PUNISHMENT FROM LEAGUE LIKELY COMING FOR COLEMAN

By Troy Schulte/OF THE COMMERCIAL STAFF

Arkansas-Pine Bluff football coach Monte Coleman faces a possible public reprimand and fine from the Southwestern Athletic Conference stemming from comments he made regarding game officials following his team’s 21-10 loss to Jackson State on Saturday.

Coleman and UAPB athletic director Skip Perkins spoke with SWAC commissioner Duer Sharp on Monday regarding the first-year coach’s comments in which he said, “This is the worst officiating game I have ever been a part of,” and that the seven-man crew “should be suspended.”

The SWAC has a policy against coaches making derogatory comments regarding game officials. Those comments are reviewed and are punishable at the discretion of the commissioner.

Coleman offered no further comment on Monday.

“The league and I are talking about that now and I don’t really have any comments concerning that,” Coleman said.

Perkins said Sharp has recommended a public reprimand and fine of an undetermined amount after an extensive conversation between the two on Monday. A final decision, however, will probably not come until Wednesday.

“Right now we’re just in (the) fact-finding and gathering information stage of the process,” Sharp said. “Once we feel like we’ve gathered all the information, if we feel like we need to take action, we will do so.”

Sharp said that he planned to speak with UAPB chancellor Lawrence Davis regarding the situation and that a final decision should be available on Wednesday. Coleman and UAPB have the option of appealing any punishment handed out by the conference, but Perkins said that if it is what the commissioner has suggested, no appeal will be made.

Coleman’s frustration spilled over after the Golden Lions lost their sixth straight game to start the season. UAPB gained only 173 yards of offense and two of Jackson State’s touchdowns were set up by turnovers.

The coach’s comments regarding officials stemmed from an incident in the fourth quarter after a defensive end was penalized for roughing the passer. Coleman asked one of the officials for an explanation and he said the official told him, “If I come over, it’s going to be a timeout.” Coleman said he walked away and the referee signaled that UAPB had called its final timeout.

“We prepared to play a football game,” Coleman said on Saturday. “Let us play a game. If Jackson State beats us on the field, fine. But don’t take the game away from us before it even gets started.”

Perkins said he and Coleman discussed the incident on Monday and that the coach was apologetic. No reprimand from the athletic department will be issued.