Arkansas Razorbacks commit Charlie Collins one of 12 Mills (Arkansas) players disqualified from next game

12 Mills players and 23 Pine Bluff players were disqualified from the teams’ next game after two fights erupted following Mills’ double-overtime win Friday

LITTLE ROCK, ARK. – University of Arkansas four-star defensive end commit Charlie Collins is one of 12 Mills University Studies players that has been disqualified for the Comets’ next game Oct. 20 against Joe T. Robinson. The disqualifications stem from a pair of fights following Mills’ 22-20 win over 5A-Central rival Pine Bluff on Friday night. 

Collins, who committed to Arkansas last spring with cousin and Pine Bluff receiver Courtney Crutchfield, confirmed Wednesday afternoon he is indeed one of the Comets who will not play in the Robinson game following a bye this week. Crutchfield is not one of the 23 Pine Bluff players, including two starters, who were disciplined. 

Players can attend the game in street clothes per the ruling made by the Arkansas Activities Association after meeting with both coaches Tuesday afternoon at the AAA office in North Little Rock. 

University of Arkansas four-star defensive end commit Charlie Collins is one of 12 Comets who will not play next Friday night because of multiple fights that occurred after MIlls' 23-20 double-overtime win at Pine Bluff last week. (Photo by Tommy Land)

“It’s kind of hard to come up with words,” Collins said. “It hurts because nobody is recognizing our win. Everybody wants to talk about the fight and paint the picture we initiated it. It is all bad things toward [Mills], and it’s unfair coming from adults who should be trying to deescalate things.

“The guys in the program enjoyed the win, and we patted each other on the back. It wasn’t an easy win. It came down to our kicker – the myth that don’t miss. I don’t think it is fair, but you have to respect the system.”

It was reported that there were two fights and that some Mills players were dancing on the Zebras logo at midfield. Collins said he was with a group of Mills players that did go over to the Pine Bluff sideline, but he insists his motives were pure.

“I’m from Pine Bluff, an I had a bunch of family, friends and former classmates over there,” he said. “Me being a recruit, there were others who wanted to take pictures with me. I wasn’t trying to start anything. Me and [Crutchfield] were getting ready to do a jersey swap like they do in the NFL. Everything just kind of happened from there.”

Collins said in an instant he was in the middle of the brawl. 

“I honestly can’t tell you much,” he said. “The Pine Bluff players initated the fight, and we were outnumbered 100 to 1. It was like the movie 300.”

Like Collins, several Mills players are originally from Pine Bluff and transferred to the school that is around 45 minutes from the Southeast Arkansas city. Collins said the players from both sides have moved on, and that he and Crutchfield, who are close friends, hung out over the weekend.

The loss of the 12 players, which presumably includes some other key players besides Collins, is a big blow for the Comets, who are hoping to give Robinson its first loss in conference play next week. Mills has one loss thanks to a surprise defeat at the hands of Maumelle.

“I send my sincere apologies that I won’t be able to put on a show next Friday,” Collins said. “With that being said, I need to learn a lesson from this situation and know that my brand is too important to be in situations like that.

“It is a huge blow to our program, but I feel like our young guys will step up and hopefully, we can come out with the dub.” 

--Nate Olson I @ndosports I nate@scorebooklive.com