Appalachian State students are hurling allegations towards several Miami Hurricanes players, saying they assaulted members of the school’s color guard as they ran onto the field prior to Saturday’s game.
The Palm Beach Post reports Sophie Randleman, a junior at Appalachian State and color guard member, took to Facebook following the incident saying she was “shoved by several very large, intentionally aggressive football players.” She wrote a member of the color squad was left in “severe pain” and she, nor her group, were apologized to.
It’s a serious allegation to make. However, it does not come without some questions. Matt Porter of the Palm Beach Herald posted video of the team’s taking of the field.
App State has an inflatable helmet with smoke. pic.twitter.com/BMZHXYs4Nf
— Matt Porter (@mattyports) September 17, 2016
Randleman’s color guard is set up directly in the path of Miami’s team. While I’d never condone harassment of any sort, it’s an odd position to be standing in. What did they expect would happen? Shouldn’t they not be in the way of 50+ football players?
Randleman admitted to the Palm Beach Post that she realizes they weren’t in the best spot to be cheering.
“It has happened before in my three years here, and I do realize that it’s a poor placement for us to be so close to [players],” Randleman said. “In other situations where it has occurred, the teams would run through and not make a big deal out of it. In some cases, players have apologized.”
It’s impossible to know the true intent of the Miami Hurricanes players, but it sounds like ASU color guard members were in the wrong place at the wrong time. It looks like incidental contact. The Miami administration is already looking into the incident.
“We have already followed up seeking details from both the football and administrative staffs,” said Miami Athletic Director Blake James said. “The University of Miami does not tolerate any kind of suggestive behavior, harassment or inappropriate conduct and we will take action if our students did engage in this type of behavior.”
It will be interesting to follow this case to see what happens next. Defining the players’ intent will be difficult.
