A Texas State Trooper was swiftly sent home and placed under investigation after a viral video showed him deliberately making contact and aggressively confronting South Carolina football players on the sideline at Kyle Field, an incident that drew immediate condemnation from NBA superstar LeBron James.
The incident occurred during the Gamecocks’ game against Texas A&M on Saturday. The footage, which quickly circulated across social media platforms, showed a Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS) trooper walking between South Carolina wide receiver Nyck Harbor and running back Oscar Adaway III as they exited a tunnel after Harbor’s 80-yard touchdown reception.
The trooper appeared to shoulder check or bump into the players before turning back, pointing his finger, and shouting at Harbor, who was quickly ushered away by a teammate.
LeBron James Weighs In
The most prominent voice condemning the officer’s actions belonged to Los Angeles Lakers star LeBron James, who used his massive platform on X (formerly Twitter) to call for immediate disciplinary action.
“That A&M cop needs to be suspended! That was premeditated and corny AF!! 🤦🏾♂️. He went out his way to start some sh–. Do better man,” James wrote.
James’s public stance amplified the controversy, pushing the incident from a typical viral sports moment into a national discussion about the conduct of law enforcement at sporting events.
Trooper Sent Home, Investigation Launched
In response to the widespread outrage, both the Texas A&M Police Department and the Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS) issued statements confirming action had been taken.
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Texas A&M Police: Stated the trooper, who was on assignment for the game, had been “relieved of his game day assignment.”
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Texas DPS: Confirmed the trooper was “sent home from the game” and that their Office of Inspector General (OIG) is “further looking into the matter.”
While neither department has released the trooper’s name or confirmed any official suspension, the quick removal from the game and the launch of an internal investigation signal that the agencies view the trooper’s actions as serious.
The confrontation marked an ugly moment during what became a historic game for the Aggies, who rallied from a 27-3 deficit to defeat the Gamecocks 31-30. Despite the comeback, the focus remains squarely on the aggressive sideline behavior that prompted an NBA star’s viral call for accountability.
