You couldn't script a more fitting end to 2020, the most chaotic year yet, than Ben Affleck enduring the most Boston catastrophe of all (yes, it involved Dunkin' Donuts), followed hours later by a college football fight for the ages. Thursday’s Lockheed Martin Armed Forces Bowl was a doozy, pitting 22nd-ranked Tulsa against Mississippi State, the latter coached by the always-entertaining Mike Leach.
New Year’s Eve marked the first meeting between these schools and they didn’t seem to care for one another with the two combatants needing to be separated during pregame warmups. Tensions only escalated from there, culminating in a savage brawl with shoving, tackling, punches and even a kick for good measure. This was the scene at Amon G. Carter Stadium moments after MSU’s 28-26 victory.
Thursday’s skirmish was a bad look for all involved but especially Mississippi State wide receiver Malik Heath, who landed a kick to Tineal Martin’s face before hurrying down the sideline. A postseason game, even one played in front of only 9,000 spectators on a weekday afternoon, can bring out the competitor in anyone. But there’s a difference between harnessing that raw emotion and letting it consume you. Clearly, Thursday was a case of the latter.
Surprisingly, Leach didn’t seem all that upset about what transpired, barely acknowledging the melee in his post-game remarks. “This is a football game. We’re not going to be tearing cloth over this deal,” said Leach, unfazed by Thursday’s events. “Somebody went to a football game and somebody got hit. I’m not going to lose my mind over it.”
After a testy Thursday in Fort Worth, let’s hope cooler heads prevail as the NCAA conducts the remainder of its bowl slate including the four-team College Football Playoff, which kicks off on New Year’s Day.
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