Miami & FIU = Jerks

I got my hands on the letter sent out after the Miami/FIU brawl on saturday. It is pretty classy, in keeping with The U's reputation.

October 16, 2006 To the University Community: Saturday's on-field melee has no place at the University of Miami. What happened Saturday night at the Orange Bowl was outrageous. Regardless of who started it, this was an embarrassing display of unsportsmanlike behavior. Fortunately there were no injuries. FIU President Mitch Maidique and I talked by phone shortly after the incident on Saturday night. We both expressed deep disappointment and apologized to each other on behalf of our institutions. What was envisioned as an opportunity for two hometown teams to provide an evening of athletic competition resulted in a brawl that brought embarrassment to the teams, our universities, and our community. The University of Miami simply will not tolerate or condone this type of behavior. Period. We expect the best from our students. Indeed we hold all of them to a high standard of personal conduct. The one bright light is that the thousands of students from both institutions who attended the game behaved in exemplary fashion and kept their seats and their heads. On Sunday the Atlantic Coast Conference conducted an independent review of the incident. As a result of that review, last night the ACC and the University of Miami announced that 13 student-athletes have been suspended for the game this coming weekend. The ACC maintains rigorous behavioral and academic standards for student-athletes. We are satisfied with their decision. Sincerely, Donna E. Shalala President

Office of the President P.O. Box 248006 Coral Gables, Florida 33124-4600 305-284-5155 Fax 305-284-3768

My favorite part is when Shalala thanks the students/fans for not joining the fray. I mean to be thankful that it didn't turn into a stadium wide melee is pretty sad.

The whole thing is just sad and a stinging indictment on Coker's control over the program. It also seems that Miami never really grew out of it's prior reputation of being a program full of thugs and criminals.

GO STATE!