During a college football game in College Station, Texas, a local state trooper was recorded in what many consider to be an attempt to provoke some South Carolina players after one of them scored a touchdown. The trooper was subsequently removed from the game.
A summary of the whole interaction was posted to TikTok by user cason4k_. A voiceover narrator details the play that ended in a touchdown in favor of the South Carolina Gamecocks against the Texas A&M Aggies.
As the player crosses the goal line, a Texas state trooper can be seen in the left corner of the screen. He was far from the players. Following the touchdown, the NCAA players from South Carolina walked into the tunnel next to them in celebration.
However, as the players were coming back to the field, the same Texas trooper was walking toward them. As they crossed their paths, the trooper appeared to deliberately bump into them. Then, he immediately confronted them over this, possibly looking for a reaction in an act of provocation. The players, however, were focused on the game and continued to walk toward the field.
Backlash, Authorities Respond
The authorities took notice of the trooper’s behavior and relieved him from his “game day assignment.” The Texas Department of Public Safety even said that he was “sent home from the game.” Currently, the incident is under investigation.
The incident sparked heavy criticism and backlash. Many have labeled it an attempt to trigger the players and even a racist, angry outburst on behalf of the trooper. Users were quick to blast the law enforcement agent in the comments.
“Most likely he lost a bet on the game,” one user wrote. A second one commented, “Every single ticket he ever gave should be investigated.” A third one said, “He did that in a crowded stadium …imagine how he treats people on a regular Tuesday and no one looking.”
While many users have called for the Trooper to lose his job, no further updates have been provided by the Texas authorities as of Tuesday, November 18. The South Carolina team, meanwhile, ended up losing against the Aggies (31-30).
