2008 Woodie Awards
Homecoming soccer game turns violent for players, mascot
Fights break out in front of largest home crowd of 2008, President Hopkins among audience
Matt Gahris
Issue date: 10/8/08 Section: Sports
The Wright State men's soccer team lost its Homecoming game against Horizon League opponent Loyola. It was an emotional, physical game that turned out to be a fight to the finish.
Unfortunately, the fighting did not stop when the final whistle blew.
Immediately following a heated contest that saw the referee issue five cards-three during play and two after the match ended-players from both teams started yelling and pushing each other on the field near the team benches and several players had to be restrained by their teammates.
"It's a lot of young men with a lot of testosterone in them and sometimes it gets like that," said head coach Mike Tracy. "And I think the ref let the game go a little bit. It got too physical," Tracy added.
Meanwhile, one Raider, sophomore midfielder Carl Ebers, wandered away from the commotion on the field and confronted mascot Rowdy Raider, who was standing in front of a section of the bleachers that was full of Wright State students.
Ebers yelled at Rowdy before striking the mascot with an open hand to the nose of the costume. The contact caused a stunned Rowdy to stumble backward and raise his arms in confusion.
Late in the game, with Wright State trailing 1-0, a Raider player was fouled just outside of Loyola's penalty box. The ball went into the stands and ultimately found its way to Rowdy, who appeared unsure what to do with the ball and momentarily held onto it.
A few Wright State players yelled at the mascot to throw the ball onto the field as they were trying to restart play with the free kick and catch the defense off-guard to tie the game. But Loyola eventually did get set and kept the Raiders off the scoreboard.
Wright State University President Dr. David Hopkins was in attendance and was seated only a few feet away from the incident with Ebers, but did not witness what took place.
"I didn't see what happened because I was watching what was going on on the field," Dr. Hopkins said. "I'm aware that the Athletic Department knows of the situation and I'm confident that they will take the appropriate action."
Unfortunately, the fighting did not stop when the final whistle blew.
Immediately following a heated contest that saw the referee issue five cards-three during play and two after the match ended-players from both teams started yelling and pushing each other on the field near the team benches and several players had to be restrained by their teammates.
"It's a lot of young men with a lot of testosterone in them and sometimes it gets like that," said head coach Mike Tracy. "And I think the ref let the game go a little bit. It got too physical," Tracy added.
Meanwhile, one Raider, sophomore midfielder Carl Ebers, wandered away from the commotion on the field and confronted mascot Rowdy Raider, who was standing in front of a section of the bleachers that was full of Wright State students.
Ebers yelled at Rowdy before striking the mascot with an open hand to the nose of the costume. The contact caused a stunned Rowdy to stumble backward and raise his arms in confusion.
Late in the game, with Wright State trailing 1-0, a Raider player was fouled just outside of Loyola's penalty box. The ball went into the stands and ultimately found its way to Rowdy, who appeared unsure what to do with the ball and momentarily held onto it.
A few Wright State players yelled at the mascot to throw the ball onto the field as they were trying to restart play with the free kick and catch the defense off-guard to tie the game. But Loyola eventually did get set and kept the Raiders off the scoreboard.
Wright State University President Dr. David Hopkins was in attendance and was seated only a few feet away from the incident with Ebers, but did not witness what took place.
"I didn't see what happened because I was watching what was going on on the field," Dr. Hopkins said. "I'm aware that the Athletic Department knows of the situation and I'm confident that they will take the appropriate action."
Viewing Comments 1 - 1 of 5
Mr. Clean
posted 10/08/08 @ 4:24 PM EST
Just so I get this straight, our WSU players started beating up our OWN Raider WSU mascot. Is that correct? It wasn't those dastardly Loyola players, but WRIGHT STATE scary soccer players smacking around our OWN mascot. (Continued…)
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