Grambling State University announced Monday that 14 football players have been suspended from the program for their involvement in a postgame brawl that overshadowed its loss Saturday to the University of Arkansas-Pine Bluff.
Meanwhile, the Southwestern Athletic Conference announced that nine players from Arkansas-Pine Bluff have been suspended for their involvement in the altercation, according to HBCU Sports, adding that of the total number of 23 suspensions, multiple players have been disciplined with two-game suspensions due to the severity of their actions.
Moreover, in accordance with the league’s bylaws and sports regulations, the SWAC has issued fines against each school in the amount of $25,000.
Grambling State's athletic department announced the suspensions Monday, two days after the UAPB Golden Lions secured their 35-32 victory at Eddie G. Robinson Memorial Stadium. It did not identify the suspended players or specify suspension durations.
“We hold our student-athletes to the highest standards of conduct, sportsmanship and accountability,” Grambling State vice president for intercollegiate athletics Trayvean Scott said in a statement, as reported by HBCU Sports. “The behavior exhibited following Saturday’s contest does not reflect the values of Grambling State University or the expectations of our athletics department and we strongly condemn these actions.”
Scott also apologized to the Grambling State community, UAPB’s football team and its fans. He said he had contacted UAPB athletic director Chris Robinson to personally express the university’s apology.
