Tensions erupted at the end of South Alabama's 59-10 victory over Eastern Michigan in the 68 Ventures Bowl on Saturday night after a fight broke out post-game in response to an apparent sucker punch being thrown on the field.
EMU defensive back Korey Hernandez ran to South Alabama's end of the field when the team was facing its marching band during the school's alma mater. Moments later, he sucker punched an opposing player, and in response, several other players got mixed up before the fight was finally broken up.
"I didn't see things when they happened," Eastern Michigan head football coach Chris Creighton said of the incident after the game.
"But I definitely saw the intensity of what had just happened. We had a really good, long talk in the locker room afterwards. We want to be first-class all the time, no matter the circumstances, no matter what the scoreboard is, no matter what other factors, people, whatever are involved. And anything short of being first-class is not living up to the standard that we have in Eastern Michigan football."
Despite coming into the game with an 0-3 record in bowl games, South Alabama racked up 627 total yards to the Eagles' 157 in the game and didn't allow a touchdown in the game until EMU struck pay-dirt with under a minute left.
"We will certainly take ownership of our part," South Alabama head football coach Kane Wommack said after the fight.
"We will look and find out exactly what happened. I couldn't tell you exactly what did. I'll get more information as we go. … We're going to win, but it's also how we win. And so we want to make sure that we hold people accountable to the standard that we want to operate, in the way we want to represent the city of Mobile and the University of South Alabama."
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