Athletic Director Josie Harper released an official statement Thursday reprimanding the Big Green football program for its role in the post-Homecoming altercation which took place after Holy Cross defeated Dartmouth 24-21 in overtime on Oct. 14.
In the statement, Harper wrote that she has "told the Dartmouth players and staff that this type of behavior is unacceptable." Harper mentioned that she has not been able to identify participants in the post-game fight on an individual level and made no note of any suspensions or sanctions that will follow in the wake of the incident.
"We have emphasized to the team and the coaches that representing Dartmouth in intercollegiate competition is an honor and a privilege, one that is contingent on our confidence that individual players, staff and teams can conduct themselves in ways that represent our values of sportsmanship," Harper said. "We have also told them that the College will continue its review of the matter, and that any further behavior that undermines our confidence would call that privilege into question."
Harper also extended an apology for the incident on behalf of all the Dartmouth actors.
"Coach Teevens, his staff and his players have acknowledged that the actions displayed Saturday were not in keeping with acceptable standards of behavior at Dartmouth, nor with the great traditions of Dartmouth football and Dartmouth athletics in general," she said.
"They join me in apologizing to the Dartmouth community, the Holy Cross community and the public."
The brawl began when Dartmouth players took offense to members of the Holy Cross team dancing on the Dartmouth "D" in the center of the field after the game had ended. Members of both teams threw punches, but no significant injuries were reported. The skirmish, which lasted a few minutes, concluded when police as well as members of each team's staff helped to pull the players apart.
Acting Dean of the College Daniel Nelson followed Harper's sentiments with an official statement of his own. Nelson explained that the administration was "disappointed" with the Big Green football team for its actions on Saturday and that it is "determined to prevent any repetition of that conduct.
"The Dartmouth Athletics Department review of this matter has been concluded, but the information available has not put that department in a position to accurately assess individual responsibility in this incident," continued Nelson.
"The department has now turned the matter over to my office, where we will conduct a further review. If we determine that official sanctions by the College may be warranted against either individuals or the team as a whole, we will follow our usual process for institutional adjudication of such matters."
Nelson went on to note that the Hanover Police Department is continuing to review the incident. Hanover Police Chief Nicholas Giaccone was unavailable for comment on Thursday.
Holy Cross sports information director Charles Bare was quoted in the Boston Herald as saying "We did not see anything from any Holy Cross player that warranted disciplinary action."
A more extreme bench-clearing affair between the football teams of Miami University and its opponent, Florida International University also took place on Oct. 14.
The schools suspended a combined 31 players, while Miami President Donna Shalala enacted a new "zero-tolerance" policy, saying that any athletes involved in fights will be dismissed from their respective teams.
FIU put its suspended team members to work on a community service project in South Florida.
Dartmouth football (0-5, 0-2 Ivy) will be looking for its first victory of 2006 when it takes on Columbia this Saturday in New York, N.Y., at 12:30 p.m.
