Respect your rivals
CMU football coach Butch Jones called it unacceptable.
EMU coach Jeff Genyk said Jones started all of it.
Either way, last Friday's scuffling between CMU and Eastern Michigan showcased a lack of sportsmanship and was an embarrassment to the integrity of the Mid-American Conference.
At first sight, it was Eastern Michigan instigating the antics. Genyk, fired last week and coaching his final game, was more animated than any of his football players, jumping around, throwing his fists up and even taunting the CMU sideline.
Many of his players acted just as foolish. While the Chippewas had a timeout on fourth-and-goal late in the first half, Genyk had his entire team huddled onto the field, chanting and jumping in unison as the entire CMU sideline watched.
Problems peaked at the beginning of halftime, when Eagles players confronted CMU players at midfield. Some pushing and shoving was involved, drawing an unsportsmanlike conduct penalty. Then an EMU player picked up an official's flag and threw it around, drawing another penalty.
It is okay to play with passion when you are a 2-9 football team and you are trying to beat your rival in the final game, but Genyk should be ashamed of how he and his players acted Friday. He embarrassed himself, the team and Eastern Michigan University.
He also should be thankful things did not get any worse (i.e. a brawl).
Genyk claims there's another side to it, however. He said CMU started it when Jones told one of Genyk's assistant coaches, "Coach (Josh) Buis, I know you guys are out of a job and I'm not going to help you."
If that is true, then Jones owes his team an apology. As the head football coach of this university, he needs to set a better example for his players, especially since it was CMU that represented the MAC as champions the past two years.
Furthermore, about 25 minutes after allegedly making those statements, Jones watched his team fall victim to an NCAA-record day by EMU quarterback Andy Schmitt (58 pass completions) en route to a 56-52 loss.
That is enough to embarrass just about any head football coach who jaws at another team prior to kickoff.
The MAC has a hard enough time drawing national attention. The only good thing it gets out of this mess was that a national audience was not watching.
Both teams need to be more careful next time, particularly when they meet at Kelly/Shorts Stadium next season - play with passion, but show respect for your rival. EMU's next coach hopefully will take note of this and make sure his team stays under control.
We expect Jones, who all season has done a great job at keeping his players focused, to do the same.
