In a twist to the postgame saga at Morehouse College, Tuskegee University men's basketball coach Benjy Taylor was briefly detained by police, and he has now hired a civil rights attorney to explore a possible lawsuit against the involved parties. Taylor, who was handcuffed following his team's loss last Saturday, has received full support from his university, which stands firmly behind his actions during the incident that took place in Atlanta, as reported by USA TODAY.
The confrontation began when Taylor allegedly attempted to address safety concerns regarding Morehouse football players entering the basketball handshake line, claims supported by Tuskegee athletic director Reginald Ruffin; this was considered a potential security issue and Taylor's reaction, which was to raise these concerns to law enforcement present at the game, led to his detention, FOX 5 Atlanta captured the scene on tape.
Following his detainment, Taylor reached out to Harry Daniels, an Atlanta-based civil rights attorney, in order to seek justice for what his attorney dubs a "disgusting" treatment; in a statement given to USA TODAY, Daniels remarked on the situation, saying, "But to do it to a man like Coach Taylor, a highly respected professional and role model, to put him in handcuffs, humiliate him and treat him like a criminal in front of his team, his family and a gym full of fans is absolutely disgusting and they need to be held accountable."
Tuskegee University has meanwhile penned a supportive letter with both the athletic director and president Dr. Mark A. Brown commending Taylor's professionalism during the event, they believe he rightfully exercised his duty to ensure the safety of his team and staff, especially since the incident unfolded in what appears to be a breach of conference-mandated security protocols, the letter, which empathizes with Taylor's plight, was addressed to the "Tuskegee Family and Friends", further details on potential legal actions by Taylor's attorney remain forthcoming.
