Grambling Coach Admits Fault After Postgame Fight
The Tigers lost to Arkansas-Pine Bluff 35-32 before players clashed, marking a second consecutive season with a brawl in the SWAC.
By Andrew Bennett ·
Grambling State coach Mickey Joseph conceded on Monday that his team failed to manage its emotions after losing 35-32 to Arkansas-Pine Bluff on Saturday. The defeat triggered a postgame altercation that took several minutes to resolve. It is the second straight season the Tigers have been involved in a physical fight during a conference game.
Joseph, in his third year as head coach, stated on the SWAC call that the team is teaching its players to channel their feelings after emotional losses. He said he must do a better job ensuring the squad handles perceived disrespect correctly. The coach expressed embarrassment about the incident, noting it was the second time in two years the players have been involved in a brawl.
The university issued an official statement apologizing for the behavior exhibited on the field. The document declared a zero tolerance policy for such actions and confirmed that appropriate disciplinary measures would be administered. Joseph indicated that the school would determine the specific punishments with input from the athletic director and the university president.
Last season, a similar incident occurred during a game against Bethune-Cookman. The SWAC office suspended 27 players from both teams following that fight. Grambling received a $40,000 fine while Bethune-Cookman was fined $25,000. The Tigers are currently 4-5 overall and 2-4 in conference play after dropping three straight games.
Prairie View A&M has extended its winning streak to three games following a 31-10 home victory over Alabama A&M. The win snapped a two-game conference losing streak for the defending SWAC champions. Coach Tremaine Jackson credited the team with accepting accountability for past mistakes. He noted that players and coaches have taken ownership of their performance since the losses.
Jackson maintained that the team has not yet played at its full potential. He cited offensive turnovers and defensive explosive runs as areas needing improvement. Prairie View remains tied for first in the SWAC West at 4-2, alongside Alcorn State and Arkansas-Pine Bluff. Alabama A&M missed several key receivers, including Jarel Williams, who ranks second in the conference with 701 receiving yards.
Southern University has climbed to fourth place in the SWAC West after back-to-back victories. The Jaguars won their last two games by 28 points each, a feat last achieved in 2018. Coach Marshall Faulk attributed the team's resurgence to the consistent efforts of running back Trey Holly. Holly has rushed for over 200 yards in consecutive games, which Faulk said demonstrates the player's trust in the coaching staff's guidance.
Faulk emphasized that the team's recent success stems from stacking good practices together. He noted that the season began with inconsistent practice quality, leading to inconsistent game results. The Jaguars are now 5-5 overall and 3-3 in conference play, trailing the top three teams in the West division by one game.
