Pac-12 suspended 10 - including six Bruins - after brawl at Arizona
The Pac-12 has suspended six UCLA players - and four Arizona Wildcats - for their roles in a brawl that occured with :04 seconds left in Arizona's 48-12 win over the Bruins on Thursday night.
With UCLA with the ball at its own 43-yard line and the half about to conclude, a streaker ran across the Arizona Stadium field, drawing the attention of the referees and school officials. Meanwhile, a shoving match erupted at midfield between UCLA wide receivers Randall Carroll, Taylor Embree and Shaq Evans and Arizona defensive backs Shaq Richardson, Marquis Flowers and Jourdon Grandon.
Within seconds, both benches cleared, several players on each team throwing punches and taking each other to the ground while players on both sides tried to stop the melee.
Embree and Richardson - a former UCLA commit kicked off the team before his freshman season even began - were immediately ejected and received additional one-game suspensions for the Bruins' next game against Cal on Oct. 29 at the Rose Bowl.
Evans, Carroll and fellow wide receiver Ricky Marvray were suspended for the Cal game, defensive tackle Cassius Marsh received a two-game suspension and guard Alberto Cid received a half-game suspension.
In addition to Richardson's one-game suspension for Arizona, Gourdon also was suspended a game and defensive backs Lyle Brown and Mark Watley received half-game suspensions each.
"The Conference is extremely disappointed in the actions of the student-athletes involved in this incident," Pac-12 commissioner Larry Scott said. "It is unacceptable behavior and violated conference rules, as well as NCAA fighting rules. I have taken these actions today because it is imperative that we hold our student-athletes and coaches to the highest standards of sportsmanship."
UCLA head coach Rick Neuheisel issued a statement condemning his players role in the incident, but said after the game that he was unsure if he'd punish the players further.
"On behalf of the entire UCLA football program, I respect the Pac-12's decision to suspend six of our players after the unfortunate incident in the second quarter of yesterday's Arizona game," Neuheisel said. "As a program, we certainly do not condone the actions of our student-athletes involved, no matter what circumstances they found themselves in at the time. As the head coach, I am very disappointed with their actions. I told each and every one of our players as much in the locker room, both at halftime, and at the conclusion of the game. Everyone here understands the expectations and responsibilities we share, and that representing UCLA on the field of play is a privilege."
Some Bruins ran onto the field and began pulling teammates away, but several punches were landed.
"There's only so much some guys can do to hold a bunch of guys back," UCLA junior tight end Joseph Fauria said. "We tried. Some guys and myself tried to hold everyone back. There were also guys who made the wrong choice of trying to fight back. That's not what we need right now."
UCLA is now in a precarious position at wide receiver, with only Nelson Rosario, Josh Smith, former walk-on Jerry Rice, Jr. and true freshman Devin Lucien - who has not played a snap this year and was expected to redshirt - available against the Bears.
Josh Smith?
As a player's parent, that was terrible to see. Shaq Richardson had been going back and forth with players all game prior to the brawl. Unfortunately we dropped down to his level and the level of Arizona fans in general. The whole game was a mess but their fans are the worst.
Please somebody turn this around.
well, you can't say that Bruin players have no fight in them.
that leaves only 3 receivers for the bruins because Stone Hands Rosario is not really a receiver. He really tries, but its just not working out.
Anybody else think the suspensions weren't equal or just. AZ thugsdeserve more and longer suspensions. What a joke.
Too depressed to think about it with so much of a joke of the season still ahead.
So FAURIA can catch AND he was trying to get guys to stop fighting... CRN you gonna throw to him vs. CAL or no...??????????
Neuheisel issued a statement and made no mention of his resignation. He said he's "disappointed in the players". Well, the Alumni Association is disappointed in you. Please alumni, boycott this game and show fat-ass Dan Guerrero what happens when you put crappy product on the field.
what about Jerry Johnson?
It appears to me that the conference went easy on Arizona. That turd bucket shaq Richardson is a thug piece of turd. I hope UCLA can exact some revenge on them next year at the rosebowl. I'll be there and I'll be telling Arizona fan, players and coaches what a bunch of thugs they are.
