Sports

SEC Hands Down Punishment For Pregame Slap As New Video Puts Florida Coach In Hot Water

#College Football
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Jabbar Juluke, Florida Gators

© Matt Pendleton / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images


Florida assistant coach Jabbar Juluke has been suspended by the football program after slapping an LSU player. New video of the act has led to further scrutiny.

Some don’t believe the punishment fits the crime. Social media is responding to the now-viral clip with many calling for harsher penalty.

The Gators and Tigers faced off in SEC action on Saturday in Baton Rouge. A pregame scuffle broke out between the two teams. Not all coaches did their part to de-escalate the situation.

Reports of a three-game suspension were posted alongside video of the altercation. It was difficult to see exactly what happened in those initial clips, though.

New video shows Jabbar Juluke slap an LSU football player.

Juluke is seen slapping Tigers safety Joel Rogers. What was said to incite the reaction remains unknown. Whatever the case, the assistant coach clearly lost his cool.

Juluke is in his mid-50s. He is in his fourth year leading Florida’s running backs room after moving to Gainesville from LSU in 2022. He knows better.

Rogers is a redshirt freshman. He has played sparingly thus far.

Again, details of what transpired aren’t entirely clear. Slow motion video of the slap, however, are damning.

The SEC handed down its punishment in the form of a three-game suspension. Greg Sankey had the following to say about the “unacceptable behavior.”

“Coaches are expected to be leaders and to de-escalate tense situations, and that did not happen in this circumstance. This suspension is appropriate, and any future misconduct by Jabbar Juluke will result in more severe disciplinary action”

Social media weighed in on that penalty soon thereafter.

Does the punishment fit the crime?

Matt Moscana of ESPN Baton Rouge said, “Unbelievable. Imagine if that was your son.” A follower then responded to his post by saying, “For reference, Woody Hayes was fired the next day for a similar act.”

“He should be fired. This is unacceptable,” another college football viewer wrote on X.

We do not know why Jabbar Juluke slapped Joel Rogers. In the grand scheme of things, it might not matter all that much.

He apologized for his actions after the fact, saying, “I, first, would like to apologize to both Florida and LSU universities, their teams, staff and fans. I also sincerely apologize to the young athlete and his family. On Saturday, I reacted in a manner I’m not proud of.  There’s no excuse for my behavior and I take full responsibility for my actions.”