Florida coach Dan Mullen said he was just trying to get players off the field.
He also said his Gators' players were going to defend their quarterback, Kyle Trask, after Mullen became incensed that Trask was hit on the last play of the second quarter Saturday night in The Swamp and no penalty was thrown.
The Southeastern Conference saw Mullen's actions as more than simply trying to shepherd his players off the field; the league fined Florida's third-year coach $25,000 on Monday while also announcing suspensions from the melee that prompted both schools on Sunday to issue a joint statement.
“There is no place in college football for the kind of incident that took place at halftime of the Missouri at Florida game Saturday night. Everyone involved is responsible for meeting sportsmanship standards throughout each game,” SEC Commissioner Greg Sankey said in a statement issued by the league. “Running on the field to confront a game official, the gathering of teams in an on-field confrontation and student-athletes throwing punches are all disappointing at any time, but even more so as we work to support healthy competition during a pandemic.”
Florida players Antwuan Powell and Zach Carter were ejected at halftime Saturday night of the Gators' homecoming win against Missouri; they both will be required to sit out the first half of Florida's annual rivalry game Saturday against Georgia in Jacksonville, Fla.
Additionally, per the SEC release:
In addition, following video review of the incident, the SEC Office has issued a half-game suspension for Missouri linebacker Chad Bailey, offensive lineman Dylan Spencer and defensive lineman Markell Utsey for fighting action during the altercation. Each will miss the first half of Missouri’s game vs. Georgia on November 14 which follows a Missouri open date on November 7.
Fighting is defined as follows by NCAA Playing Rules:
RULE 2, SECTION 32. Fighting
ARTICLE 1. Fighting is any attempt by a player, coach or squad member in uniform to strike an opponent in a combative manner unrelated to football.
Such acts include, but are not limited to:
An attempt to strike an opponent with the arm(s), hand(s), leg(s) or foot (feet), whether or not there is contact.
An unsportsmanlike act toward an opponent that causes any opponent to retaliate by fighting (Rules 9-2-1 and 9-5-1-a-c).