It was wrong that the players got out if hand, but I'm not as upset as other people. UCLA wasn't showing any heart in the game and the Arizona players were giving the a bunch of shit for it. I wish the team had more fight in them, though not exactly like that.
They take on the vibe of their coach who sounded like he was waking from a nap during the pre game interview on the radio. The coach doesn't need to be crazy like stoops, but he shouldn't be sleep walking either.
I believe if shaq Richardson wasn't a football player he'd be headed for the joint. He gas that air about him.
The PAC-12 should have been more even-handed on this one. That does not excuse rick for his lousy coaching. He'll be hearing it from me this Saturday. Him and Dan guerrero will both be hearing a lot of boos and hisses on Saturday, you can take that to the bank.
A true failure of leadership by the head coach. Give him a lifetime contract.
They forgot one suspension : Neuheisel.
The Good News: These suspensions will help ensure that we lose to Cal next week with the ultimate goal of having a new head coach next year!
Its funny how someone is called a thug when they are talking smack. Wasn't Richadson a praised recruit until he decided to rob fellow students with 2 other dummies and was kicked out?? Cassius Marsh was highly touted as well, who's mom didn't want him to attend USC because of its location. Seems she already had a violent hothead in her house.
I'm sure Richardson was rubbing in that a** whuppin but they were words and most football players run their mouths. I don't blame the players. It all falls back on The Weasel. Players have lost respect for this horrible program he has run into the ground. He said they aren't going to quit but he failed to realize that the brawl was a sign that they have already quit on you and that it will only get worse. UCLA needs to relieve Guerrero and The Weasel from their duties and start anew after this total embarrassment to our city!
I re-watched the fight and the Pac12 didn't go too hard on AZ. It was all a mess but they got all the players that threw punches. A lot were shoving but on the idiots who threw punches got suspended...if u don't believe this, go you tube it, there a plenty of angles on it!
Who cares? It's only UCLA.
Post all their names on the WALL OF SHAME rick. Sure glad Dan G ponied up to buyout Chow so he doesn't have to suffer throgh this. Rock on dream team
AD Guerrero says my job is safe. Next year contract extension with that $20M in TV money. Whoo- hoo
Maybe they will throw to Fauria now. Carroll is fast but cant catch. Marvray has hardly played this year. Shaq is the only real loss.
In the end though, how many games to as have a legit shot at winning? If we dont score 40+, we dont have a chance with this defense. I mean all those guys played last week and we scored 12 points. How much are we really losing??
It just keeps getting worse! I really wanted CRN to succeed, but it is clear both CRN and Dan Guerrero must both go. I have NO faith in our AD. This is beyond terrible.
Might as well go with Hundley, maybe he'll provide a spark and some new hope.
Hundley won't stop other teams from scoring 6 touchdowns out of 6 drives. Furthermore, it is rare for even the best freshman QBs to make a big difference coming in mid season like this. Even if he nets us an extra TD or 2 per game, what's the point? Our defense is so bad right now that that won't help. Save his redshirt and let the next coach get undamaged goods
UCLA players represent the personality of it's coaching staff...soft. No energy, no sense of urgency. This team is down a ton at the half and UCLA comes out firing like snail crawling downhill. No hurry up offense at all. Just huddle up and take your time. CRN is stuck in the mirey clay of this bs pistol offense. He's stuck in 80's football. Hopefully, he'll watch some good college football today and see what it takes to even stay in a game. I see true freshman all over the field at other programs. Rick is so freakin' stubborn,he won't let UCLA'S talent freshman play. What a waste of a decade this has been in Westwood.
I must confess that the only interesting or exciting thing about that horrid game was the all-in brawl. Was it Al Cid that threw a hulking Az dude onto his back? If that's the case, put big Al on the D line!! The sooner Coach Rick goes....but...it looks like he might not be going. How many more years of Coach Rick's inadequacies are we expected to endure?! This is deplorable, humiliating, laughable, mind-numbing, agonising, fitful, frustrating, confusing, baffling, hateful, tragic, sad, hopeless...in other words, a mirror of our economy and current political landscape. I vote Obama for Head Coach, Palin for Offensive Coordinator, Romney for Defensive Coordinator, and Gingrich for Strength and Conditioning Coach. We can't lose.
