The first day of Spring 2015 classes at the University of Memphis was bleak for 12 football players as consequences for incidents occurring at the end of the Miami Beach Bowl were announced.
A brawl breaks out after the Miami Beach Bowl between Memphis and BYU in December 2014. (Associated Press)
'I want to thank BYU for working with us to achieve not only accountability from this unfortunate event, but also helping our teams continue to grow and develop as young men, consistent with the high expectations held by both our universities, along with the high standards of sportsmanship established by the NCAA and American Athletic Conference,' said University of Memphis President M. David Rudd.
Punishments range from missing all team activities, half-game suspensions, two game suspensions, community service, anger management courses and additional punishments at head coach Justin Fuente's discretion.
'We hold our student-athletes to the highest standards of sportsmanship and personal conduct at the University of Memphis,' Director of Athletics Tom Bowen said. 'The actions of a few members of our football program in Miami were completely unacceptable. I can assure our community, fans and stakeholders that we have and will continue to hold our young men and women accountable and will use this unfortunate incident as a teaching tool for all our student-athletes moving forward.'