A Division II college basketball matchup between Tuskegee University and Morehouse College took a surprising turn on Saturday when Tuskegee head coach Benjy Taylor was escorted off the court in handcuffs following a dispute over the postgame handshake lines. The incident, captured in videos that have surfaced, reveals Taylor’s confrontation with a security officer regarding the presence of Morehouse football players in the handshake line, which he deemed problematic.
The videos show Taylor expressing his concerns about the safety of his players as he encountered a security officer, who subsequently decided to handcuff him. Despite Taylor’s visible frustration, he did not physically threaten the officer. The incident appears to have stemmed from a tense situation after Morehouse secured a 77-69 victory over Tuskegee, where the presence of the football players, who allegedly shouted obscenities, led to a breach of security protocols, according to Tuskegee’s athletic director, Reginald Ruffin.
Ruffin characterized Taylor’s request for the removal of the Morehouse players as reasonable, explaining that the coach was advocating for the safety of his team in light of the hostile situation. However, the security officer reported that Taylor was “very aggressive,” which led to the decision to put him in handcuffs. Taylor later expressed his heartbreak over being treated in such a manner and emphasized that he was simply trying to ensure the safety of his players and their families.
Upon returning home with the team, Taylor announced that he has hired civil rights attorney Harry Daniels to explore legal options, including a potential civil lawsuit. Daniels echoed Taylor’s sentiments about the aggressive behavior of the Morehouse football players during the handshake and highlighted that intermingling of the teams post-game is against mandated conference security protocols.
This incident raises significant questions about security measures at sporting events and the treatment of coaches and players. It underscores the importance of maintaining a safe environment for all participants and a need for thorough communication between event organizers and security personnel to prevent misunderstandings like this one from escalating in the future.