LSU and the Texas A&M University Police Department are at odds with each other concerning the events that took place in the scuffle following LSU’s 74-72 loss to the Aggies, according to statements they both released on Monday.
Immediately after the game, a staff photographer from The Advocate tweeted a picture of former-LSU running back and current director of player development Kevin Faulk throwing a punch at someone who appeared to be a credentialed Texas A&M assistant. Additional videos released by the Houston Chronicle on Monday show LSU safety John Battle throwing a punch as well.
According to a report by The Daily Advertiser’s Glenn Guilbeau, LSU analyst Steve Kragthorpe, who has Parkinson’s disease, was punched in the chest by a man in a Texas A&M polo following the game. Kragthorpe has a pacemaker inserted in his chest.
Guilbeau reported that Faulk jumped in after seeing Kragthorpe get hit. Multiple sources have since reported that the credentialed man was Texas A&M coach Jimbo Fisher’s nephew, Cole, an undergraduate football student manager for the Aggies.
“I mean, I got nailed,” Kragthorpe told Guilbeau. “He was a young guy. I’m 53. I’m not going to fight him. I have Parkinson’s, but even if I didn’t, I haven’t gotten in a fight since high school. That would be a poor reflection on Coach O and Joe (athletic director Joe Alleva).”
The Southeastern Conference is in contact with both schools and is continuing to look into the incident.
The statement released by Texas A&M University Police Department to the Chronicle says that Kragthorpe retracted his statement, declined medical attention and did not want to press charges.
“What happened to him should not have happened,” said LSU coach Ed Orgeron on 104.5 ESPN’s Off the Bench Tuesday. “There were some very unprofessional acts done on that football field, and I hope the SEC does the right thing about it. I hope they will.”
But senior associate athletic director Robert Munson denies that Kragthorpe retracted his statement, according to his statement. Kragthorpe underwent an EKG and was checked out by EMTs in the LSU locker room following the scuffle.
The new videos released by the Houston Chronicle show more of a shove than a punch between Fisher and Kragthorpe.
The video goes on to show Faulk and Cole Fisher in the altercation as originally shown, but then LSU safety John Battle throwing a punch and connecting with Fisher’s face after Fisher attempted to punch Faulk.
Texas A&M coach Jimbo Fisher released a statement Monday, saying that the team has continued to look into the postgame fight and that the matter has been addressed internally with his staff members.
Here’s what we know about the LSU vs. TAMU postgame altercation
November 25, 2018
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