COC LOSES UGLY FANS JOIN POSTGAME BRAWL WITH REEDLEY.Byline: Ross Siler Staff Writer BAKERSFIELD - What was supposed to be a shining moment for the College of the Canyons College of the Canyons is one of the fastest-growing community colleges in the state. According to the National Junior College Research Association, College of the Canyons consistently ranks in the top 50 community colleges in the nation. football program ended in shameful fashion Saturday as the Cougars' players and fans brawled on the field for five minutes with Reedley College History Reedley College was founded in May 1926, as Reedley Junior College on the campus of Reedley High School. It became a full community college on July 1, 1946. In 1954, the school district voted to move Reedley College to its own campus and in 1956 it moved to its present players at the end of the California Community College Championship game. The melee broke out as the teams shook hands at midfield after Reedley's 35-15 victory and quickly became the latest incident of fan violence spilling onto the field. When it was over, Reedley coach Michael White There are multiple public figures named Michael White or Mike White, including:
Commission on Athletics Associate Commissioner Stuart Van Horn said Canyons could face sanctions after his office reviews tape of the incident Tuesday. Van Horn added that there were reports the fans involved were drinking in the parking lot before the game in violation of state code. ``That's a black eye for us,'' Canyons coach Chuck Lyon said. ``That's the worst thing that's ever happened to our program in the five years I've been here.'' The most unsettling un·set·tle v. un·set·tled, un·set·tling, un·set·tles v.tr. 1. To displace from a settled condition; disrupt. 2. To make uneasy; disturb. v.intr. aspect came when members of the ``Drummin' Samoans'' - a group of 20 Canyons students who formed a de facto [Latin, In fact.] In fact, in deed, actually. This phrase is used to characterize an officer, a government, a past action, or a state of affairs that must be accepted for all practical purposes, but is illegal or illegitimate. pep band A Pep Band is an ensemble of instrumentalists who play at functions or events with the purpose of entertaining, or "pepping" up a crowd. Often, members of a pep band are a subset of people from a larger ensemble like a marching band or concert band. at midseason - raced onto the field and began attacking Reedley's players almost as soon as the fighting broke out. It was uncertain whether any Reedley fans joined in the fracas. The Samoan students were the last to be restrained and were ejected from Memorial Stadium. White said that Reedley sophomore defensive lineman Charles Glover Charles Glover may refer to: People
``It didn't start with the players,'' said White, whose team was named the junior college national champion after the game. ``It started with the knuckleheads in the stands. They were out of control in the beginning, and they finished out of control. ``They jumped the rail and stormed us. Unfortunately that had to happen. That's an embarrassment, it really is.'' There was no championship-trophy presentation, and the Cougars players headed back to the locker room with assistant coaches screaming at them, ``You just embarrassed yourselves.'' Lyon promised that any of his players who instigated the fight would not be on the team next season. ``If I've got a film, guys won't be on my team,'' said Lyon, whose team was making its first appearance in the state championship game only five years after the school brought back its football program. Both coaches attempted to sort out what happened afterward af·ter·ward also af·ter·wards adv. At a later time; subsequently. Adv. 1. afterward - happening at a time subsequent to a reference time; "he apologized subsequently"; "he's going to the store but he'll be back here and came to the conclusion that the fight started with an exchange of words between Canyons linebacker Andrew Westbrook and Reedley sophomore defensive back Charles Harris Charles Harris may refer to:
Westbrook, who sported a bloodied lip afterward, said he didn't throw the first punch. Harris countered that he was bumped and slapped in the face by two Canyons players as he walked through the handshake handshake - handshaking line. ``I had to retaliate, I had to slap him back,'' Harris said. ``And there was a big brawl brawl n. 1. A noisy quarrel or fight. 2. A loud party. 3. A loud, roaring noise. intr.v. brawled, brawl·ing, brawls 1. To quarrel or fight noisily. 2. . I didn't intend to cause that, but he slapped me first. I didn't have to retaliate, but I did.'' Moments later, Westbrook was swinging his helmet at Harris and chaos ensued. Canyons defensive back Gregg Donald crumpled crum·ple v. crum·pled, crum·pling, crum·ples v.tr. 1. To crush together or press into wrinkles; rumple. 2. To cause to collapse. v.intr. 1. to the field after being hit in the head with a helmet, and the Cougars coaches alternately raced after the school's players and fans charging at Reedley players. No arrests were made, Commission on Athletics spokesman David Eadie said. The Cougars' players and coaches quickly exited out the back door of their locker room. Reedley, meanwhile, had to wait 20 minutes on the field before heading back to its locker room, in the same fieldhouse as Canyons'. One player who wasn't involved was Canyons freshman defensive back Marte'a Johnson, who was speaking with friends on the Reedley team when the violence broke out. And as he sat in front of his locker afterward, Johnson tried to put the ugly incident in perspective. ``I never witnessed something like that on a football field as long as I've been playing.'' Johnson said. ``All it takes is two people to start a fire. It spread out of nowhere.'' CAPTION(S): photo Photo: (color) An unidentified fan tries to get past coaches and players during a brawl after the state Community College Championship game. Julio Cortez/Daily News |
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