The aftermath of a January incident involving Tuskegee University and Morehouse College men’s basketball teams could lead to legal action. Benjy Taylor, the head coach for Tuskegee, intends to file a lawsuit against Morehouse College and two police officers. Taylor alleges he was unnecessarily handcuffed and escorted off the court while attempting to de-escalate a volatile situation.
Incident Details and Taylor’s Account
The incident occurred during a game at Morehouse, where Taylor was seen speaking with officers. He reportedly asked them to enforce conference-mandated security protocols after several Morehouse football players joined the handshake line with the basketball team, creating a potentially dangerous situation. Footage captured Taylor being placed in handcuffs and led out of the gym.
Taylor expressed his distress following the event: “I am at a loss for words, and I am upset about how I was violated and treated today,” he stated in a press release shared by multiple media outlets. “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.”
Legal Representation and SIAC Fine
Taylor is being represented in the lawsuit by civil rights attorneys Harry Daniels, John Burris, Gerald Griggs, and Gregory Reynald Williams. The Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (SIAC) has since fined Morehouse College an undisclosed amount for their role in the incident. However, Morehouse College President F. DuBois Bowman has expressed reservations about the investigation’s fairness.
Bowman stated, “While Morehouse leadership and I take the SIAC’s findings seriously, we have questions about an investigation that did not include a request for the College’s input but ultimately determined responsibility and a fine. This falls short of the due diligence expected of a fair and comprehensive process, and we are engaging directly with the SIAC to reconsider, given the precedent such decisions set for all SIAC institutions.”
Formal Announcement of Lawsuit
Taylor is scheduled to formally announce the lawsuit on Friday, March 20th. This legal action underscores the seriousness with which Taylor and his legal team are treating the incident and the alleged mistreatment he experienced.
What are your thoughts on the incident involving Coach Benjy Taylor? Do you believe the SIAC’s fine on Morehouse was appropriate? Share your opinions in the comments below!
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