Pat Haden commenting during suc-notre dame game " well, i am the athletic director for twenty other sports but football is the sport that everyone pays attention to...'
You hear that Dan Guerrero, you clueless idiot. I actually now believe it's more critical to fire Dan Guerrero than it is to fire Rick Neuheisel. They are both master politicans who get nothing done and and deflect all criticism on to others. (wait, this sounds familiar...)Keep them on as fundraisers where their gift of BS could be put to good use.
I'm watching SUC- Notre
Dame and Pat Haden is saying "Football is the sport everyone pays attention to..." Precisely. Dan Guerrero's refusal to acknowledge or react to this reality is proof of his incompetence and his presiding over the ruination 0f Ucla football makes him eminently fireable. SUC finally blew out the troll Mike Garrett, why can we not rid ourselves of the clueless Mr. Guerrero?
WESTWOOD(AP)--With six players suspended for next week's game against Cal, hot-seat UCLA football coach Rick Neuheisel has decided to get a little creative.
Four of those players are receivers, leaving the Bruins brutally thin at a position that has struggled on the field already now for years.
"We suck out there anyways, I mean hell, as big as he is, why couldn't Nelson (Rosario) have thrown a punch?" said Neuheisel while cleaning the mother-of-all toilet paper-jobs off his front lawn Saturday morning. "So, I'm going even bigger. They say I'm not good at X's and O's ... well, they can suck on this.
"Stanford thinks they are big? I won't have tight ends out there. I'm putting freaking linemen out there -- and a special guest to be sure we don't lose another damn fight again!"
Datone Jones, a major disappointment at defensive end this year, will man one spot. He'll don the No. 1 jersey of Randall Carroll.
"I still think I'm the No. 1 pass-rusher in the country," said Jones, straight-faced. "So, the number fits me now."
The other two roster moves were even more baffling.
Sean Sheller, in a full cast, will move out to flanker, despite his fastest time in the 40 being just 5.5 seconds.
"Yeah, but I just want to see some little corner really take him on," said Neuheisel, a little jittery after downing his third Snickers bar of the interview. "And we're putting Sheller out there to actually teach Nelson that anyone can catch a friggin wide-open lob pass.
"In fact, I'm not even going to play Nelson against Cal ... screw him, he doesn't deserve to. Yep, I'm gonna show people I can actually make some big moves."
The final roster insert involved the UCLA basketball team and one of America's biggest players, period.
Josh Smith, all 6-foot-10, 300-plus pounds of him, will wear Cassius Marsh's No. 3 jersey.
"The "3" is for 300, which I reached when I was in fifth grade," said Smith, who is taking tips from the long-haired Josh Smith to learn the position. "I'm gonna get mine against Cal ... I mean, at least I can't foul out in football, right?"
ucla-of-the-rockies takes the basketful of jam tarts and other delectables for his inspired post. Well conceived and well written, sir. I'm sure the BB Josh Smith would have a much more meaningful impact on our FB program than that other Josh Smith. If only we could switch BB players for our make-believe FB players!
I just wanted to mention this fact: Neuheisel's biggest win at UCLA was the victory over mighty Temple in the Eagle Bank Bowl.
LOL
Not true Dixietrojean. I beat Tennessee and Texas, both national powerhouses. Both in Dixieland and watch all those southern recruits come to UCLA next year after my big contract extension!
UCLA's Football Players have BROUGHT SHAME to UCLA.
Unfortunately, we simply have really many bad players.
Bad players get injured.
Bad players are uncoachable.
Bad players have no heart, will to win, competitive drive.
Unfortunately, Rick Neuheisel has not chosen well when recruiting players. Yes, we have a few that are good. But the number of bad is so high.
It is because we had such bad players that Rick Neuheisel brought in the Pistol Offense in the first place. But bad players can't learn even a simplified offense like the Pistol.
In the end, Rick isn't the coach for the bad players we have. We need a high school coach for our high school-level players.
Our expectations are too high. UCLA cannot be a winner until it nukes the program to rid it of bad players.
So we're close to being out of wideouts for the Cal game? No problem! We're a running team, so we don't need any stinking wideouts.
true dat