Jones, OL Lyron McClenney, LB Chukwaso Oputa, OL Colton Jones, DE Damien Lee, OL Jamaal Phillips, DB Antonio Richmond, DB Kevin Rucker Jr., WR Donnie Scott, DB Ryan Shaw

AT MISSISSIPPI VALLEY STATE

WHEN Nov. 12 SUSPENDED TE T.J. Shelton, OL K.J. Smith, WR Eric Thomas, LB Derrick Timber, LB Devonne Tingle, DB Charles Williams

*Player suspended for two games

Sports, Pages 28 on 10/26/2011

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