Prairie View's Jackson Rips SFA's Carthel Over Criticism of Panthers Defender
The short version
- SFA beat Prairie View A&M 31-10 on Saturday in a game that sparked a coaching dispute.
- Carthel called a low hit by Panthers DB Eric Zachery on TE Gerard Edimo one of the dirtiest plays of his 27-year coaching career.
- Jackson called Carthel "very cowardly" for raising the issue publicly rather than privately, and said Edimo's leg got caught on Zachery's jersey.
- Jackson cited racist online abuse directed at Zachery following Carthel's comments but would not detail any team discipline.
- Prairie View faces Grambling in the State Fair Classic at the Cotton Bowl on Saturday; No. 6 FCS SFA hosts Northeastern State.
The Prairie View A&M coach called Colby Carthel "very cowardly" for publicly criticizing a hit without raising it privately, a dispute that flared after SFA's 31-10 win Saturday.
A war of words has broken out between two Texas football coaches days after Stephen F. Austin beat Prairie View A&M 31-10 on Saturday. Panthers head coach Tremaine Jackson labeled Lumberjacks head coach Colby Carthel "very cowardly" during an appearance Wednesday night on HBCU Coaches Corner, objecting to how Carthel handled criticism of one of his players.
The dispute centers on a first-quarter play in Prairie View. Panthers defensive back Eric Zachery went low to tackle SFA tight end Gerard Edimo and kept hold of his leg as Edimo tumbled over him. Zachery then walked away with what Carthel interpreted as a mock limp directed at the hurt player. Carthel told reporters Monday that across 27 years of coaching college football, it ranked among the dirtiest and most unsportsmanlike plays he had witnessed.
Jackson's frustration stemmed from the fact that the incident never came up when the coaches shook hands after the game, or when the two staffs spoke Sunday. Jackson, who has known Carthel for 15 years, said the SFA coach complimented Prairie View's program at midfield without any mention of the play. Jackson argued the contact was accidental, explaining that Edimo's leg was snagged on Zachery's jersey, and noted the junior from South Dallas carries a 3.2 GPA and is on track to earn his degree.
Jackson was also angered by racist comments fans posted on Zachery's Instagram after Carthel's remarks, saying the SFA coach stirred up that response. Jackson said he addressed taunting with Zachery but declined to share whether any discipline was handed down, adding that such matters stay in-house.
On the field, Prairie View, a Celebration Bowl team last season, meets Grambling in the State Fair Classic at the Cotton Bowl on Saturday. SFA, now 4-0 and sixth in the FCS Top 25, hosts Northeastern State.
