It’s bowl game season, and although the 68 Ventures Bowl between the Eastern Michigan Eagles and South Alabama Jaguars will be far from the most-watched college football event this year, it is drawing extra attention. The game is already over. South Alabama crushed Eastern Michigan 59-10, but what happened afterward is what still has the sports world talking, hours after the final whistle.
Here’s the altercation, where Eastern Michigan defensive back Korey Hernandez suddenly ran up to South Alabama cornerback Jamarrien Burt and punched him in the back of the head. Keep in mind, as mentioned, this was well after the game ended.
On Sunday, Eastern Michigan’s athletic director released a statement, “strongly condemning” the actions of Hernandez and several others involved in the incident.
“We strongly condemn the actions of some of the student-athletes on the EMU football team in the ugly incident that took place following last night’s 68 Ventures Bowl. We are deeply upset and embarrassed by what happened,” Eastern Michigan athletic director Scott Wetherbee said in a statement Sunday. “Their conduct does not reflect the great pride and high standards we place on the game and our program, and the expectations for good sportsmanship and exemplary conduct of student-athletes on and off the field. What happened was completely unacceptable. We apologize to the Eastern Michigan University community and to the South Alabama team and their fans.”
Eastern Michigan AD Scott Wetherbee