CORAL GABLES, Fla. — After reviewing a sideline-clearing brawl between players from Miami and Florida International, officials from both schools and their conferences yesterday announced the suspension of 31 players — 13 from the Hurricanes, and 18 from FIU.

Each suspended player must sit out his team's next game for taking part in the ugly melee that marred the team's Saturday matchup. Miami plays at Duke on Saturday, FIU plays at Alabama Oct. 28.

More sanctions are still possible, officials from both schools said last night.

"These suspensions send a clear and definitive message that this type of behavior will not be tolerated," said Atlantic Coast Conference Commissioner John Swofford.

The ACC and Miami (4-2) suspended Carlos Armour, Chris Barney, James Bryant, Tyrone Byrd, DajLeon Farr, Ryan Hill, Bruce Johnson, Charlie Jones, Brandon Meriweather, Brian Monroe, Derrick Morse, Randy Phillips and Anthony Reddick.

"I don't have many bad days," Miami coach Larry Coker said yesterday morning, long before the suspensions were announced. "This is a bad day. And last night was a bad night."

Meanwhile, officials from the Sun Belt Conference and FIU (0-7) suspended Michael Alls, Scott Bryant, Roland Clark, Michael Dominquez, John Ellis, Cory Fleming, Reginald Jones, Marshall McDuffie Jr., Robert Mitchell, Quintin Newman, Luis Pena, Jarvis Penerton, Julian Reams, Lionell Singleton, Chris Smith, Samuel Smith, Mannie Wellington and Chandler Williams.

"There is no place in higher education for the type of conduct exhibited," Sun Belt Commissioner Wright Waters said.

There were instances of heated words being exchanged during — and even before — the game.

But shortly after halftime, unsportsmanlike turned into unruly.

Bryant pointed at the FIU bench and bowed to the crowd after catching a touchdown pass with 9 minutes left in the third quarter. Moments later, FIU's Chris Smith wrestled Miami holder Matt Perrelli to the ground and punched him.

McDuffie kicked Perrelli in the helmet. Morse jumped onto the Smith-Perrelli pile, Singleton followed and tried to punch the Hurricanes' Calais Campbell — and benches began to empty.

"You've got to back up each other," said Miami quarterback Kyle Wright. "You're not just going to sit out there and let guys get beat up."

Several players from both sides appeared to throw punches. Meriweather was seen attempting to stomp on FIU players, while an injured Golden Panther swung a crutch menacingly at several Miami players.

Meanwhile, Reddick charged across the field, helmet raised over his head, and slammed it into Mitchell.

"Disgraceful," Coker said.

It's the third on-field incident involving the Hurricanes in their past seven games.