Ex-NFL star admonishes college football teams involved in raucous melee

Former NFL prima Cam Newton had a connection for the Grambling State and Bethune-Cookman assemblage shot programs successful the latest occurrence of his podcast aft a brawl occurred among players from each squad implicit the weekend.

The halftime melee resulted successful the Southwestern Athletic Conference (SWAC) handing retired suspensions for 27 players, including 3 who were suspended for 2 games. Each programme received thousands of dollars successful fines arsenic well.

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Then-Carolina Panthers backmost Cam Newton (1) walks connected the tract during the 2nd fractional against the Miami Dolphins astatine Hard Rock Stadium connected Nov. 28, 2021. (Jasen Vinlove/USA TODAY Sports)

Newton said connected "4th & 1" that historically Black colleges and universities (HBCUs) were "set back" due to the fact that of the warring that occurred connected the field.

"I despise the actions … I americium highly displeased with what took place. Why? It’s due to the fact that marque nary mistake astir it — I've spoken astatine magnitude astir adjacent opportunity," Newton said. "We are sitting up present trying to get much access, much visibility, to amplify the level of HBCUs. No substance if you successful the MEAC, the SWAC, the SIAC, the OVC — oregon immoderate league you’re successful — if you're a practice of Blackness and Black culture, you should look astatine this and accidental to yourself, ‘This acceptable america back.’"

Newton wondered what if the brawl took spot connected a large web that aired assemblage shot games and what the speech would beryllium astir HBCU programs.

He added that, overall, the representation was damaged arsenic schools are trying to turn successful presumption of name, representation and likeness deals and looking for sponsors.

Former NFL backmost Cam Newton watches a crippled betwixt the Howard Bison and Florida A&M Rattlers successful the archetypal fractional astatine Mercedes-Benz Stadium connected Dec. 16, 2023. (Brett Davis/USA TODAY Sports)

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The erstwhile Carolina Panthers backmost prima besides took contented with Grambling State caput manager Mickey Joseph’s archetypal comments aft the brawl. Joseph initially said the schoolhouse wasn’t going to tolerate "disrespect" and they’re "going to conscionable disrespect with disrespect."

Joseph apologized and backtracked from his comments, but it inactive didn’t beryllium good with Newton.

"I tin forgive you for what you said, I tin ne'er hide what you said," Newton said. "It’s astir like, what are you apologizing for? Are you apologizing due to the fact that idiosyncratic supra you said, ‘That’s not a bully look and you gotta apologize for that.’ Or, are you apologizing due to the fact that that’s however you truly feel?

"Anybody successful the SWAC, MEAC, SIAC, CIAA, OVC, I’m ticked disconnected due to the fact that it acceptable america back, man. It acceptable america back."

The SWAC admonished the schools and the players that took portion successful the fight.

"We’re highly disappointed by the events that transpired during halftime of the Bethune-Cookman astatine Grambling State shot game," SWAC Commissioner Dr. Charles McClelland said successful a statement. "Acts of that quality person zero spot successful the Southwestern Athletic Conference and intercollegiate athletics.

Detail presumption of a punishment emblem during a shot crippled connected Nov. 7, 2024 successful Baltimore, Maryland. (Cooper Neill/Getty Images)

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"The Conference Office has and volition proceed to enforce a zero-tolerance argumentation for each acts deemed to beryllium unsportsmanlike and contrary to the precocious modular of bully sportsmanship we expect from each individuals associated with the athletics programs wrong our league."

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