I've thought about this since the incident flashed across Bulldog Stadium's press box television screen after last Saturday's home loss to Hawaii.
Nearly one week later, we still don't know who started the incident, and I'm not sure it matters. What we do know is the melee has been repeated hundreds of times on local and network stations. It's sure to become a sports trivia question: "Who swung the infamous UM helmet in the Orange Bowl Brawl?"
Florida International took a stronger stand than Miami -- the dismissal of two players and indefinite suspensions of 16 others. Twelve Miami players suffered one-game suspensions and one an indefinite suspension.
Talking heads have argued that neither school went far enough with disciplinary action.
Yes, the events of last Saturday were inexcusable, but ending the college careers -- both on the field and in the classroom -- of all involved isn't the answer either.
Imagine if we were kicked out of school the first time we were involved in a fight. I wouldn't have made it to junior high.
Suspend a player for half the season, the entire season, sure. Take a scholarship until he can earn it back.
Guess how many times football players are involved in tussles during practice? Now take that number and multiply it by 10. And that's their teammates.
Should a football player be kicked off the team for a fight in practice? What's the difference between that and game day?
Answer: It's all about the television cameras.
