Tuskegee kicker receives backlash for kicking ball at Alabama State marching band during game.

The annual Turkey Day Classic between Alabama State and Tuskegee University has always been a highly anticipated game filled with fierce competition and school pride. However, this year's game took an unexpected turn when a video of Tuskegee kicker Ryan Lorcens practicing kicks during Alabama State's halftime show went viral.

The incident, which took place on November 27, captured Lorcens nonchalantly kicking balls towards the Alabama State Mighty Marching Hornets as they performed their halftime routine. The junior, hailing from Limerick, Ireland, even went as far as walking onto the field to retrieve one of the balls, leading to a brief confrontation with the marching band.

One user on X wrote, "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," along with a video of the incident. The video was also shared on TikTok, garnering a lot of attention and backlash.

Many were quick to criticize Lorcens for disrespecting a cherished HBCU game-day tradition. One user on X wrote, "He was taunting," while another questioned if the kicker should be arrested for "assault."

In response to the incident, Alabama State's Vice President and Director of Athletics, Dr. Jason Cable, released a statement on November 28, condemning Lorcens' actions. He called them "unacceptable and unwarranted," stating that they were not reflective of the healthy rivalry between the two schools.

Dr. Cable said, "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. It in no way reflects the spirit of healthy rivalry or the character of either historic institution."

Following the game, Tuskegee University's Vice President, Reginald Ruffin, reached out to Dr. Cable to address the incident. Dr. Cable expressed confidence that appropriate actions would be taken to address the matter.

The Alabama State University Athletics stands firmly for respect, integrity, and sportsmanship. In a tweet on November 29, Dr. Cable reaffirmed the university's commitment to upholding the highest standards on and off the field. The tweet included a video of his statement, with the hashtag #SWARMAS1, representing the unity and strength of the Alabama State community.

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