College football coach suspended after players smoked cigars to celebrate national title

The NCAA came down hard on a Division II college football coach after his players celebrated the national championship the "wrong" way

The NCAA is coming down hard on a Division II college football coach after two of his players smoked cigars to celebrate a national championship from a year ago.

Ferris State head coach Tony Annese has been suspended for one game after a pair of his players lit cigars in the locker room after the team's Division II national title victory last season.

And the game he's suspended from is pretty important, too: it's the team's next NCAA championship playoff game, whenever that will be in the future.

Why the suspension?

Players are usually allowed to smoke cigars in the locker room after big wins, but the Division II Championship Game took place at McKinney ISD Stadium in Texas.

That's a high school facility, and like most around the country, the school has a very strict no-tobacco policy when on its campus.

In addition to the suspension, the NCAA said that Ferris State will also have to pay over $15,000 restitution to the school for cleaning and repair expenses.

Ferris State coach responds

"We are committed to running a program representing the ideals and values of Ferris State University, the Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference, and the NCAA, Annese said in a statement.

"I understand the concerns raised by the NCAA. Immediately after the game, while I was in the post-game press conference, the two issues cited by the NCAA were addressed by my coaching staff.

"As a coaching staff, each day leading up to the National Championship Game, we had reminded our players that smoking cigars in celebration would not be allowed.

"My team was fully aware that the actions of the two players were inappropriate. No matter how minor the actions may seem, young people need to understand that there are consequences for their actions. 

"We will address these concerns and continue to have a strong, positive football program that represents Ferris State University on and off the field."

(NCAA)

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