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ACC fines UVA, Virginia Tech, UNC, NC State for on-field fights during rivalry games

Matt Connollyby:Matt Connolly12/02/24

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Rivalry week was extra heated this year. There were multiple fights on the field this past Saturday before, during and after games, including the VirginiaVirginia Tech and North CarolinaNC State games. The ACC is punishing schools involved, it has announced.

The league released a statement on Monday announcing fines and Public Reprimands to all four schools. Here is the full release:

“The Atlantic Coast Conference is issuing an institutional fine and public reprimand to North Carolina and NC State for the actions of both teams following the game on November 30,” the ACC said in a statement.

“Separately, due to the pregame confrontation between student-athletes at Virginia and Virginia Tech, the ACC is issuing an institutional fine and public reprimand to both institutions.”

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The ACC continued its statement, revealing that the actions were “unacceptable.”

“In both cases, the actions violated the ACC Sportsmanship Policy. The unsportsmanlike behavior that was displayed is unacceptable and tarnishes the passionate on-field play between these institutions.

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The funds from the imposed institutional fines – which are the maximum allowed by the league’s bylaws – will be placed into the Weaver-James-Corrigan-Swofford Postgraduate Scholarship account.

The ACC considers this matter closed and will have no further comment.”

Following the NC State vs. North Carolina game on Saturday, Wolfpack players went to plant a flag with the logo at midfield. North Carolina players took umbrage and moved in.

From there, a physical altercation broke out.

The Wolfpack and Tar Heels were fairly evenly matched on Saturday, with North Carolina holding a negligible edge in total yardage, 468-462. And defense was not much on the menu, as each team averaged more than seven yards per play. But winning the turnover battle, 2-1, helped as the Wolfpack scored just a bit more — and touchdowns instead of field goals — to win.

As for the Virginia vs. Virginia Tech game, the Hokies earned a 37-17 victory to improve to 6-6 (4-4) on the season and clinch a bowl berth.