College Football Kicker Goes Viral After He Took Practice Kicks Towards The Halftime Show

A halftime incident at one of the most storied HBCU rivalry games of the year has sparked widespread reaction online and prompted an official response from Alabama State athletics.

During Thursday’s Turkey Day Classic between Alabama State and Tuskegee University, a video surfaced showing Tuskegee kicker Lorcan Ryans practicing kicks on the field while the Alabama State Mighty Marching Hornets were in the middle of their halftime performance. Ryans, a junior from Limerick, Ireland, lined up and sent multiple kicks into the direction of the band as they performed at midfield. When he went to retrieve one of the balls, he was confronted by a band member. The video shows Ryans shoving the student before walking away.

The clip spread quickly across social media, generating everything from jokes to sharp criticism. Many HBCU fans noted that halftime performances carry deep cultural significance within HBCU game day traditions, and that interrupting the band—especially during a rivalry as historic as Alabama State vs. Tuskegee—crosses a line of respect.

By Friday afternoon, Alabama State Vice President and Director of Athletics Dr. Jason Cable issued a formal statement addressing the situation. In the statement, shared across the university’s social platforms, Cable called the incident “unacceptable and unwarranted,” emphasizing that it did not reflect the spirit of healthy rivalry between the two institutions.