The Sun Belt Conference reprimanded University of South Alabama athletics director Joel Erdmann for his comments after a brawl broke out during the Jaguars' game against Coastal Carolina on Wednesday.
As reported by ABC affiliate WEAR in Pensacola, Fla., the brawl resulting in eight players being ejected and a referee being sent to the hospital.
According to CBS affiliate WKRG in Mobile, Ala., with about five minutes to play at the Pensacola Bay Center, a Coastal Carolina player threw a punch at a USA player, and then another punch that knocked the referee down.
Eight players were ejected from the game, including seven from USA, and four were players on the bench who stepped onto the court — earning an automatic ejection even though they did not get involved in the fight.
After the game, Erdmann disagreed with officials classifying the situation as a fight, as reported by WEAR.
Conference officials say his comments violated the Sun Belt's bylaws, which states school personnel and student-athletes cannot make derogatory comments or negative reaction to officials and their rulings.
Erdmann was fined an undisclosed amount.
