3-7 Mississippi State beat 6-2 Tulsa 28-26 in the Armed Forces Bowl on Thursday, but the story coming out of the game won’t be the Bulldogs’ victory or the final score. No, instead it will be the post-game fight between the two teams.
A massive brawl broke out at the end of the Lockheed Martin Armed Forces Bowl between Tulsa and Mississippi State. pic.twitter.com/zfaq912SWU
— ESPN (@espn) December 31, 2020
I’d like you to pay particular attention to Mississippi State receiver Malik Heath, who threw a kick at Tulsa’s TieNeal Martin and then ran away.
Kendarin Ray of Tulsa needed to be helped off the field after the brawl.
Tulsa’s Kendarin Ray being helped off after being injured in the postgame brawl. pic.twitter.com/Ft90Ld3avu
— John E. Hoover 🌮 (@johnehoover) December 31, 2020
The response from Bulldogs head coach Mike Leach wasn’t exactly damning, saying “somebody went to a football game and somebody got hit.” He also added that his message to his team would be “don’t do it anymore.”
“This is a football game so we’re not going to be tearing cloth over this. Somebody went to a football game and somebody got hit. Ya know there’s a point to where I’m not going to lose my mind over it.”
– Mike Leach, singlehandedly propping up the PR industry— RedditCFB (@RedditCFB) December 31, 2020
Time for words of wisdom from Mike Leach pic.twitter.com/Kjip7R302L
— Stuckey (@Stuckey2) December 31, 2020
Golden Hurricane head coach Philip Montgomery didn’t comment on the fracas aside from saying it was caused by teammates defending each other. He also revealed that the team believes Ray has a concussion, apparently after being hit by a helmet.
Tulsa coach Philip Montgomery didn’t want to comment on what happened after the game but said his players will always stick up for each other. Also believes safety Kendarin Ray, who was helped off the field, has a concussion.
— Kelly Hines (@kellyintulsa) December 31, 2020
We’ve been told Safety Kendarin Ray was hit in the head with a helmet..
Tulsa Coach Philip Montgomery wouldn’t confirm that detail exactly but he says Ray is being treated for concussion symptoms and indicated the postgame skirmishes were set off by players defending a teammate
— Cayden McFarland (@caydenmc) December 31, 2020
This is just an ugly incident all-around. Here’s hoping there are no serious injuries on either side.
