Morehouse College fined after Tuskegee coach’s handcuffing goes viral

The Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference has fined Morehouse College and cited the institution for failing to meet required game security standards following an incident in which Tuskegee men’s basketball head coach Benjy Taylor was handcuffed by campus security after a Jan. 31 game between the two schools.

SIAC Commissioner Dr. Anthony Holloman announced Monday that the conference completed a comprehensive review of the incident, which occurred at the conclusion of Morehouse’s home game against Tuskegee.

The investigation included video evidence, official reports, and on-site observations.

According to Holloman, the review determined that Morehouse did not comply with SIAC Policy 1.9, which governs host institutions’ responsibilities for crowd control and ensuring the safe entry and exit of visiting teams and participants.

“As a result, the SIAC has imposed a fine on Morehouse College of an undisclosed amount and will require corrective measures to ensure full compliance with conference security policies moving forward,” Holloman said in a written statement.

The conference’s findings come after video and eyewitness accounts showed a member of the Morehouse security staff restraining and handcuffing Taylor in a postgame scene that drew widespread attention across social media. The reason for the confrontation has not been publicly detailed, though no injuries were reported.

Taylor indicted that he was trying to enforce postgame security rules when the situation spiraled. Morehouse football players reportedly joined the handshake line — a direct violation of conference policy — prompting Taylor to ask security to step in.

“I was simply trying to get the football team out of the handshake line as they were yelling obscenities,” he told The Field of 68. “It was a very dangerous situation. For my players and my family to see me treated that way was devastating.”

Taylor has since hired national civil rights attorney Harry Daniels, and that his legal team is exploring “all legal avenues,” including a possible civil lawsuit.

“The SIAC holds its member institutions to the highest standards of sportsmanship, professionalism, and institutional accountability,” Holloman said. “Our historic institutions are expected to provide competitive environments that prioritize the safety, dignity, and mutual respect of student-athletes, coaches, officials, and fans.”

Morehouse has not publicly commented on the conference’s ruling. Tuskegee officials also have not released a statement on the matter.

The SIAC said its primary focus moving forward is to ensure that all future contests are conducted “in a manner consistent with our shared values.”

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