EMU apologizes for postgame bowl sucker punch

Dec 24, 2023, 02:58 PM ET

Eastern Michigan has “highly” condemned the “entirely undesirable” actions of a player who sucker punched a South Alabama player in the back of the helmet, causing a postgame brawl following the 68 Ventures Bowl on Saturday night.A video of the incident on social networks reveals Eastern Michigan defensive back Korey Hernandez encountering the field and punching South Alabama cornerback Jamarrien Burt in the back of the helmet while Burt was facing the represent the school’s university following the Jaguars’ 59-10 triumph in Mobile, Alabama.A skirmish

broke out, players from both squads needed to be separated, and the teams were sent out to their locker rooms.

“We highly condemn the actions of a few of the student-athletes on the EMU football group in the ugly event that happened following last night’s 68 Ventures Bowl. We are deeply upset and embarrassed by what occurred,” Eastern Michigan athletic director Scott Wetherbee stated in a statement Sunday. “Their conduct does not show the great pride and high requirements we put on the game and our program, and the expectations for excellent sportsmanship and exemplary conduct of student-athletes on and off the field. What occurred was totally undesirable. We apologize to the Eastern Michigan University community and to the South Alabama group and their fans.”

Wetherbee said he and Eagles coach Chris Creighton have both said sorry to South Alabama athletic director Joel Erdmann and coach Kane Wommack.Wetherbee said he and Eastern Michigan president James Smith have actually touched with MAC commissioner Jon Steinbrecher and are “committed to working jointly to examine the event.”

Erdmann said in a declaration that South Alabama was “grateful” to Eastern Michigan “for taking ownership of the event” and reaching out to “ask forgiveness and guarantee us they will totally investigate the matter.”