Punishments handed down after brawl
What was a simple crosstown rivalry turned into something much more Saturday in Cincinnati as players from the Bearcats and the Xavier Musketeers were suspended in the aftermath of a vicious brawl — one that is being called among the worst in college basketball history.
The game was called with just over nine seconds remaining in the second half, with Xavier leading 76-53.
A total of eight players were suspended. Xavier center Kenny Frease left the court with a gash under his left eye, after he was punched by Cincinnati’s Yancy Gates and then kicked by Gates’ teammate, Cheikh Mbodj.
Gates, Mbodj and Octavius Ellis were each suspended six games after school officials and Cincinnati head coach Mick Cronin reviewed tapes of the incident.
The punishments are surprisingly light after Cronin spoke with the media after the game and said he would sit down and decide which players would not be returning to the team after Saturday.
“If my players don’t act the right way they will never play another game at Cincinnati,” Cronin told the press. “Right now, I just told my guys, I will meet with my AD and my president and I’m going to decide who is on the team going forward. That is what the University of Cincinnati is about. Period.”
But Cronin and Cincinnati have only magnified the situation after announcing the suspensions that allow those three players to miss only one conference game — especially when the actions displayed are worthy of expulsion.
Tebow does it again
The Denver Broncos are becoming this year’s biggest story in the NFL. Once left for dead at the beginning of the year with a 1-4 record, the Broncos now control their own playoff destiny as they sit atop the AFC West at 8-5. Tim Tebow is now 7-1 as a starter and has led the Broncos to six consecutive wins. During Tebow’s reign, three wins came in overtime and five were won by seven points or less.
Sunday’s game against Chicago may have been the most improbable so far. Aided by of the ineptitude of running back Marion Barber, who failed to stay in bounds with less than two minutes left and fumbled in overtime, Denver kicker Matt Prater hit a 59-yard field goal to send the game into overtime and then upset the Bears with a 51-yard game winner.
