Tuskegee coach Benjy Taylor handcuffed while trying to defuse postgame incident
TOI GLOBAL DESK | TOI GLOBAL | Feb 04, 2026, 04:41 IST
Tuskegee coach Benjy Taylor was briefly handcuffed after attempting to calm a tense postgame situation involving Morehouse players and fans. Taylor, who was not charged, had asked officers to enforce security rules. Attorneys are considering legal action, while Tuskegee leaders backed Taylor’s conduct. The conference later fined Morehouse for failing to meet safety standards.
Tuskegee men’s basketball coach Benjy Taylor was briefly handcuffed after he stepped in to calm a tense situation involving his players and members of Morehouse’s basketball and football teams following a game on Saturday.
The incident happened during the postgame handshake line when, according to a statement from civil rights attorney Harry Daniels’ office, several Morehouse football players were behaving aggressively toward Tuskegee players and even some parents. The statement also noted that football players are not supposed to be present in that area under conference security rules.
To prevent the situation from getting worse, Taylor approached officers in the court and asked them to enforce the security guidelines. Instead, one of the officers placed him in handcuffs and escorted him away from the court in front of his team and fans. Taylor was not charged.
Daniels, along with attorneys Gregory Reynald Williams and Gerald Griggs, is now representing Taylor and said they are considering a civil lawsuit over how the situation was handled.
"It would be bad for a police officer to treat anyone like this, but to do it to a man like Coach Taylor in front of his team and family is absolutely disgusting," Daniels said.
Tuskegee University president Mark Brown and athletic director Reginald Ruffin released a statement supporting their coach and praised how he handled the moment. They said Taylor acted only to protect his players and staff in a situation where proper security measures were not followed.
"His conduct remained measured, professional, and entirely consistent with the expectations of a head coach entrusted with the safety of his team," the statement said.
Morehouse did not immediately respond for comment. On Monday, the Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference fined Morehouse an undisclosed amount for failing to follow required safety standards during the game.
The incident happened during the postgame handshake line when, according to a statement from civil rights attorney Harry Daniels’ office, several Morehouse football players were behaving aggressively toward Tuskegee players and even some parents. The statement also noted that football players are not supposed to be present in that area under conference security rules.
To prevent the situation from getting worse, Taylor approached officers in the court and asked them to enforce the security guidelines. Instead, one of the officers placed him in handcuffs and escorted him away from the court in front of his team and fans. Taylor was not charged.
Daniels, along with attorneys Gregory Reynald Williams and Gerald Griggs, is now representing Taylor and said they are considering a civil lawsuit over how the situation was handled.
"It would be bad for a police officer to treat anyone like this, but to do it to a man like Coach Taylor in front of his team and family is absolutely disgusting," Daniels said.
Tuskegee University president Mark Brown and athletic director Reginald Ruffin released a statement supporting their coach and praised how he handled the moment. They said Taylor acted only to protect his players and staff in a situation where proper security measures were not followed.
"His conduct remained measured, professional, and entirely consistent with the expectations of a head coach entrusted with the safety of his team," the statement said.
Morehouse did not immediately respond for comment. On Monday, the Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference fined Morehouse an undisclosed amount for failing to follow required safety standards during the game.