Tuskegee Coach Handcuffed After Game at Morehouse

Benjy Taylor, head men's basketball coach at Tuskegee University, was handcuffed and led off the court by a security officer right after his team's loss to Morehouse College on Saturday night. The incident took place at Morehouse's Forbes Arena during the postgame handshake line. Taylor had asked the officer to remove Morehouse football players from the line because they were yelling obscenities at Tuskegee's players and families. No charges were filed against Taylor, and he returned home with his team on the bus.

Background

Tuskegee University and Morehouse College are both historic Black colleges in the south. They play in the Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference, a group of schools that compete in Division II basketball. The rivalry between these two teams runs deep, with games often drawing strong crowds and high emotions. Saturday's matchup was no different. Tuskegee's Golden Tigers entered with a solid 15-4 record overall and 14-2 in conference play. They had won nine straight at home but were on the road this time.

The game itself was close. Morehouse pulled out a 77-69 win, dropping Tuskegee to 15-5 on the season. As is standard after college basketball games, players from both teams lined up to shake hands and show respect. This is a key part of sportsmanship, especially in heated rivalries. But things took a turn when Morehouse football players walked onto the court behind their basketball team. Witnesses said these football players were loud and using bad language toward the Tuskegee side.

Taylor, in his sixth year leading the Golden Tigers, has built a steady program. At 58 years old, he is known around HBCU basketball circles as a respected figure. His team relies on him for leadership, both on the court and off. The university confirmed Taylor traveled back with the players after the game, showing he was released quickly from whatever hold-up there was.

Key Details

Video from the scene captured the moment clearly. Taylor approached a security officer near the handshake line. He pointed toward the Morehouse football players and asked the officer to get them out of the area. Accounts differ on what happened next. The officer later said Taylor was very aggressive. But Tuskegee athletic director Reginald Ruffin saw it differently. Ruffin said Taylor stayed calm and just said, "Can you please remove them from the line?"

The officer did not agree. He pulled out handcuffs, put them on Taylor, and walked him off the court into a hallway. Additional footage shows two officers taking Taylor through corridors to a room marked "Weightroom." Players and fans watched in shock as their coach was led away. The whole exchange lasted only a short time. Taylor was not formally arrested, and the identity of the officer's agency remains unclear as of Monday.

Taylor's Team Perspective

Ruffin backed his coach fully. He pointed to conference rules on security at games. These rules require officers to handle crowds and keep things safe. Ruffin said the football players created a real risk, given the rivalry. Taylor echoed this in a statement right after the game. He described the football players as a danger because of their yelling.

"I am at a loss for words, and I am upset about how I was violated and treated today," Taylor said. "For my players, my family and people of Tuskegee to witness that is heartbreaking for me. I was simply trying to get the football team out of the handshake line as they were following right behind me and the team yelling obscenities! It was a very dangerous situation."

Taylor spoke little after that. On Sunday, he said he was devastated but had no more to add.

What This Means

Taylor hired civil rights attorneys Harry Daniels, Gregory Reynald Williams, and Gerald Griggs on Sunday. They are looking into a possible lawsuit against Morehouse or the security involved. Daniels called the treatment wrong, especially for someone like Taylor, who he described as a role model. The attorneys said the football players acted aggressively toward Tuskegee people.

"It would be bad for a police officer to treat anyone like this," Daniels said. "But to do it to a man like Coach Taylor, a highly respected professional and role model, to put him in handcuffs, humiliate him in front of his team, his family and a gym full of fans is absolutely disgusting and they need to be held accountable."

This event shines a light on safety at HBCU games. Rivalries can get intense, and mixing football and basketball crowds adds layers. Conference leaders may review how security handles postgame lines. Schools like Tuskegee and Morehouse work hard to keep their programs strong. An incident like this could affect team focus as the season winds down. Tuskegee still has a good shot at playoffs with their record. Morehouse gets a key win but now faces questions about crowd control.

Both sides have stayed quiet beyond initial statements. No one from Morehouse has commented publicly. The focus now turns to any investigation by the conference or local authorities. Taylor plans to coach his next game, keeping the emphasis on basketball amid the fallout. Fans in the HBCU community are watching closely, as these schools hold a special place in college sports.