FIU-UM price: Two dismissals, 17 indefinite suspensions

MIAMI -- Of all the disturbing images from the sideline-clearing brawl between Miami and Florida International, three stood out more than others.

The players responsible were punished swiftly and sternly Monday.

Miami's Anthony Reddick, who wielded his helmet as a weapon before smashing it into an FIU player, had his one-game suspension increased to an indefinite one, leaving the remainder of his season in serious doubt.

Meanwhile, FIU's new sanctions were considerably tougher: The Golden Panthers dismissed two players, Marshall McDuffie Jr. and Chris Smith, and issued 16 other players -- all who were originally handed one-game suspensions -- indefinite breaks from the game.

"This is certainly embarrassing. It's disgraceful. It's amazing. I've run out of words," FIU coach Don Strock said. "There's no place for it in college football or football period. This is way overboard. I apologize to all the fans of college football for this taking place."

The two dismissed players will remain on scholarship at FIU.

Officials from Miami, FIU and the Atlantic Coast and Sun Belt conferences issued 31 one-game suspensions -- to 13 Hurricanes and 18 Golden Panthers -- late Sunday, while both schools warned further punishment was possible.

Street fight or football game? The lines were blurry in the FIU-Miami game. (AP)

Miami athletic director Paul Dee and ACC commissioner John Swofford decided Monday that Reddick -- who charged across the field within the first 30 seconds of the fight starting and swung his helmet wildly at FIU players, striking at least one -- merited more than the one-game suspension.

"Additional measures were needed," Swofford said.

FIU said its suspended players all would have to complete 10 hours of anger management counseling and 50 hours of community service, plus would be on athletic probation for the remainder of the year.

Further, all FIU players and coaches will need to complete community service projects.

"This is something that's not going to be tolerated," FIU athletic director Pete Garcia said. "We've got to use this as an example to the young kids in South Florida and all over. They need to know that yes, football is very competitive. Our society is very competitive. But we've got to make sure that we teach the youth in South Florida what's acceptable behavior and what's not."

Chris Smith and McDuffie both took shots at Miami holder Matt Perrelli shortly after the fight began with 9 minutes left in the third quarter Saturday night. Smith wrestled Perrelli down and appeared to punch him in the chin, shortly before McDuffie kicked Perrelli's head.