ATLANTA, GA — In a surprising twist following an intense HBCU rivalry game, Tuskegee University’s athletic director Reginald Ruffin provided insight into a postgame incident that raised concerns about security protocols during the matchup against Morehouse College. The game concluded with Morehouse claiming a 77-69 victory, but the attention swiftly shifted to the events that unfolded during the post-game handshake.
Ruffin explained that the situation arose after Morehouse football players unexpectedly entered the handshake line, which he classified as a “security breach.” He emphasized the importance of adhering to the conference-mandated security measures, designed to protect officials, student-athletes, coaches, and spectators during such high-stakes games.
“Our security measures are in place for the protection of everyone involved,” Ruffin remarked. He noted that these protocols are standard across all member institutions within the conference.
The scenario escalated when Tuskegee’s head coach Benjy Taylor sought assistance from security to address the presence of non-participants in the handshake line, which is generally reserved for the teams involved in the game. “He simply asked the security officer, ‘Can you please remove them from the line?’” Ruffin clarified, defending Taylor’s actions. However, a conflicting account from the security officer portrayed Taylor as exhibiting aggressive behavior, which led to further complications, including Taylor being placed in handcuffs.
Fortunately, the incident was brief, and Taylor was released shortly thereafter to rejoin his team. Nevertheless, this incident has sparked conversations about the adequacy of crowd control measures and the protocols following such emotionally charged games in the future.
As the rivalry continues to deepen, Tuskegee and Morehouse are now focusing on finding solutions and ensuring clarity in their policies to prevent a recurrence of similar incidents. The HBCU community is keen to see what changes will be implemented to enhance safety and uphold the integrity of post-game interactions as these two storied programs prepare for their next meeting.