FIU kicks two brawling players off team

MIAMI -- Of all the disturbing images from the sideline-clearing brawl between Miami and Florida International, swift and stern punishment was handed out Monday for the three that stood out the most:

* Miami's Anthony Reddick wielding his helmet as a weapon and smashing it into an FIU player. His one-game suspension was increased to an indefinite one.

* FIU's Chris Smith wrestling Miami holder Matt Perrelli down and appearing to punch him in the chin. Smith was dismissed.

* Marshall McDuffie Jr., Smith's Golden Panthers teammate, then kicking Perrelli in the head. McDuffie was also thrown off the team.

FIU's new sanctions also included 16 other players -- each was originally handed a one-game suspension. Now they've been given an indefinite break from the game.

"This is certainly embarrassing. It's disgraceful. It's amazing. I've run out of words," FIU coach Don Strock said. "There's no place for it in college football or football period. This is way overboard. I apologize to all the fans of college football for this taking place."

The two dismissed players will remain on scholarship at FIU.

Officials from Miami, FIU and the Atlantic Coast and Sun Belt conferences issued 31 one-game suspensions -- to 13 Hurricanes and 18 Golden Panthers -- late Sunday, while both schools warned further punishment was possible.

FIU said its suspended players all would have to complete 10 hours of anger management counseling and 50 hours of community service, plus would be on athletic probation for the remainder of the year.

Further, all FIU players and coaches will need to complete community service projects. Miami said it would order its suspended players to complete community service as well.