Postgame Incident Involving Tuskegee University Coach

Benji Taylor, the head coach of Tuskegee University’s men’s basketball team, was escorted off the court by police after his team lost to Morehouse College with a score of 77-69 last Saturday night.

This incident, which happened between two rival HBCUs, drew attention as tensions escalated following the game’s conclusion.

The altercation took place during the postgame handshake at Morehouse’s gym in Atlanta.

Video footage captured the moment when Taylor, 58, was seen speaking with an individual in police uniform before the situation took a turn, leading to him being handcuffed.

It remains unclear what exactly was said, but the police proceeded to detain Taylor.

In a statement, Taylor expressed his shock and distress regarding the incident. He shared, “I’m speechless and upset about how I was assaulted and treated today. It’s heartbreaking for my players, my family, and the people of Tuskegee to witness that.”

According to reports, players from the Morehouse football team entered the court after the game, prompting a confrontation when Taylor approached security to discuss the situation.

Reginald Ruffin, Tuskegee’s athletic director, mentioned that Taylor was trying to ensure proper security protocols were followed during the incident.

Ruffin stated that safety measures are in place for the protection of officials, athletes, coaches, and spectators, and are in line with guidelines established by the conference.

As the tension mounted, Taylor requested security to remove the football players from the handshake line to maintain order. However, Ruffin pointed out that mixing football players with basketball teams in such a manner could pose a security risk.

After being detained, Taylor was released without charges, and he exited the arena alongside his team.

No injuries were reported during this tense moment.

Reflecting on the experience, Taylor emphasized the dangers posed during the confrontation, particularly as the football players yelled from behind him. He has been coaching at Tuskegee since the 2019-2020 season, previously working at Division I schools like Hawaii State and Chicago State.