Editor’s Note: The following is State Hornet Photo Editor Barrett Lyon’s first-hand account of what he witnessed following the Hornets’ 31-30 defeat against Montana State on Saturday night.

With the completion of what they thought was the final play of the game, the Sacramento State football team began its celebratory cheer.

The team ran out on the field with their pointer fingers extended, as they believed they were “No.1.”

However, there was a face-masking penalty called during the final play, leaving Montana State with a final opportunity. Bobcat kicker Nate Cook then connected on a 36-yard game-winning field goal.Immediately following the completion of the field goal, I watched as the Hornet coaching staff shot off of the sidelines yelling profanities only rivaled by a drunk with Tourrette’s Syndrome.

Their comments were directed into the faces of the officials. The players then followed like a school of piranha. They used more foul language than I have ever heard from the mouths of grown men. Some of the players were even spitting on the field with disrespect.

I was trapped on the field in the middle of the entire ordeal. Tempers were so flared that I was scared for my own safety. The coaches were yelling, the players were yelling, and shouts such as, “you did not f—ing earn that,” or, “you suck, f—ing d—,” rang through the crowd. The Hornets were taunting Montana State with every verbal obscenity that they had in their arsenal.

With the exception of a small group of players, the Hornets did not congratulate Montana State at the end of the game as a team. The Hornets were so rude that I was embarrassed to be a student at Sacramento State. I was embarrassed to be a part of the event. If this happened at any other sporting event, players and even coaches would have been suspended.

At that moment our football team was out of control, and had absolutely no business playing for, or representing, our university. With attitudes like that, our team does not deserve to win anything, let alone play.

Yet, somehow this episode will be swept under the turf.It is disappointing to see the dedication and training of possibly a great team be thrown away with loose tempers and bad sportsmanship – play like men, lose like men.

To respond to Barrett Lyon’s column, e-mail The State Hornet sports department at [email protected]