A Texas Department of Public Safety trooper was sent home after a physical encounter with four University of South Carolina football players during a college football game on November 15. The incident occurred at Kyle Field in College Station, Texas, amidst a matchup between Texas A&M and South Carolina.
As South Carolina wide receiver Nyck Harbor celebrated an 80-yard touchdown pass, he limped through the end zone and into the team tunnel, where he was met by teammates. Upon returning to the field, the trooper intervened, shouldering into the players and exchanging words with them.
Harbor appeared bewildered by the confrontation, prompting his teammates to guide him back toward the sideline. Following the altercation, Texas DPS issued a statement via social media acknowledging the incident. “The Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS) is aware of the incident that occurred today during the Texas A&M football game,” the statement read. “The DPS Trooper involved was sent home from the game. Our Office of Inspector General (OIG) is also aware of the incident and will be further looking into the matter. No additional information will be released at this time.”
After the game, South Carolina head coach Shane Beamer expressed his respect for the College Station community but stated he was unaware of the details surrounding the incident. “Got a ton of respect for the people here in College Station,” he remarked. “They’re just a first-class operation, everybody. From a game operation standpoint, they really do a great job.”
The incident quickly gained traction on social media, drawing reactions from fans and notable figures alike, including NBA star LeBron James. “That A&M cop needs to [be] suspended!” James tweeted. “That was premeditated and corny AF!! He went out his way to start some s**t. Do better man.”
Former NFL linebacker Will Compton chimed in, stating, “Defund this Texas A&M mall cop,” while sports commentator Emmanuel Acho shared his thoughts along with a video explaining the situation, saying, “This Texas A&M state trooper has officially been relieved of his Saturday duties! Good, get him TF outa here!”
Despite the distraction, Harbor’s touchdown helped South Carolina build a 30-3 lead at halftime. However, Texas A&M staged a remarkable comeback in the second half, ultimately winning 31-30. This marked the largest comeback in Texas A&M history as they improved to 10-0 for the season.
“Credit to our guys, credit for how they stuck to it, credit with how they rallied,” said Texas A&M head coach Mike Elko post-game. “Thought they did a really, really good job of staying positive and keep fighting until the next play. For them to go out in the second half and do what they did, that’s championship-level football.”
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