The NCAA Division I-AA Football Committee has suspended five members of the Western Kentucky University football team and eight members of the Western Illinois University football team for their participation in an altercation that occurred after the end of the NCAA Division I-AA quarterfinal game in Macomb, Illinois.

In addition, seven student-athletes from Western Kentucky and six from Western Illinois received public reprimands. Also, one student-athlete was banished from further participation in any future NCAA Division I-AA championships.

The incident began during a postgame celebration that occurred after Western Kentucky defeated Western Illinois, 31-28.

Antonio Thomas and Shawn McCrimmon of Western Kentucky, and Jason McWilliams, Chris McNutt, Mike Tetzel, James Rennick, Jason Baksas and Chad Daun of Western Illinois each received a one-game suspension for striking or punching other individuals. The suspension will prohibit the players from participating in the next championship game they would be eligible to participate in this year or in future years.

Alex Dukes, Darius McCrimmon and Montaze Trumbo of Western Kentucky, and Ryle Irish and Doran Yilla of Western Illinois each received a two-game suspension for kicking a defenseless individual or striking an individual with their helmets. The suspension will prohibit the players from participating in the next two championship games they would be eligible to participate in this year or in future years.

Cris Riviere of Western Kentucky has been banished from participation in any future NCAA Division I-AA Football Championship due to what the committee said was blatant unsportsmanlike conduct.

The committee also issued a public reprimand to the following players because their conduct, although not blatantly unsportsmanlike, contributed to the severity of the situation: Western Kentucky -- Jerome Reaves, Trent Willis, Brian Lowder, Anthony Bates, Bryan Adams, Jon Drummond and Tyrone Mareko; Western Illinois -- Stacy Coleman, Quinlan Porter, Ray Dukes, Terrence Hall, Travis Glasford and Johnny Lormile.

"The incident that occurred brought disgrace to the Division I-AA Football Championship and the sport of college football," said Joe Sterrett, chair of the committee and athletics director at Lehigh University. "We felt compelled to take strong action in what we believe would be in the best interests of the championship and the sport."

The committee also reviewed the institutional responsibility that exists with the conduct of any athletics contest and particularly NCAA championship competition.

The committee was concerned that due to the number of individuals involved and the severity of the observed behaviors that there was a sufficient lack of institutional control.

The committee will continue to review this issue and reserves the authority to impose institutional sanctions at a later date.

Members of the NCAA Division I-AA Football Committee are: E.W. Dennison, Murray State University; Wayne Hogan, University of Montana; Jim Miller, University of Richmond; Gregory Burke, Northwestern State University; Joseph Sterrett, chair, Lehigh University; Roachel Laney, Appalachian State University; and Perk Weisenburger, Illinois State University.