MIAMI -- Former Miami player Lamar Thomas lost his TV
analyst job Monday over comments he made during a sideline-clearing
brawl involving the Hurricanes and Florida International.
"We were disappointed in the incident that happened on the
field and regret the way it was handled in the broadcast booth,"
Comcast Sports SouthEast general manager Mark Fuhrman said. "We do not support or condone the inappropriate comments made by color analyst Lamar
Thomas and have taken the necessary steps to prevent a similar
situation from ever occurring again."
CSS, a regional cable network that hired
Thomas before the season, also decided to edit out his comments
before the game is replayed later this week. The network, which is available in 5.5 million homes, will replay the
game twice Wednesday.
Thomas made his comments as dozens of Miami and FIU players
stormed the Orange Bowl field and fought during the third quarter
of their teams' game Saturday night, an incident that led to the
suspension of at least 31 players and forced officials from both
schools to publicly apologize for the melee.
"Now, that's what I'm talking about," Thomas said as the brawl
raged out of control. "You come into our house, you should get
your behind kicked. You don't come into the OB playing that stuff.
You're across the ocean over there. You're across the city. You
can't come over to our place talking noise like that. You'll get
your butt beat. I was about to go down the elevator to get in that
thing."
Monday, on the Dan Patrick Show on ESPN Radio, Thomas said he got caught up in the moment as a former Miami player.
"Anybody who knows me knows I played the game of football with my heart on my sleeve," Thomas said. "Unfortunately for me during the fight I got a little hyped up. In no way do I condone fighting."
Miami and Florida International have campuses 9 miles apart in
Miami-Dade County. It was the first meeting between the two
programs, and the Hurricanes went on to win 35-0.
As the fight slowed, Thomas' comments continued.
"I say, why don't they just meet outside in the tunnel after
the ball game and get it on some more? You don't come into the OB,
baby," Thomas said. "We've had a down couple years but you don't
come in here talking smack. Not in our house."
A tape of the fight, including Thomas' comments, was available
on the Internet on Sunday and Monday. The game was available for
viewing Saturday night on a pay-per-view basis.
"We do not support or condone any of the comments that were
made by Lamar," Fuhrman said after the incident.
The comments will be edited out before the
game is replayed later this week.
Thomas was a third-round draft pick of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers
in 1993 and spent six seasons in the NFL, three with the Bucs and
three with the Miami Dolphins.
He has a Gainesville address, but there was no listed telephone
number for him in that area. He could not be reached Monday.
Fuhrman said CSS consulted with Miami officials before
determining what action needed to be taken. Miami recommends on-air
personnel for its broadcasts, Fuhrman said.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.