SEC statement on Ole Miss-MSU game;AD's to meet



Photo: Jim Burgess

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. - During last Thursday's Mississippi State at Ole Miss football game an altercation occurred resulting in players from both teams being assessed flagrant personal foul penalties. The assessment of a flagrant personal foul penalty results in immediate ejection and requires a review by the conference office.

"It remains disappointing to have seen the unnecessary actions during and after the Mississippi State at Ole Miss game on Thursday night. These actions are unacceptable and my concern relates to the bigger issue of the repeated incidents before, during and after games between these football programs," said SEC Commissioner Greg Sankey. "These incidents have become too common in this series. I will require both athletics directors to meet with me at the SEC Office in the off-season to review past issues and develop a plan for the purpose of creating a healthier environment for this annual game."

The SEC's review of the in-game altercation determined that four players should have been called for flagrant personal foul penalties: #38 Johnathan Abram and #2 Jamal Peters of Mississippi State and #1 A.J. Brown and #2 Matt Corral of Ole Miss.

Flagrant personal foul penalties do not result in suspensions for subsequent games. These four student-athletes are hereby publicly reprimanded for their participation in the altercation during the game and subject to suspensions should there be any future similar actions. There will be no further action at this time.

Two of the players penalized were misidentified and should not have been ejected for flagrant personal fouls: #3 Cameron Dantzler of Mississippi State and #38 C.J. Moore of Ole Miss.

#6 Willie Gay, Jr. of Mississippi State was properly ejected from the contest after receiving two unsportsmanlike penalties, the first following a first quarter fumble recovery and the second when an unsportsmanlike penalty was assessed to the entire Mississippi State football team.