FINAL SCORE:N.C. A&T 13, Elon 10
A&T(4-5)/Elon(4-5)
from www.myfox8.com:
GREENSBORO, N.C. – Following North Carolina A&T’s hard-fought 13-10 win over Elon on Saturday, the festive atmosphere took a wrong turn on the gridiron as several Phoenix and Aggie players got into a post-game shoving match.
Following a game-sealing fumble recovery by the Aggies in the final seconds, which prevented Elon from either tying or winning the game, N.C. A&T players began to celebrate. Then the pushing and shoving began. It’s not clear what team started the fracas, but Aggies head coach Shawn Gibbs said it wasn’t his guys that instigated the incident. He indicated that no matter who was at fault, he wasn’t happy with whoever spoiled the mood.
“I didn’t like it. I don’t know what really happened, so I don’t want to speculate too much, but I know their players were on our sidelines and you can’t do that. So that was an ugly ending to our moment and that’s what really made me mad. So, I hope we can move past that because I don’t think that’s who Elon is … Coach ‘Tris,’ definitely a class act. He doesn’t condone that. I’m sure he is going to address it. I’m sure the conference is going to address it. But I’d rather just focus on the positives of us winning homecoming for the first time in a while,” Gibbs said in the postgame press conference.
Both coach Gibbs and Elon head football coach Tony Trisciani smoothed things over after the two teams were separated.
“I didn’t see it, but I will address it. I apologize. I couldn’t tell you what happened. I’m sorry. It’s not who we want to be. Congratulations,” Trisciani told Gibbs as the men embraced near midfield.
The Elon University Athletics Department released a statement after the game.
“We are disappointed in our actions at the conclusion of today’s game at North Carolina A&T. We apologize for detracting from what should have been a moment for North Carolina A&T to celebrate a hard-fought victory. Elon Athletics holds our student-athletes, coaches and staff to a high standard of sportsmanship. We are reviewing what occurred and will take appropriate action.”