We’re in the midst of the college football bowl season, which gives thousands of players across the nation a chance to cap their long schedules with a fun destination spot and a final game against an out-of-conference opponent. But the temperate Florida weather couldn't keep the BYU Cougars and Memphis Tigers from fisticuffs after their Miami Beach Bowl went to double overtime on Monday.
Tempers flared throughout the 55-48 Memphis win, after which this happened:
The moment set off a chain reaction that led to multiple bloody players and some straight-up buffoonery:
Athletes ran wild...
…and threw merciless punches:
BYU athletic director Tom Holmoe apologized following the ugly incident:
We expect better of our athletes, even in the face of a difficult loss. We intend to fully review this matter. I apologize to Cougar Nation. — Tom Holmoe (@TomHolmoe) December 23, 2014
Memphis coach Justin Fuente will review the incident this week before he passes judgment on those involved.
"I don't know what happened at the end, first of all, so I don't know how upset I am," Fuente said (via ESPN). "I'm sure I'll see it eventually. It's not who we are, it's not what we want to represent. I hope it doesn't take away from an incredible football game, for both sides."
BYU coach Bronco Mendenhall was in glass-half-full mode afterwards.
"You want them to rise above that and have fantastic sportsmanship," he said. "I'm sure if you go back and look, there'll be an instance or two that ignited. Probably the majority wanted to handle it really well."
On a football note, Memphis quarterback Paxton Lynch became the first player to account for four touchdown throws and three touchdown runs in a game since Clemson's Tajh Boyd in 2012.
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