“Events leading to the Beef ‘O’ Brady’s Bowl are supposed to be fun-filled activities for the teams, their families and fans to participate in,” writes the St. Pete Patch’s Jeff Rosenfeld, neglecting to mention that only the most desperate individuals amongst us and/or trustees of the schools competing could actually name the teams facing off in tomorrow night’s not-so-glittering clash. For the record, they are Louisville and Southern Mississippi, each of whom had difficulty maintaining their composure during what Rosenfeld describes as “a poolside dance competition” that took place yesterday afternoon.
“Someone said something disrespectful, did a little jawing after the dance contest¦ it’s all good,” said Louisville linebacker Dexter Heyman, who was front and center in the fracas. It’s “just a little too close to game time, ya know?” .
Southern Miss players had a different perspective.
“They started talking trash about us being in Conference USA, [that] we can’t dance¦ it was stupid. We’ll do our talking on the field,” uttered one Golden Eagle who refused to be identified. “A friendly dance competition and they take it all serious? It’s ridiculous.”
The first contest was the dance-off, featuring three players from each team. It was all in good fun as the players engaged in bouts of break dancing, moonwalking, and the ever-popular “Dougie”.
But at the tail end of the contest the back-and-forth banter grew a little too heated, prompting an appearance from a group of armed Florida Highway Patrol officers. Shortly thereafter, emcee Deveryn Wilson warned if emotions weren’t tempered, the event would be halted.
The warning didn’t work. Minutes later, just before the fan favorite belly flop contest was to begin, the event abruptly ended, the teams quickly dispersed, and the crowd left wondering what had happened.