The animosity between college football teams East Carolina University and North Carolina State finally erupted into an all out brawl during Saturday night’s Military Bowl.
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The fight apparently started after receiver Yannick Smith shouted something in the direction of NC State’s defensive back Tamarcus Cooley. Following Smith’s shouting, Cooley ran after the receiver and eventually pulled him to the ground. This encouraged nearby players to start pushing and shoving one another, adding to the existing chaos.
Here is the key to the ugliness at end of ECU-NCST. ECU player takes a cheap shot at NC State player, shoves helmet from behind. The helmet hits ref in the face. pic.twitter.com/So8sOZCuAh
— Cork Gaines, Ph.D. (@CorkGaines) December 29, 2024
“We’ve said it a few times, no love lost in the 83 miles that separates these two schools in North Carolina,” broadcaster Jay Alter announced after the fight began.
Referees attempted to stop the shoving, but had little success. The field was eventually filled with players, game officials, coaches, and security staff.
Pirates Take Home The Victory
One of the referees was even injured while trying to break things up between players. According to the New York Post, “an ECU player ran up behind an NC State player and shoved him in the back, forcing his helmet straight into the face of a referee.”
Photos from the incident show a cut below the injured ref’s left eye.
“Here is the key to the ugliness at end of ECU-NCST. ECU player takes a cheap shot at NC State player, shoves helmet from behind. The helmet hits ref in the face,” a post by Cork Gaines read on X, accompanied by a video.
“This is a terrible scene at the end of what has been a fantastic bowl game,” Alter said. “You hate to say this.”
The fight lead eight players to be ejected from the game.
Post-fight, the Pirates regained the lead with just 1:33 remaining when Rahjai Harris scored an 86-yard touchdown.
“I don’t think you can look at our fans and tell them it’s not a rivalry, it’s an hour and fifteen minutes up the road,” ECU’s head coach Blake Harrell said after the game.
“And there’s a couple of other schools about the same distance—maybe they should put us on their schedule as well, instead of trying to take our players,” Harrell added. “They want to call our players and take our players. Well how about putting us on the schedule?”