A Tuskegee University kicker drew backlash on social media after a now viral video showed him practicing on the field during Alabama State’s halftime performance during the Turkey Day Classic on Thursday.
What did the Tuskegee University kicker do to the Alabama State Mighty Marching Hornets?
The video showed HBCU’s kicker Ryan Lorcens, a junior originally from Limerick, Ireland, practicing on the sidelines and kicking balls directly toward the fellow HBCU Alabama State’s Mighty Marching Hornets during their halftime show. A brief confrontation ensued between members of the marching band and Lorcens after he walked on the field to retrieve one of the balls, according to Black Enterprise.
On Thursday, one user on X, formerly known as Twitter, shared a post about the incident, and another found the viral footage on TikTok and shared it in a quote on the social platform.
“Tuskegee kicker is on the field kicking during ASU band performance, and the ball keeps hitting people, and he just walks onto the field while they are playing and taking the ball and starts kicking it again,” the X user wrote in their original post about the incident, alongside the video.
What did X users say about the incident?
In the comments section, many called out Lorcens for “taunting” and being disrespectful to the marching band members during their performance.
“He was taunting. He thought he was bad. I would have showed him,” one user wrote.
“Surely this thug was immediately arrested for assault, right?” another wrote.
Some comments defended Lorcens, claiming that his behavior was similar to how they operate in the NFL and that other footage showed he tried not to hit the marching band during their routine. They were also called out by others who said he deliberately kicked the balls into that area.
“Those in the comments defending know good and damn well they practice to the side parallel to the field!! They don’t kick the ball into the band then walk in between the performers to retrieve the ball…..pushing them….FOH” a third user wrote.
“If this was a black man and a group of white cheerleaders and band members, these comments would look a hell of a lot different,” another wrote.
Alabama State vice president speaks out following the altercation
On Friday, Jason Cable, Alabama State vice president and director of athletics, released a statement shared on X, calling out Lorcen’s actions and stating that what happened does not reflect the “healthy rivalry” between the two schools that has lasted for more than 124 years.
“The incident involving a member of the Tuskegee football team pushing a member of the Mighty Marching Hornets at the conclusion of halftime was both unacceptable and unwarranted,” Cable stated. “It in no way reflects the spirit of healthy rivalry or the character of either historic institution.”
Cable also confirmed that Reginald Ruffin, Tuskegee University vice president, reached out to him after the game to affirm that the situation was being handled, according to AL.com. “I am confident that appropriate actions will be taken,” Cable stated.
The Alabama State Hornets defeated the Tuskegee Golden Tigers 58-21 in the 101st Turkey Day Classic in Montgomery, Alabama.