Military Bowl Game Ends in Chaos as Players from East Carolina and N.C. State Engage in Brawl
The Go Bowling Military Bowl between East Carolina and N.C. State featured a heated rivalry, with tensions boiling over before the end of the game. The Pirates ultimately emerged victorious with a 26-21 win over the Wolfpack.
As East Carolina was about to run out the clock, a fight broke out close to the Pirates’ sideline. The altercation started when East Carolina wide receiver Yannick Smith appeared to swipe a towel from N.C. State defensive back Tamarcus Cooley, leading to a scuffle involving several players.
The brawl resulted in the ejection of eight players from the game, with at least one official seen with a bloodied face. Both teams’ coaches, Dave Doeren of N.C. State and Blake Harrell of East Carolina, apologized for the behavior of their players.
Doeren called the response “terrible” and acknowledged that it was not the behavior expected from his program. Harrell, on the other hand, seemed to challenge other in-state schools to add East Carolina to their schedules, citing the proximity of the two teams.
The win gave East Carolina a 8-5 record on the season, while N.C. State finished with a 6-7 record.