The Morgan State University petition to rule its controversial 25-17 loss to Delaware State on Oct. 20 a no-contest has been denied by the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference. On the MEAC?s weekly coaches teleconference this morning, conference commissioner Dr. Dennis Thomas announced that all stats and results from the game would remain the same, but disciplinary action would be taken against the officiating crew.
Thomas declined to elaborate on the disciplinary action, simply stating that it would include “at least a one game suspension.”
“You have to put it in context,” Thomas said. “Obviously we want calls that do not impact the game, but you also have to understand officials do make mistakes. You have to know that at all levels, at the pro level, the collegiate level, you see it every week where officials make errors.”
Thomas acknowledged that in the film, the officiating crew made three obvious mistakes, but stated conference bylaws prohibited him from ruling the game a no-contest. The first error was on the opening kickoff when the Delaware State kick returner stepped out of bounds twice on a 77-yard return that resulted in a touchdown for the Hornets. The next was a blocked punt that officials ruled Morgan State linebacker Kofi Nkrumah blocked in front of the line of scrimmage. Video replay shows he was clearly in the backfield when he blocked it.
The most critical mistake was an apparent touchdown scored by running back Courtney Anderson that was ruled a fumble before he entered the end zone. Officials ruled that he lost control of the ball before crossing the goal line. Deleware State safety Akeem Green scooped up a loss ball and ran the other way more than 100 yards to re-take the lead 22-17 with just 9:11 left in the game. “We are upset with how the outcome came but we can be upset and move on,” Morgan State coach Donald Hill-Eley said. “We have resilient young men who will do well.”
