PINE BLUFF — Monte Coleman and Stump Mitchell gathered in Coleman’s office after most had left Golden Lion Stadium on Oct. 15.
The two coaches had seen their Arkansas-Pine Bluff and Southern University of Baton Rouge players fight in front of almost 10,000 fans after UAPB’s 22-21 victory, and even more saw it after television cameras put footage online not long after.
But after all the punches had been thrown and the pepper spray had cleared, UAPB’s Coleman and Southern’s Mitchell talked, said they were sorry and hugged.
“Just me and him,” Coleman said earlier this week. “It was not typical of either coach or either team. ... But it happened, and we’ve learned from it.”
Both teams hope to move on from what Coleman called “uncharacteristic” events that led to 40 players from both teams being suspended for at least one game over the next three weeks.
And the Golden Lions today will try to start putting the finishing touches on a Southwestern Athletic Conference Western Division title - which would be their first since 2006 - while missing at least six players for each of their next three games.
UAPB (4-3, 3-2) will be without 12 players when it meets Grambling State (3-4, 2-3) at 2:30 p.m. in Pine Bluff. That’s better than the 25 players SWAC originally suspended for today before later deciding to spread out thepenalties over three weeks at the request of both schools.
The list of players sitting out today include these crucial contributors:
Dezmond Beverly, leading receiver with 30 catches, 263 yards and 2 touchdowns.
Stephen Jones, second in the SWAC with 9 rushing touchdowns.
Lyron McClenney, who has started each game at right tackle.
Justin Billings, who had 101 yards rushing against Southern.
Joe Dalton, second on the team with 52 tackles, leads team with 10 1/2 for loss.
Linebacker Bill Ross said the losses, most notably Dalton on defense, will be tough to overcome. But he’s looking forward to playing, so that he and his teammates can put behind them the events that led to a long two weeks of reminders and discussions about the suspensions.
“I’m tired of hearing about it,” he said. “I’m tired of seeing stuff on Twitter, tired of seeing it on YouTube.
“People don’t really know what went on, really don’t know what happened, don’t even have a clue. ... I’m really looking forward to playing this one.”
Quarterback Ben Anderson said he’s ready to take more control of an offense that will be without four key pieces.
Anderson, a freshman from Little Rock Parkview, has been helped mostly by a running game that ranks second in the SWAC at 170.9 yards per game and by an improving offensive line throughout his first season as a starter.
Brian Niedermeyer, who was recruited as a tight end, could get his first start in place of McClenney at right tackle. UAPB will also be without Jones and Billings, who combined for 163 yards and 2 touchdowns in the victory over Southern.
Anderson’s passing yardage has dropped over the past three weeks - from 195 to 82 - but he hasn’t thrown an interception in the last three games as he grows more comfortable in his role.
Today, he could be asked to do more than he has all season.
“I feel at this point I should be able to take over the offense,” Anderson said. “Of course, it’ll hurt not having the running game. But I feel I should be able to step up and do what I need to do in any game.”
Coleman said he isn’t too concerned with his running game, even without Jones and Billings. The Golden Lions still have leading rusher Adrian Moore and Dennis Jenkins, who had 111 yards and a touchdown against Southern, twoplayers that weren’t included among those suspended.
“That’s where we’re more favorable,” Coleman said.
Coleman said it’s possible the suspensions will be felt. as the Golden Lions look at their clearest path to the SWAC Championship game in his four seasons as head coach - a path that will have to be forged partially by players who, until this point, haven’t been asked to do a whole lot.
“Some of the guys on second and third team, should be ready to shine,” Coleman said. “I expect them to go 100 mph.”
Sports, Pages 26 on 10/29/2011